Ask Terry Questions gifts to family

gifts to family

By Terry Savage on August 04, 2026 | Wild Card

I’m getting conflicting information and would like your thoughts on this subject.

We wrote a check to our daughter on December 27, 2025, but she didn’t deposit it until January 3, 2026. My question is, in which year will it count toward her annual maximum gift tax exclusion?

Terry Says

That is what they call a moot point! First of all, unless you are planning to make annual gifts, these filings don’t come into play until after your death — when they are excluded from the $15 million estate tax exclusion!

Next time, just make your gift earlier in the year and tell her to cash the check promptly. No one is going to be looking into this.

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