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The Daily Insight

What form do you report gifts on tax return?

Author

John Hall

Updated on February 15, 2026

What form do you report gifts on tax return?

Form 709
Form 709 is the United States Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return, which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that you file to report any taxable gifts you might make during your lifetime.

What is the difference between Form 706 and Form 709?

Form 706 is used by the executor of a decedent’s estate to figure the estate tax imposed by Chapter 11 of the Internal Revenue Code. Form 709 is used to report transfers subject to the Federal gift and certain generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes, and to figure the tax, if any, due on those transfers.

Is there a tax form for gifting money?

Generally, a federal gift tax return (Form 709) is required if you make gifts to or for someone during the year (with certain exceptions, such as gifts to U.S. citizen spouses) that exceed the annual gift tax exclusion ($15,000 per person for 2020 and 2021).

Do you have to file Form 709 every year?

Form 709 is an annual return. Generally, you must file Form 709 no earlier than January 1, but not later than April 15, of the year after the gift was made. However, in instances when April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, Form 709 will be due on the next business day.

How do I report a gift to the IRS?

You must file a Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, even if half of the split gift is less than the annual exclusion.

What is the lifetime gift tax exemption for 2021?

$11.7 million
The lifetime gift tax exemption amount is $11.58 million in 2020, increasing to $11.7 million in 2021. It is important to know about timing on using the estate tax exemption.

Can I efile Form 709?

Can I e-file Form 709? You cannot e-file Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. The Instructions for Form 709 directs you to mail it to the applicable address listed below. Prior to January 1, 2019, file Form 709 at the following address.

Is there a penalty for filing Form 709 late?

Late filing penalty. A penalty is usually charged if your Form 709 is filed after the due date (including extensions). It is usually 5% of the tax not paid by the original due date for each month or part of a month your return is late. The maximum penalty is 25%.

Can Form 709 be filed electronically?

Do I have to report a cash gift as income?

Cash gifts up to $15,000 per year don’t have to be reported. Excess gifts require a tax form but not necessarily a tax payment. Noncash gifts that have appreciated in value may be subject to capital gains tax. All income must be claimed on tax forms, even if it’s paid in cash.

When to file gift tax forms?

You must file a gift tax return using IRS Form 709 no earlier than January 1 of the year after the gift was made and no later than April 15.

Do you need to file a gift tax return?

You many need to file a gift tax return. If you make a taxable gift (one in excess of the annual exclusion), you must file Form 709: U.S. Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. The return is required even if you don’t actually owe any gift tax because of the $11.180 million lifetime exemption.

How do you report gifts to the IRS?

Gifts are not considered income under federal tax law. Because a gift is not income, the gift never needs to be reported to the IRS. If you deposit the cash into a bank, your bank might have a duty to report the cash deposit to the IRS (if the deposit is large enough), but the person receiving the gift never has to report it to the IRS.

How long does the IRS keep gift tax returns?

The IRS recommends that taxpayers keep records and individual returns for three years. This is the statute of limitations for most individual tax returns; after this period neither the taxpayer nor the IRS may amend the return. The statute of limitations is doubled to six years if a taxpayer does not report all taxable income.