Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Family Law (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=120)
-   -   Joint account for green card couples any gift tax issue? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=828413)

  • Oct 26, 2016, 10:01 AM
    DCResident1806
    Joint account for green card couples any gift tax issue?
    Hi all, can you help me on this issue?

    If a green card couple set up a joint account, wife was the only party contributing and withdrawing the funds when the account existed. Would the contribution and/or withdrawal be considered as gifting? Thank you.
  • Oct 26, 2016, 11:02 AM
    ebaines
    No - gift taxes do not apply to gifts or money transfers between spouses.
  • Oct 26, 2016, 11:19 AM
    DCResident1806
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ebaines View Post
    No - gift taxes do not apply to gifts or money transfers between spouses.

    I checked with the IRS rule, it seems that the case you mentioned only applies to the spouses who are both US citizens. What if both couple are green card holders?
  • Oct 26, 2016, 11:54 AM
    ebaines
    To be honest I hadn't considered this before. I found this article which suggests that for non-US citizens the marital gift tax exclusion is $148K for 2016: https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-a...n-gift-3505671

    Also from page 2 of the instructions for Form 709, "US Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return," for tax year 2015 is this:

    "Gifts to your spouse. You must file a gift tax return if you made any gift to your spouse of a terminable interest that does not meet the exception described in Life estate with power of appointment, or if your spouse is not a U.S. citizen and the total gifts you made to your spouse during the year exceed $147,000."

    So if you make a gift to your spouse that exceeds this number it would trigger form 709. You may not actually owe any gift tax, but the form must be filed.
  • Oct 26, 2016, 12:12 PM
    DCResident1806
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ebaines View Post
    To be honest I hadn't considered this before. I found this article which suggests that for non-US citizens the marital gift tax exclusion is $148K for 2016: https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-a...n-gift-3505671

    Also from page 2 of the instructions for Form 709, "US Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return," for tax year 2015 is this:

    "Gifts to your spouse. You must file a gift tax return if you made any gift to your spouse of a terminable interest that does not meet the exception described in Life estate with power of appointment, or if your spouse is not a U.S. citizen and the total gifts you made to your spouse during the year exceed $147,000."

    So if you make a gift to your spouse that exceeds this number it would trigger form 709. You may not actually owe any gift tax, but the form must be filed.

    Thank you for your input. So back to my question, is contribution to a joint account considered as gifting? Thank you in advance for your advice.:)
  • Oct 26, 2016, 12:37 PM
    ebaines
    The creation of a joint account is not a gift event, nor is it a gift when one spouse contributes money to the account. However, if one spouse withdraws a larger amount of money than he/she put in, the excess is considered a gift. So you can avoid gift tax issues if the spouse who makes the most contributions is also the spouse who makes the most withdrawals (i.e. writes the checks).

    For reference, see: http://budgeting.thenest.com/gift-ta...nts-32922.html
  • Oct 26, 2016, 06:52 PM
    DCResident1806
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ebaines View Post
    The creation of a joint account is not a gift event, nor is it a gift when one spouse contributes money to the account. However, if one spouse withdraws a larger amount of money than he/she put in, the excess is considered a gift. So you can avoid gift tax issues if the spouse who makes the most contributions is also the spouse who makes the most withdrawals (i.e. writes the checks).

    For reference, see: Gift Tax Rules & Joint Bank Accounts - Budgeting Money

    Thanks a ton!! It is really helpful.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:56 PM.