US Gift Tax Calculator.
Give with clarity.
Estimate how much of a gift may exceed an annual exclusion, calculate the portion potentially reportable, and explore the effect on your remaining lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion.
Calculate Gift Tax Exposure
Enter the applicable tax-year figures and your gift details.
Editable: verify the selected tax year’s IRS figure.
Enter your remaining available basic exclusion after considering prior taxable gifts and applicable adjustments. Zero is a conservative placeholder, not the IRS lifetime limit.
Simplified model: doubles the per-recipient annual exclusion. Actual gift-splitting eligibility and reporting rules must be checked.
Estimated Gift Breakdown
Understand How Gift Tax Planning Works
US federal gift tax planning involves several different exclusions and reporting considerations.
Annual Gift Exclusion
Qualifying gifts up to the applicable annual exclusion per recipient may be excluded from taxable gifts for that year.
Lifetime Exclusion
Taxable gifts may use part of the donor’s available lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion rather than create an immediate tax payment.
Gift Tax Return
Certain gifts may require IRS Form 709 even if no gift tax is currently payable.
How This Gift Tax Estimate Is Calculated
Basic Gift Exclusion Formula
Total Gifts = Gift Per Recipient × Number of Recipients
Annual Exclusion Applied = Min(Gift Per Recipient, Annual Exclusion) × Number of Recipients
Potentially Taxable Gifts = Max(0, Total Gifts − Annual Exclusion Applied)
Remaining Lifetime Exclusion = Max(0, Available Lifetime Exclusion − Potentially Taxable Gifts)
The model assumes equal gifts to each recipient, qualifying present-interest gifts and no special gift valuation, marital, charitable or other adjustments.
What You Should Know Before Giving
What Is Federal Gift Tax?
Federal gift tax rules generally apply to transfers of property for less than full consideration. The donor is usually responsible for any applicable gift tax and reporting.
Does Every Gift Trigger Tax?
No. Qualifying gifts within the annual exclusion generally do not reduce the donor’s lifetime exclusion. Other exclusions may also apply.
What Happens When a Gift Exceeds the Annual Exclusion?
The amount above the annual exclusion may be a taxable gift for federal gift tax purposes. This does not necessarily create an immediate payment because the donor may have available lifetime exclusion.
What Is Gift Splitting?
Eligible married couples may elect to split certain gifts between spouses. Special conditions and Form 709 reporting requirements apply.
Are Tuition and Medical Payments Treated Differently?
Qualifying direct payments to educational institutions for tuition or to medical providers for eligible medical expenses may receive special treatment under federal gift tax rules.
Are Gifts to Spouses Always Exempt?
Marital deduction rules and citizenship status can affect gift tax treatment. Gifts to a non-US-citizen spouse may be subject to different annual limits.
When Should You Consult a Tax Professional?
Professional advice is especially useful for large gifts, trusts, property transfers, international gifts, gift splitting, or gifts involving complex valuations.
US Gift Tax Calculator FAQs
Who normally pays federal gift tax?
The donor is generally responsible for federal gift tax, subject to applicable rules and exceptions.
Does a gift above the annual exclusion mean tax is due?
Not necessarily. Available lifetime exclusion may offset the taxable gift.
Is the annual exclusion per recipient?
Generally, yes, for qualifying gifts. Eligibility depends on the nature of the gift.
Can married couples split gifts?
Eligible spouses may elect gift splitting under applicable federal rules and reporting requirements.
Do I need to file IRS Form 709?
Some gifts require Form 709 even when no tax is payable. Filing requirements depend on the circumstances.
Are gifts to children taxable?
Gifts to children can be subject to the same general annual exclusion and gift tax rules, with additional considerations in some cases.
Are gifts received considered income?
Many personal gifts are not included in the recipient’s federal gross income, but exceptions and other tax rules can apply.
Does the lifetime exclusion reset annually?
No. The annual gift exclusion and lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion are different concepts.
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