In 2026, you can give up to $19,000 per person ($38,000 for married couples) without gift tax. Most gifts must be completed by December 31 to count for this year.
This is also the first year-end under new charitable deduction rules, which change which giving strategies make the most sense. Year-end gifts work best as part of a long-term plan for gifting and wealth transfer, so here is what to know before the deadline.
2026 Gift Limits
Most people will never owe federal gift tax. These are the numbers that matter for 2026.
| Limit | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Annual exclusion | $19,000 per recipient |
| Married couples splitting gifts | $38,000 per recipient |
| Lifetime estate and gift exemption | $15 million per person, now permanent and indexed for inflation |
| 529 plan “superfunding” | Up to $95,000 per child ($190,000 for couples), spread over five years |
| Tuition and medical bills paid directly | Don’t count toward the $19,000 |
Source: IRS estate and gift tax updates.
Gifts to a U.S. citizen spouse and to qualified charities also fall outside the annual limit. Gift tax is due only after you’ve used your full lifetime exemption.
Ways to Give to Family
The best approach depends on who you’re giving to and what you own.
- Cash: The simplest gift. A check to a family member generally counts only once it’s deposited and clears, so avoid waiting until the last days of December.
- Appreciated investments: Moves future growth out of your estate. The recipient takes over your original cost basis, so they may owe capital gains tax when they sell.
- 529 superfunding: Front-loads up to five years of annual exclusions into a college savings plan at once.
- Tuition and medical bills: Paying the school or provider directly lets you help without using your $19,000 exclusion.
- Trusts: Offer more control over how and when money is used. Work with an estate attorney so gifts qualify for the annual exclusion.
Giving more than $19,000 to one person, splitting gifts with a spouse or superfunding a 529 generally means filing a gift tax return by April 15, 2027. Filing usually doesn’t mean you owe tax.
What’s New for Charitable Giving in 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed charitable deductions starting this year. Some donors gain a new deduction, while others get a smaller tax benefit.
| Change | Who it affects | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New deduction | People who take the standard deduction | Deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 joint) in cash gifts to public charities |
| 0.5% of income floor | People who itemize | Only gifts above 0.5% of adjusted gross income are deductible |
| 35% cap | People in the 37% tax bracket | The tax benefit is capped at 35 cents per dollar |
Charitable Giving Strategies
Under the new rules, how you give can matter as much as how much you give.
| Strategy | May fit best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Appreciated stock | Donors with long-held investments that have grown | Deduct the full market value and avoid capital gains tax. Must be held more than one year. |
| Donor-advised fund | Itemizers who want to “bunch” several years of gifts | Take the deduction this year and recommend grants to charities later. May help clear the new 0.5% floor. |
| Qualified charitable distribution (QCD) | IRA owners age 70½ or older | Give up to $111,000 per person directly from an IRA. Not counted as income, and can count toward required distributions. |
| Cash to public charities | People who take the standard deduction | Up to $1,000 ($2,000 joint) is now deductible. Gifts to donor-advised funds don’t qualify. |
QCDs must go directly to a qualified charity, not a donor-advised fund. Coordinating them with your retirement income plan can help keep taxable income in check.
Year-End Deadlines
Most gifts must be completed by December 31, and some take several days to process.
| Type of gift | When it generally counts |
|---|---|
| Check to a family member | When it’s deposited and paid by the bank |
| Check to a charity | When you mail it |
| Credit card gift to a charity | On the date of the charge |
| Stock or other investments | When the shares reach the recipient’s account |
| QCD from an IRA | When the money leaves your IRA, by December 31 |
| Gift tax return | Due April 15, 2027 |
Your Year-End Gifting Checklist
Use these steps to wrap up your 2026 giving.
- List everyone you plan to give to and confirm each gift stays within $19,000, or fits your lifetime plan.
- Pay any tuition or medical bills directly to the school or provider.
- Decide whether to give cash, appreciated investments or both.
- If you’re 70½ or older, consider whether a QCD fits your plan.
- Estimate whether you’ll itemize, since the new rules may change your best strategy.
- Check year-end cutoff dates with your custodian, donor-advised fund and 529 plan.
- Keep receipts for charitable gifts of $250 or more.
- Review the plan with your tax advisor as part of a year-end tax planning review.
Finishing 2026 With a Clear Giving Plan
With new charitable rules and a permanent $15 million exemption, 2026 is a good year to revisit how and when you give, not just how much. Starting early helps you avoid last-minute processing delays.
If you’d like help shaping a giving plan that fits your goals, connect with Aurelius Family Office before the year-end deadlines arrive.
Disclosures
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