Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE · CHAPTER 12— GIFT TAX · Subchapter A— Determination of Tax Liability · § 2503

§ 2503. Taxable gifts

2,167 words·~10 min read·/usc/title-26/section-2503

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)General definition The term “taxable gifts” means the total amount of gifts made during the calendar year, less the deductions provided in subchapter C (section 2522 and following).
(b)Exclusions from gifts
(1)In general In the case of gifts (other than gifts of future interests in property) made to any person by the donor during the calendar year, the first $10,000 of such gifts to such person shall not, for purposes of subsection (a), be included in the total amount of gifts made during such year. Where there has been a transfer to any person of a present interest in property, the possibility that such interest may be diminished by the exercise of a power shall be disregarded in applying this subsection, if no part of such interest will at any time pass to any other person.
(2)Inflation adjustment In the case of gifts made in a calendar year after 1998, the $10,000 amount contained in paragraph
(1)shall be increased by an amount equal to—
(A)$10,000, multiplied by
(B)the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by substituting “calendar year 1997” for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence is not a multiple of $1,000, such amount shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $1,000.
(c)Transfer for the benefit of minor No part of a gift to an individual who has not attained the age of 21 years on the date of such transfer shall be considered a gift of a future interest in property for purposes of subsection
(b)if the property and the income therefrom—
(1)may be expended by, or for the benefit of, the donee before his attaining the age of 21 years, and
(2)will to the extent not so expended—
(A)pass to the donee on his attaining the age of 21 years, and
(B)in the event the donee dies before attaining the age of 21 years, be payable to the estate of the donee or as he may appoint under a general power of appointment as defined in section 2514(c).
[(d) Repealed. Pub. L. 97–34, title III, § 311(h)(5), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 282]
(e)Exclusion for certain transfers for educational expenses or medical expenses
(1)In general Any qualified transfer shall not be treated as a transfer of property by gift for purposes of this chapter.
(2)Qualified transfer For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified transfer” means any amount paid on behalf of an individual—
(A)as tuition to an educational organization described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) for the education or training of such individual, or
(B)to any person who provides medical care (as defined in section 213(d)) with respect to such individual as payment for such medical care.
(f)Waiver of certain pension rights If any individual waives, before the death of a participant, any survivor benefit, or right to such benefit, under section 401(a)(11) or 417, such waiver shall not be treated as a transfer of property by gift for purposes of this chapter.
(g)Treatment of certain loans of artworks
(1)In general For purposes of this subtitle, any loan of a qualified work of art shall not be treated as a transfer (and the value of such qualified work of art shall be determined as if such loan had not been made) if—
(A)such loan is to an organization described in section 501(c)(3) and exempt from tax under section 501(c) (other than a private foundation), and
(B)the use of such work by such organization is related to the purpose or function constituting the basis for its exemption under section 501.
(2)Definitions For purposes of this section—
(A)Qualified work of art The term “qualified work of art” means any archaeological, historic, or creative tangible personal property.
(B)Private foundation The term “private foundation” has the meaning given such term by section 509, except that such term shall not include any private operating foundation (as defined in section 4942(j)(3)).
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 404; Pub. L. 91–614, title I, § 102(a)(3), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1839; Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 702(j)(2), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2931; Pub. L. 97–34, title III, § 311(h)(5), title IV, §§ 441(a), (b), 442(a)(3), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 282, 319, 320; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1898(h)(1)(B), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2957; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(s)(2)(A), (u)(52), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3586, 3593; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7811(m)(1), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2412; Pub. L. 105–34, title V, § 501(c), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 846; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11002(d)(1)(EE), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2060.)
Inflation Adjusted Items for Certain Years
For inflation adjustment of certain items in this section, see Revenue Procedures listed in a table under section 1 of this title.
Connections12 cite this · traces to 6
52 references not yet in our index
  • Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736
  • 68A Stat. 404
  • Pub. L. 91–614, title I, § 102(a)(3)
  • 84 Stat. 1839
  • Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 702(j)(2)
  • 92 Stat. 2931
  • Pub. L. 97–34, title III, § 311(h)(5)
  • 95 Stat. 282
  • Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1898(h)(1)(B)
  • 100 Stat. 2957
  • Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(s)(2)(A)
  • 102 Stat. 3586
  • Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7811(m)(1)
  • 103 Stat. 2412
  • Pub. L. 105–34, title V, § 501(c)
  • 111 Stat. 846
  • 131 Stat. 2060
  • Pub. L. 105–34
  • Pub. L. 101–239
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 1018(u)(52)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 1018(s)(2)(A)
  • Pub. L. 99–514
  • Pub. L. 97–34, § 442(a)(3)(A)
  • Pub. L. 97–34, § 442(a)(3)(B)
  • Pub. L. 97–34, § 441(a)
  • Pub. L. 97–34, § 311(h)(5)
  • Pub. L. 97–34, § 441(b)
  • Pub. L. 95–600
  • Pub. L. 91–614, § 102(a)(3)(A)
  • Pub. L. 91–614, § 102(a)(3)(B)
  • section 501(f) of Pub. L. 105–34
  • Pub. L. 100–647
  • section 7817 of Pub. L. 101–239
  • Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(s)(2)(B)
  • 102 Stat. 3587
  • section 1018(u)(52) of Pub. L. 100–647
  • section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647
  • Pub. L. 98–397
  • section 1898(j) of Pub. L. 99–514
  • section 311(h)(5) of Pub. L. 97–34
+ 12 more
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 2503
Taxable gifts
Stat.×10
Bills×2
ActAug. 16, 1954, ch. 736
Stat.68A Stat. 404
Pub. L.Pub. L. 91–614, title I, § 102(a)(3)
Stat.84 Stat. 1839
Pub. L.Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 702(j)(2)
Cites 58 · showing 11Cited by 12 across 2 sources
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.