NEWS & RESOURCES

Authored by: Kyle Meissner, CPA

Understanding the Gift Tax and Its Role in Estate Planning

The gift tax is one of the most misunderstood areas of tax law, but it’s also one of the most important for those looking to strategically manage their wealth and estate planning. Let’s break down the key aspects of the gift tax and explore why gifting can be a powerful estate planning tool.

What Is the Gift Tax?

The gift tax applies to transfers of money or property to another person without receiving something of equal value in return. However, the IRS provides annual and lifetime exclusions that allow significant gifting without triggering an immediate tax liability.

Annual Gift Tax Exclusion

For 2024, the annual gift tax exclusion is $18,000 per recipient. This increases to $19,000 in 2025. Here’s how it works:

• The exclusion applies to each recipient, not the total amount gifted by the donor.
• For example, in 2024, you could gift $18,000 each to 10 people—a total of $180,000—without exceeding the annual exclusion.

A married couple can combine their exclusions, effectively doubling the gift amount. This means in 2024, a couple could gift up to $36,000 to a single individual or $72,000 to another couple without triggering gift tax reporting.

What Happens If You Exceed the Annual Exclusion?

If you gift more than the annual exclusion to any individual, the excess is considered a taxable gift. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll owe taxes right away. The taxable portion of the gift counts against your lifetime gift tax exemption, which is $13.61 million per person in 2024 (rising to $13.99 million in 2025). Only once your cumulative taxable gifts exceed this lifetime exemption will you owe gift tax.

Taxable gifts must be reported on Form 709, which is due by April 15 of the year following the gift.

Why Gifting Matters in Estate Planning

Gifting is not just about generosity; it can also play a vital role in reducing the size of your taxable estate. This is particularly important in states like Washington, where the state estate tax exemption is significantly lower than the federal limit—just $2.193 million in 2024.

Here’s how gifting benefits your estate plan:

• Remove future appreciation: When you gift assets during your lifetime, you effectively remove their future growth from your taxable estate. For example, if you gift stock valued at $18,000 today, any future appreciation in its value is excluded from your estate.
• Preserve state estate tax exemptions: Unlike the federal estate tax, Washington state does not reduce its estate tax exemption by the value of lifetime gifts. This means you can use gifting to lower your taxable estate without affecting your state exemption limit.

Plan Strategically

Gifting can be a straightforward yet powerful strategy, but it requires careful planning to avoid unintended tax consequences. Factors like the type of asset being gifted, timing, and the interplay with other estate planning tools add complexity. Working with a tax advisor and estate planning attorney is essential to ensure that gifting aligns with your broader financial goals.

Key Takeaways

1. Understand the rules: The annual gift tax exclusion applies per recipient, and exceeding the limit triggers reporting, not immediate tax.
2. Leverage the lifetime exemption: With a $13.61 million federal exemption in 2024, most people won’t owe gift tax unless their cumulative taxable gifts exceed this amount.
3. Maximize estate tax savings: In states like Washington, lifetime gifting doesn’t reduce the state estate tax exemption, making it a particularly effective strategy.
4. Consult your advisors: The interplay between federal and state rules, along with your personal financial situation, makes professional guidance essential.

Strategic gifting is about more than tax efficiency—it’s a way to support your loved ones and manage your legacy. By understanding and leveraging the rules, you can make the most of your wealth while minimizing tax exposure.

Tax laws around gifting and estate planning can be intricate. Working with a tax and legal advisor ensures your gifting strategy aligns with your overall financial goals.

Ready to explore gifting as part of your financial strategy? Contact us at cnccpa.com or call (509) 663-1661. We're here to provide you with a complete financial team in your corner.