gift tax - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

The 2024 Gift Tax Return Deadline is Coming Up Soon

If you made significant gifts to your children, grandchildren or other heirs last year, it’s important to determine whether you’re required to file a 2024 gift tax return. And in some cases, even if it’s not required to file one, you may want to do so anyway.

Requirements to file

The annual gift tax exclusion was $18,000 in 2024 (increased to $19,000 in 2025). Generally, you must file a gift tax return for 2024 if, during the tax year, you made gifts:

That exceeded the $18,000-per-recipient gift tax annual exclusion for 2024 (other than to your U.S. citizen spouse),
That you wish to split with your spouse to take advantage of your combined $36,000 annual exclusion for 2024,
That exceeded the $185,000 annual exclusion in 2024 for gifts to a noncitizen spouse,
To a Section 529 college savings plan and wish to accelerate up to five years’ worth of annual exclusions ($90,000) into 2024,
Of future interests — such as remainder interests in a trust — regardless of the amounts, or
Of jointly held or community property.

Important: You’ll owe gift tax only if an exclusion doesn’t apply and you’ve used up your lifetime gift and […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2025-03-10T15:46:04+00:00March 10th, 2025|deadline, gift tax|0 Comments

End-of-Year Tax Strategies: Gifting and Charitable Giving

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to review your financial and tax strategies. Whether you’re looking to benefit loved ones or support charitable causes, there are several ways to make tax-efficient financial decisions before December 31. This guide highlights two key strategies: annual exclusion gifts to reduce your taxable estate and qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to maximize the tax benefits of your charitable contributions.

Annual Exclusion Gifts

As the end of the year approaches, many people start to think about their finances and tax strategies. One effective way to reduce potential estate taxes and show generosity to loved ones is by giving cash gifts before December 31. Under tax law, you can gift a certain amount each year without incurring gift taxes or requiring a gift tax return. Taking advantage of this rule can help you reduce the size of your taxable estate while benefiting your family and friends.

Taxpayers can transfer substantial amounts, free of gift taxes, to their children or other recipients each year through the proper use of the annual exclusion. The exclusion amount is adjusted for inflation annually, and in 2024 is $18,000. It covers […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-11-18T19:24:34+00:00November 18th, 2024|charity, contributions, gift tax, year-end|0 Comments

Get Ready for the 2023 Gift Tax Return Deadline

Did you make large gifts to your children, grandchildren or others last year? If so, it’s important to determine if you’re required to file a 2023 gift tax return. In some cases, it might be beneficial to file one — even if it’s not required.

Who must file?

The annual gift tax exclusion has increased in 2024 to $18,000 but was $17,000 for 2023. Generally, you must file a gift tax return for 2023 if, during the tax year, you made gifts:

That exceeded the $17,000-per-recipient gift tax annual exclusion for 2023 (other than to your U.S. citizen spouse),
That you wish to split with your spouse to take advantage of your combined $34,000 annual exclusion for 2023,
That exceeded the $175,000 annual exclusion in 2023 for gifts to a noncitizen spouse,
To a Section 529 college savings plan and wish to accelerate up to five years’ worth of annual exclusions ($85,000) into 2023,
Of future interests — such as remainder interests in a trust — regardless of the amount, or
Of jointly held or community property.

Keep in mind that you’ll owe gift tax only to the extent that an exclusion doesn’t apply and […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-02-14T17:11:07+00:00February 14th, 2024|gift tax, tax deadlines|0 Comments

There’s a Favorable “Stepped-Up Basis” if You Inherit Property

A common question for people planning their estates or inheriting property is: For tax purposes, what’s the “cost” (or “basis”) an individual gets in property that he or she inherits from another? This is an important area and is too often overlooked when families start to put their affairs in order.

Under the fair market value basis rules (also known as the “step-up and step-down” rules), an heir receives a basis in inherited property that’s equal to its date-of-death value. So, for example, if your grandfather bought shares in an oil stock in 1940 for $500 and it was worth $5 million at his death, the basis would be stepped up to $5 million for your grandfather’s heirs. That means all of that gain escapes income taxation forever!

The fair market value basis rules apply to inherited property that’s includible in the deceased individual’s gross estate, whether or not a federal estate tax return was filed, and those rules also apply to property inherited from foreign persons, who aren’t subject […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-04-18T18:08:13+00:00April 18th, 2023|gift tax, tax basis|0 Comments

The 2022 Gift Tax Return Deadline is Coming Up Soon

Did you make large gifts to your children, grandchildren or other heirs last year? If so, it’s important to determine whether you’re required to file a 2022 gift tax return. And in some cases, even if it’s not required to file one, you may want to do so anyway.

Filing requirements

The annual gift tax exclusion has increased in 2023 to $17,000 but was $16,000 for 2022. Generally, you must file a gift tax return for 2022 if, during the tax year, you made gifts:

That exceeded the $16,000-per-recipient gift tax annual exclusion for 2022 (other than to your U.S. citizen spouse),
That you wish to split with your spouse to take advantage of your combined $32,000 annual exclusion for 2022,
That exceeded the $164,000 annual exclusion in 2022 for gifts to a noncitizen spouse,
To a Section 529 college savings plan and wish to accelerate up to five years’ worth of annual exclusions ($80,000) into 2022,
Of future interests — such as remainder interests in a trust — regardless of the amount, or
Of jointly held or community property.

Keep in mind that you’ll owe gift tax only to the extent that an exclusion […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-03-14T19:06:37+00:00March 14th, 2023|gift tax|0 Comments