Couples Can Gift $36,000 Per Recipient Tax-Free in 2026

The annual gift exclusion lets you transfer wealth without using your lifetime exemption

The Details

Gifting appreciated stock instead of cash transfers the tax basis to the recipient. They'll pay capital gains at their (potentially lower) rate when sold, not yours.

What this means for you

Retirement decisions compound — getting one of these details wrong can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a retirement. The good news: most of these mistakes are completely avoidable if you understand how the rule actually works.

Next step

If you want to see how this applies to your specific situation, take the free Retire Ready Score — a 2-minute assessment that scores your current plan across income, taxes, healthcare, and protection.