The federal Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) tax lifetime exemption for 2025 is $13.99 million per individual ($27.98 million for married couples). Due to new legislation (P.L. 119-21), this exemption is set to increase to $15 million per individual ($30 million per married couple) in 2026, with annual indexing for inflation.
The total of lifetime gifts and the estate are eligible for a lifetime exemption, which is set at $13.99 million in 2025. The exemption amount is indexed for inflation, and was scheduled to be reduced by half after 2025. The higher exemption level was made permanent and slightly increased to $15 million in 2026 by P.L.
The Generation Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) Exemption
Like the unified credit, in 2026 the GSTT exemption will be increased to $15,000,000. While seemingly similar to the unified credit, it is important to note that the GST tax exemption is not “portable” or shareable with your spouse.
The 'five year rule' states that residential premises are not considered to be 'new' if they have been rented out as residential premises for five or more years since they first became residential premises, or were last built or substantially renovated.
During the GST/HST break
From December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025, you should not have charged the GST/HST on the qualifying goods and services listed above. Keep your records and remit and report your regular GST/HST as usual.
GST Updates & Amendments in 2025: Key Changes to Know
One of the key GST updates under 2.0 reform is that it simplified the GST tax structure from a 4-slab (5%, 12%, 18% and 28%) to a 3-slab (5%, 18% and 40%). GST Council, however, meets every quarter to improve the system.
Yes, in 2024, each parent could gift $18,000 to a child (totaling $36,000 per child for the couple) without tax implications, and for 2025, that amount increased to $19,000 per parent ($38,000 per child) because the annual gift tax exclusion is adjusted for inflation, requiring separate checks for each parent to utilize the full amount, according to TurboTax, Yahoo Finance, Guardian Life, IRS (.gov), and Mercer Advisors.
To avoid the 22% tax bracket (or any higher bracket), focus on reducing your taxable income through strategies like maxing out 401(k)s and HSAs, deferring bonuses, tax-loss harvesting, smart charitable giving, and strategic asset location, understanding that higher rates only apply to income within that bracket, not your entire income.
There's no limit on how much money you can give or receive as a gift! However, there are some occasions where tax may be payable, or capital gains tax (CGT) may apply. For example, in some instances when gifting property, shares or crypto assets, or when receiving money or an asset from a non-resident trust.
If the individual tax cuts expire, taxpayers in all income groups would face higher and more complicated taxes. Machinery and equipment expensing is a key provision that, if allowed to expire, would especially harm capital-intensive industries like manufacturing.
You are eligible for this credit if you are a resident of Canada for income tax purposes at the end of the month before and at the beginning of the month in which the CRA makes a payment (read When your GST/HST credit is paid). In the month before the CRA makes a quarterly payment, you must be at least 19 years old.
If you gift someone more than $15,000 in a year (the 2024/2025 annual exclusion amount is actually $19,000 for 2024 & 2025, and potentially $19,000 for 2026), you must file IRS Form 709, the Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, even if you don't owe taxes. This excess amount reduces your lifetime gift tax exemption (which is over $13 million for 2025), meaning you'll only pay gift tax if you exceed your total lifetime limit, but filing the form is crucial to track this reduction. The recipient never pays gift tax or reports it as income.
The "7-year rule" for lifetime gifts, primarily in the UK's Inheritance Tax (IHT) system, means gifts you give are only free from IHT if you live for seven years after making them; if you die within that period, the gift becomes a "Potentially Exempt Transfer" (PET) and may be subject to tax, with potential "taper relief" reducing the charge based on how close to seven years you lived, but proper planning with advisors is crucial for managing these complex rules.
This exemption, which is indexed annually for inflation, reached a historic high of $13.99 million per person ($27.98 million per married couple) for 2025.
There are 2 primary methods of transferring wealth, either gifting during lifetime or leaving an inheritance at death. Individuals may transfer up to $15 million (as of 2026) during their lifetime or at death without incurring any federal gift or estate taxes. This is referred to as your lifetime exemption.
The IRS primarily learns about large gifts when you file Form 709, the Gift Tax Return, for amounts exceeding the annual exclusion (e.g., $19,000 per person in 2025). They can also discover gifts through third-party reporting (banks reporting large cash transfers), audits of your estate, or by matching transactions to public records, especially for significant asset transfers like property, which might trigger property tax reassessments.
Can my parents give me $100,000? Your parents can each give you up to $19,000 in 2025 without triggering a gift tax return. However, any amount that exceeds that will need to be reported to the IRS by your parents and will count against their lifetime limit.
Starting September 22, 2025, GST in India will be simplified to primarily two rates: 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate on luxury and sin goods like tobacco and high-end vehicles. Many essentials, including certain medicines and foods, are now zero-rated, while several items see reduced rates.
For any standard-rated supplies of goods or services that you make on or after 1 Jan 2024, you must charge GST at 9%. For instance, if you issue an invoice and receive payments for your supply on or after 1 Jan 2024, you must account for GST at 9%.
2022, Works contract services provided to Central and State Government, or Local Authorities, which were earlier eligible for concessional rate of 12% GST,would attract GST at the rate of 18% in view of amendment carried out in notification No. 11/2017- Central Tax (Rate) vide notification No.