Making Annual Exclusion Gifts before 2016 Ends May Be the Right Move

T&E Chat

12.19.16 | T&E Chat

Making tax-free gifts to loved ones during your lifetime reduces potential estate tax at death. There are many ways to make tax-free gifts and one of the simplest is to take advantage of the annual gift tax exclusion with direct gifts. Even as we face a potentially changing estate tax environment next year, making annual exclusion gifts before 2016 ends can still be a good idea.

What is the Annual Exclusion?

For 2016, you are allowed to give up to $14,000 per recipient tax-free without using up any of your $5.45 million lifetime gift tax exemption. If you and your spouse “split” the gift, you can give $28,000 per recipient. The gifts are also generally excluded from the generation-skipping transfer tax, which typically applies to transfers to grandchildren and others more than one generation below you.

The gifted assets are removed from your taxable estate, which can be especially advantageous if you expect them to appreciate. That’s because the future appreciation can also avoid gift and estate taxes.

Making gifts in 2016

The exclusion is scheduled to remain at $14,000 ($28,000 for split gifts) in 2017. But that’s not a reason to skip making annual exclusion gifts this year.  You need to use your 2016 exclusion by Dec. 31 or you’ll lose it. The exclusion doesn’t carry from one year to the next.  For example, if you don’t make an annual exclusion gift to your daughter this year, you can’t add $14,000 to your 2017 exclusion to make a $28,000 tax-free gift to her next year.

While President-elect Trump and Republicans in Congress have indicated that they want to repeal the estate tax,  it is uncertain exactly what tax law changes will be passed, since the Republicans don’t have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Plus, in some states there’s a state-level estate tax. So if you have a large estate, making 2016 annual exclusion gifts is generally still well worth considering.

If you have questions, contact me at SDitman@BerdonLLP.com or your Berdon advisor to discuss your personal circumstances

Scott T. Ditman, a tax partner and Chair, Personal Wealth Services at Berdon LLP, advises high net worth individuals and family/owner-managed business clients on building, preserving, and transferring wealth, estate and income tax issues, and succession and financial planning.