You can give up to $19,000 per recipient in 2026 without filing a gift tax return. A married couple can give $38,000 per recipient. Gifts above that use part of your lifetime exemption, which is $15 million per person in 2026.
| Gift tax figure | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Annual exclusion per recipient | $19,000 |
| Married couple gift-splitting per recipient | $38,000 |
| Lifetime estate and gift tax exemption per person | $15,000,000 |
| Top gift tax rate | 40% |
Who pays gift tax?
The giver, not the recipient. The recipient generally does not owe income tax on a gift. In practice, almost nobody pays gift tax because the lifetime exemption is large.
Gifts that never count
- Gifts to your US citizen spouse, with no limit.
- Tuition paid directly to a school.
- Medical expenses paid directly to a provider.
- Gifts to political organizations and qualifying charities.
When to file Form 709
File Form 709 by April 15 of the next year if you give any one person more than the annual exclusion, or if you want to split gifts with a spouse. Filing does not usually mean you owe tax.