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Gift tax calculator: will your gift be taxed?

Check whether a gift exceeds the annual exclusion, how much it uses of the lifetime exemption, and whether any federal gift tax is due, with gift splitting for couples.

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Results

Taxable gift reported on Form 709

$81,000

Form 709 is required, but tax is due only once lifetime gifts exceed the exclusion

Gift tax due now (about 40% above the exclusion)

$0

Lifetime exclusion left per donor
$14,919,000
Tax-free amount this year (annual exclusions)
$19,000

This calculator gives estimates for education and planning. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; for decisions about your own situation, talk to a qualified financial professional.

How the federal gift tax works

The federal gift tax applies to gifts of money or property during your lifetime, but most people never pay it, thanks to two allowances:

  • the annual exclusion: $19,000 per recipient in 2026. Gifts up to this amount to any number of people are tax-free and need no filing;
  • the lifetime basic exclusion: $15 million per person in 2026, shared with the estate tax. Gifts above the annual exclusion reduce it, but no tax is due until it is used up.

Above both, the top rate is 40%, and the tax is paid by the donor, not the recipient.

Example

You give your daughter $100,000 this year:

  • $19,000 is covered by the annual exclusion;
  • the remaining $81,000 is a taxable gift: you must file Form 709 by April 15 of the following year;
  • no tax is due: it uses $81,000 of your $15 million lifetime exclusion, leaving $14,919,000.

If you and your spouse split the gift, each of you uses a $19,000 exclusion, so only $62,000 is reportable, $31,000 each. Both spouses must file Form 709 to elect gift splitting.

What does not count

  • Tuition paid directly to a school, and medical expenses paid directly to a provider, are unlimited and excluded.
  • Gifts to a U.S. citizen spouse are unlimited (the marital deduction).
  • Gifts to qualified charities and political organizations are excluded.

Points to keep in mind

  • The exclusions are indexed for inflation and can change with legislation; check the current figures with the IRS.
  • Gifts of property carry over the donor’s tax basis. A gift of appreciated stock passes the capital gain to the recipient, whereas inherited assets get a stepped-up basis.
  • Contributions to a 529 plan can use five years of annual exclusions at once (“superfunding”).
  • Some states have their own gift or inheritance taxes.

The calculator applies a flat 40% to amounts above the exclusion. That is close to the actual result for large estates, since the lower brackets are absorbed by the unified credit. For real planning, talk to an estate attorney or a CPA.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I give without filing a gift tax return?

Up to the annual exclusion per recipient per year ($19,000 in 2025). Above that, you file Form 709.

Will I actually pay gift tax?

Rarely. Taxable gifts first use up your lifetime exemption, and tax is due only once that is exhausted.

Can married couples double the exclusion?

Yes. With gift splitting, a couple can give twice the annual exclusion to each recipient.

Are gifts to a spouse taxable?

Gifts to a US citizen spouse are fully exempt through the unlimited marital deduction.

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Results are estimates provided for information purposes. They do not replace professional advice.

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