Business Council members have been asked to complete a survey on the effect of federal estate taxes on business employment levels in New York State.The Business Council is conducting the research with the Center for the Study of Taxation, a national not-for-profit research organization. The federal estate tax is the world's highest. It is imposed at steeply graduated rates from 37 to 55 percent. It generally applies to the full value of all assets an individual owns at death, including family-owned businesses.Surveys were mailed March 25 to all members. They are asked to return completed surveys to Denise Murphy-McGraw, director of regional affairs at The Business Council.