Estate Planning

Estate and Gift Tax Limits for 2026

Estate and Gift Tax Limits for 2026

Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Tax Planning

For families with significant wealth, the 2026 federal estate and gift tax landscape offers meaningful opportunities for long-term planning. The IRS has set the 2026 estate and gift tax exemption at $15 million per individual, up from $13.99 million in 2025, allowing a married couple to potentially shield up to $30 million from federal estate and gift tax.

Although the federal exemption remains historically high, several states continue to impose their own estate or inheritance taxes with substantially lower thresholds. Coordinating federal and state-level strategies remains an important strategy.

The annual gift exclusion is $19,000 per recipient in 2026. This allows individuals, and couples giving jointly, to make tax-free annual gifts to as many people as they choose. For example, a married couple with three children may gift up to $38,000 to each child without filing a gift tax return (Form 709).

For high‑ and ultra‑high‑net‑worth families, these limits underscore the importance of proactive wealth-transfer planning, including trusts, lifetime gifting, and multigenerational strategies. Thoughtful early planning can help preserve family wealth and support the legacy you intend to build.

Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in 2019, but has been updated to reflect 2026 exemptions.

 

Where you want to go in life is up to you. How to help you get there is up to us.

Contact us today to start your journey…

Contact

Schultz Financial Group Inc.
10765 Double R Blvd. Suite 200
Reno, NV 89521
Phone: (775) 850-5620
Fax: (775) 850-5639
Email: [email protected]

Where you want to go in life is up to you. How to help you get there is up to us.

Contact us today to start your journey…

Contact

Schultz Financial Group Inc.
10765 Double R Blvd. Suite 200
Reno, NV 89521
Phone: (775) 850-5620
Fax: (775) 850-5639
Email: [email protected]

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