A smart gifting strategy: why the annual gift tax exclusion matters more than you think

Article | January 19, 2026

Authored by Weinlander Fitzhugh

When we talk about gifting as part of a tax strategy, a lot of people assume it’s something only the ultra-wealthy need to worry about if they’re trying to avoid estate taxes. But gifting is actually one of the simplest and most powerful financial planning tools available, regardless of whether you expect to owe estate tax someday. 

And while it might not feel urgent today, a thoughtful gifting strategy can make a meaningful difference for your family – both now and in the long run. 

To understand why, we need to look at how two key concepts work together: the lifetime gift and estate tax exemption and the annual gift tax exclusion. These are the rules that define how much wealth you can transfer, and when – and how to do it in a way that’s as tax-efficient as possible. 

Understanding the lifetime gift and estate tax exemption

The lifetime gift and estate tax exemption is the total amount you can transfer – either during your life or at death – without triggering federal estate or gift tax. 

For 2026, that exemption is at a historically high level: $15 million per person. So if your estate is below that threshold, your heirs can generally receive your assets without owing federal estate tax.

But, if the value of your estate exceeds that exemption, the excess could be subject to estate tax at a rate of up to 40%.

Let’s say someone passes away in 2026 with a $17 million gross estate. If they’re single, their taxable estate is reduced by their $15 million lifetime exemption (assuming they never had reportable gifting during their lifetime). The remaining $2 million taxable estate could result in approximately $800,000 of estate tax. 

While that exemption might seem more than generous today, it’s not set in stone. It has changed many times in the past, and it can, and likely will, change again.

So even if you’re well under the threshold now, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll stay there. You might live another 20 or 30 years, during which time your assets could grow, your life situation could change, or the exemption itself could be reduced by future legislation.

That’s why many families choose to plan ahead. Not because they know they’ll owe estate tax, but because none of us knows what the rules will look like when the time comes.

By planning proactively now, you give yourself more flexibility and control, regardless of how the tax laws evolve.

What the annual gift tax exclusion lets you do

So now that we’ve talked about the lifetime exemption – that larger umbrella for lifetime and posthumous transfers – let’s zoom in on something more immediate and practical: the annual gift tax exclusion.

This is one of the simplest and most underused tools in the tax code.

Each year, the IRS allows you to give a certain amount of money, currently $19,000 per recipient in 2026, to as many people as you’d like, without paying gift tax and without using up any of your lifetime exemption.

In other words, it’s a way to reduce the size of your estate a little bit each year with no tax consequences whatsoever.

So let’s say you have three children. You could give each of them $19,000 this year – that’s $57,000 out of your estate, completely tax-free. And if they’re married, you could give each of their spouses another $19,000, which brings the total to $114,000 gifted in a single year, all without touching your lifetime exemption.

If you’re married, you and your spouse can combine your annual exclusions and gift $38,000 per recipient. This is called gift splitting, and it’s a great way to maximize your gifting capacity as a couple. Just keep in mind – gift splitting requires you to file a gift tax return, even when no tax is due. 

These annual exclusion gifts might seem small compared to your overall estate, but they add up. And the longer you live, and the more recipients you include, the more meaningful the impact becomes. Think of it as a slow and steady way to transfer wealth on your own terms, without waiting until the end of your life to make a difference.

Example: how simple gifting creates flexibility for a family

Let’s take an example that’s probably more common than most people realize.

A woman in her 70s loses her husband. They had three adult children together and saved about $1 million over their lifetime, plus they owned a home worth around $350,000. After her husband passes, she eventually remarries – her new spouse has his own savings, and they decide to live together in his home.

She sells her original home, adds the proceeds to her savings, and now has roughly $1.35 million in her own name. She doesn’t need it to live on – her daily expenses are covered – and she intends to leave it to her three children when she passes.

On paper, that might not seem like an estate that needs “planning.” It’s well below the federal estate tax exemption. But this is actually a great case where annual gifting can make a real difference, for both her and her kids.

If she gifts $19,000 to each of her three sons, and also gives $19,000 to each of their spouses, she’s moved $114,000 out of her estate in one year tax-free, with no reporting required.

The benefits here are multi-layered:

• Each family now has $38,000 they can put to work today – investing it, paying down debt, funding a child’s college savings – whatever makes the most sense for them.
• That money is no longer sitting in her estate, exposed to the uncertainties of probate, potential legal costs, or future changes in estate tax law.
• Because this is cash, there’s no issue with basis or capital gains – it’s a clean transfer.
• If she does this year after year, she could potentially transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars during her lifetime – without ever touching her lifetime exemption.

Now let’s imagine she didn’t do any of that. The full $1.35 million remains in her estate, and when she passes, it’s left equally to her three children. On the surface, each one inherits about $450,000.

There’s no federal estate tax due because she’s under the lifetime exemption, but that inheritance could still be tied up in probate if no planning was done. And depending on her state’s laws, that could mean extra fees, delays, or even state-level estate tax or inheritance tax consequences.

