Use It or Lose It: Your 2024 Gift Tax Annual Exclusion

Sarah B

As the year winds down, you may want to combine estate planning with tax savings by taking advantage of the gift tax annual exclusion. It allows you to give cash or property up to a specified amount to an unlimited number of family members and friends each year without gift tax implications.



That specified amount is subject to annual inflation adjustments. For 2024, the amount per recipient is $18,000. Notably, in 2025, this amount will increase to $19,000 per recipient. Why is this significant? The amount was stagnant at $15,000 for several years (2018 to 2021). Beginning in 2022, the amount has increased by $1,000 annually due to inflation.


Each year you need to use your annual exclusion by December 31. The exclusion doesn’t carry over from year to year. For example, if you don’t make an annual exclusion gift to your granddaughter this year, you can’t add the $18,000 unused 2024 exclusion to next year’s $19,000 exclusion to make a $37,000 tax-free gift to her next year. Contact the office with any questions.

September 2025 Newsletter

By Sarah Bolton • September 9, 2025
Our regularly updated newsletter provides timely articles to help you achieve your financial goals. Please come back and visit often. Feature Articles The QBI Deduction: Good News for Eligible Business Owners 3 Family-Friendly Tax Benefits in the New Tax Law Before a Weather Emergency Closes Your Business, Make a Plan Tax Tips Seniors May Be Eligible for a New Deduction Separated or Divorced? Know Your Tax Obligations An Employee Benefit That Also Saves Tax for Your Business Just Got Better

September 2025: Upcoming Tax Due Dates

By Sarah Bolton • September 9, 2025
September 15 Individuals: Pay the third installment of 2025 estimated taxes (Form 1040-ES), if not paying income tax through withholding or not paying sufficient income tax through withholding. Calendar-year corporations: Pay the third installment of 2025 estimated income taxes, completing Form 1120-W for the corporation’s records. Calendar-year S corporations: File a 2024 income tax return (Form 1120-S) and provide each shareholder with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1120S) or a substitute Schedule K-1 if an automatic six-month extension was filed. Pay any tax, interest and penalties due. Calendar-year S corporations: Make contributions for 2024 to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans if an automatic six-month extension was filed. Calendar-year partnerships: File a 2024 income tax return (Form 1065 or Form 1065-B) and provide each partner with a copy of Schedule K1 (Form 1065) or a substitute Schedule K1 if an automatic six-month extension was filed. Employers: Deposit Social Security, Medicare and withheld income taxes for August if the monthly deposit rule applies. Employers: Deposit nonpayroll withheld income tax for August if the monthly deposit rule applies. September 30 Calendar-year trusts and estates: File a 2024 income tax return (Form 1041) if an automatic five-and-a-half-month extension was filed. Pay any tax, interest and penalties due. October 10  Individuals: Report September tip income of $20 or more to employers (Form 4070).

An Employee Benefit That Also Saves Tax for Your Business Just Got Better

By Sarah Bolton • September 9, 2025
If a couple gets separated or divorced, it affects tax obligations. The IRS considers couples married for tax purposes until a final decree is issued. After separating or divorcing, update your Form W-4 with your employer and check withholding using the IRS estimator.  Generally, alimony payments and child support payments aren’t deductible by the paying spouse or included in the taxable income of the recipient spouse. (Tax treatment of alimony payments is different if they’re being made under agreements entered into on or before December 31, 2018.) Property transfers due to divorce typically aren’t taxed but may require a gift tax return. Also, be aware that only one parent can claim a child as a dependent.