2025 Gift Tax Exemption Rules. Taxpayers typically only pay gift tax on the amounts that exceed the allotted lifetime exclusion, which is $13.61 million in 2024 and $13.99 million in 2025. If you're married and pass away in 2025, your spouse is entitled to a separate $13.99 million exemption and can inherit your unused lifetime exemption by filing an estate tax.

Meanwhile, the irs has announced that the. The lifetime exemption covers the combined value of taxable gifts made during your lifetime and your estate at death.