The point is: she could have started moving money earlier – on her terms, with zero tax consequences – and created more flexibility for her family while she’s still here.

And that’s the essence of this strategy. It’s not just about estate tax avoidance for the ultra-wealthy. It’s about using the rules we have today to create flexibility and opportunity for the next generation.

Tips to maximize annual gifting

Once you understand how the annual gift tax exclusion works, the next step is learning how to use it strategically. Because while it’s simple on the surface, there are smart ways to maximize its impact and build flexibility into your long-term planning.

Here are some practical tips to help you get the most from your annual gifting strategy.

Start with cash gifts whenever possible

First, try to use the annual exclusion for cash gifts whenever you can. Cash doesn’t carry any hidden tax consequences, and it gives the recipient full flexibility to use the gift however they need – whether that’s investing, paying down debt, or covering family expenses.

When you gift appreciated assets like stocks or real estate, the recipient inherits your original cost basis. That means they could owe capital gains tax on the full appreciation when they sell. If you wait and pass those assets at death, your heirs typically receive a step-up in basis to fair market value, potentially avoiding capital gains tax altogether. So the strategic question becomes: are you more concerned about removing appreciation from your estate now or minimizing future tax exposure for your heirs?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but it’s an important conversation to have, especially when large capital assets are involved.

If you’re married, consider gift splitting

If you’re married, consider gift splitting. This allows a couple to combine their annual exclusions and give $38,000 per recipient, even if only one spouse actually makes the gift.

This can double your annual gifting power across multiple recipients, allowing you to move more wealth out of your estate each year. But don’t forget: gift splitting requires you to file IRS Form 709, the gift tax return, even when no tax is owed. So if your goal is to avoid any paperwork, this is something to plan around. 

Pay tuition or medical expenses directly

If you’re helping family with education or medical costs, consider paying the institution directly.

Payments made directly to a school or medical provider don’t count as gifts at all – they don’t reduce your annual exclusion and don’t count against your lifetime exemption. That means you could help cover a grandchild’s tuition and still gift them $19,000 the same year. 

So, if you know a loved one needs money for education or healthcare, a direct payment to the provider could enable you to make an even bigger impact than gifting alone. 

Use Trusts to retain control while still gifting

You can also use your annual exclusion to make gifts into certain irrevocable trusts, like Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs), Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs), or trusts with Crummey powers that allow gifts to qualify as present interest gifts.

These strategies are especially helpful if:

• You want to remove appreciating assets from your estate
• You want to provide for family over time, but retain some control
• You’re coordinating annual exclusion gifts with larger estate planning goals

Annual exclusion gifts can be used to fund these trusts gradually, year after year – adding up to significant long-term transfers without gift tax exposure.

Keep in mind, though, that these trusts come with legal and tax complexities. It’s essential to work with a qualified estate planning attorney to ensure the structure aligns with your goals and with IRS requirements.

Superfund a 529 plan for education savings

Finally, if you’re helping with future education expenses, you may want to superfund a 529 plan. The IRS allows you to contribute up to five years’ worth of annual gifts at once – which in 2026 means up to $95,000 per beneficiary.

This strategy lets you use your annual exclusion in advance, without using your lifetime exemption – enabling you to remove a significant amount from your estate right away. 

Just note: this strategy requires a gift tax return and the election to spread the gift evenly over five years. And withdrawals from the 529 plan must be used for qualified education expenses in order to remain tax-free for the beneficiary.

Pitfalls to avoid

While annual gifting is relatively simple, there are a few traps that can undermine the benefits or create surprises you’d rather avoid. 

First, be careful not to unintentionally exceed the annual exclusion. While going over the annual exclusion isn’t a problem in itself, you will be required to file a gift tax return for that year. And any amount gifted above the limit will use up a portion of your lifetime exemption. 

Next, if you’re gifting appreciated assets, make sure to talk with both your tax advisor and the person receiving the gift. Remember, they inherit your cost basis – not a stepped-up one – so they may face capital gains tax when they eventually sell. It doesn’t make the gift a bad idea, but it’s something that should be part of the conversation.

Also, document your gifts carefully, especially large or non-cash transfers. Even when a gift tax return isn’t required, good records can be helpful for future planning or in the event of an audit or family dispute down the road.

And finally, make sure your gifting aligns with your overall estate plan. For example, if you have trusts in place, beneficiary designations, or provisions in your will, make sure your gifting strategy doesn’t create conflict or confusion – especially if you’re gifting unevenly among heirs or supporting one child more heavily during life.

A simple strategy with long-term impact

The annual gift tax exclusion isn’t flashy. But when used thoughtfully, it’s one of the most efficient tools we have for tax-free wealth transfer.

Whether you’re helping a child buy a home, funding a grandchild’s education, or simply reducing your estate one year at a time, annual gifting is a strategy that rewards consistency and planning.

If you’re considering annual gifts and want to make sure you’re using the exclusion effectively, we’re here to help. Our team is happy to discuss how annual gifting fits into your broader financial or estate plan – and how you can use it to create meaningful impact across generations.