Gifting money to loved ones is a common practice, but it’s crucial to be aware of the tax implications to avoid any legal complications. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) imposes a gift tax on individuals who exceed a certain amount of gifts given in a single year. Understanding the annual gift tax exclusion is essential for ensuring compliance with tax regulations.
What is the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion?
The annual gift tax exclusion is a specific amount of money that an individual can give to another person each year without incurring any gift tax liability. This exclusion applies to gifts made to any individual, regardless of their relationship to the donor.
Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Amount for 2021
For the year 2021, the annual gift tax exclusion amount is $15,000 per recipient. This means that you can gift up to $15,000 to an unlimited number of individuals without triggering any gift tax.
Example of Annual Gift Tax Exclusion
Suppose you want to give $20,000 to your child in 2021. Since the annual gift tax exclusion is $15,000 per recipient, you can gift $15,000 to your child tax-free. However, the remaining $5,000 will be subject to gift tax.
Gifts to Multiple Recipients
The annual gift tax exclusion applies to each recipient individually. This means that if you give gifts to multiple people in the same year, you can multiply the exclusion amount by the number of recipients.
Example of Gifts to Multiple Recipients
Suppose you want to give $10,000 to your child and $5,000 to your niece in 2021. Since the annual gift tax exclusion is $15,000 per recipient, both gifts will be tax-free.
Gifts to Minors
Gifts made to minors under the age of 18 are subject to special rules. The gift is considered a gift to the minor’s parent or guardian, who is responsible for managing the funds until the minor reaches the age of majority.
Gifts to Spouses
Gifts made between spouses are generally not subject to gift tax. However, there are specific rules that apply to gifts made between non-US citizen spouses.
Consequences of Exceeding the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion
If you exceed the annual gift tax exclusion, you may be subject to gift tax. The gift tax rate varies depending on the amount of the gift and your filing status.
Understanding the annual gift tax exclusion is crucial for avoiding any potential tax liabilities. By adhering to the exclusion amount and following the IRS guidelines, you can ensure that your gifts are tax-efficient and compliant with the law.
2023 Child Tax Credit Simplified
FAQ
How much money can be legally given to a family member as a gift?
Do I have to report money my parents gave me?
What are the IRS rules for gifting money to family members?
Can I give 100k to my son?
How much is a child’s gift tax-free?
Only the child’s gift is subject to tax, with the first $15,000 tax-free and the remaining $85,000 uncovered. However, you’re allowed to apply the $85,000 against your $11.7 million lifetime exemption amount. That would leave you $11,615,000 to use for future gifts or as your estate tax exemption at death.
Do you have to pay tax on gifts in 2021?
That annual gift-tax exclusion amount, which remains unchanged at $15,000 for 2021, keeps all but the most lavish gift givers from having to worry about the IRS with their typical holiday practices. As you’ll see below, though, even if you make a gift of more than $15,000, you usually won’t have to pay any gift taxes right away.
How much can you gift a child in 2024?
There is no limit on the number of individuals you can gift in this manner in a given year. So if you have three children, you can gift as much as $18,000 per child in 2024 for a total of $54,000, without needing to pay a gift tax for the year (unless you surpass the lifetime limit). The lifetime limit is $13.61 million for 2024.
What is the gift tax exemption for 2024?
For 2024, the annual gift tax exclusion is $18,000, meaning a person can give up to $18,000 to as many people as he or she wants without having to pay any taxes on the gifts. For example, a man could give $18,000 to each of his 10 grandchildren this year with no gift tax implications. For context, the 2023 gift tax exemption is $17,000.