Annual Exclusion
The amount you can give to any one person each year without having to report it as a taxable gift. For 2024, the annual exclusion is $18,000 per recipient. Married couples can combine their exclusions to give $36,000 per recipient.
Legal Definition
The amount specified under IRC ยง2503(b) that a donor may transfer to any donee in a calendar year without the transfer being treated as a taxable gift, adjusted annually for inflation.
Practical Example
Mark and his wife can each give $18,000 per year to their son and daughter-in-law. Combined, they can transfer $72,000 annually to the couple ($18,000 x 4 gift combinations) without any gift tax consequences.