Estate and Gift Tax 2018 Inflation Adjustments

On October 19, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2017-58, the annual inflation adjustments for 2018 for many tax provisions, including exemptions for estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes as well as the annual exclusion amount for gifts as follows:

Estate, Gift and GST Tax Exemption Increases to $5,600,000.  For estates of decedents who pass away during 2018, and for gifts made during 2018, the combined estate and gift tax exemption will increase to $5,600,000, up from a total of $5,490,000 for estates of decedents in 2017.  The generation-skipping transfer exemption increased as well to $5,600,000.  In 2018 an individual can bequeath $5,600,000 (or $11,200,000 from a married couple’s estate) to heirs and pay no federal estate or gift tax.

Gift Tax Annual Exclusion Increases to $15,000.  For gifts made in 2018, the gift tax annual exclusion will increase to $15,000 from $14,000, where it has been since 2013.  An individual can give to another individual up to this amount without utilizing any of the gift tax exemption.  For example, a married couple can gift each donee up to $30,000 in 2018 without utilizing either spouse’s gift tax exemption amount.

We are available to answer your estate and gift tax questions.