Q: What’s the Best Way to Give Money to Children and Grandchildren?

A: In 2004, the IRS allows you to give up to $11,000 annually (or $22,000 if you give jointly with your spouse) to each of as many people as you’d like in cash, investments and/or property without triggering gift taxes. (This limit may be adjusted for inflation in future years.)

If you’re thinking about giving money to minor children, it might make sense to take advantage of The Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or The Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UGMA/UTMA) depending on your state. An UGMA/UTMA account allows you to establish a savings or investment account in a child’s name, with one adult named as custodian. Each parent or grandparent can contribute up to $11,000 annually without triggering a gift tax.

With an UGMA/UTMA strategy, the first $750 per year of unearned (investment) income is tax free. For children under 14, anything between that amount and $1,500 is taxed at the child’s rate (currently 10%). Any income exceeding $1,500 for children under 14 is taxed at the higher of the parent’s or child’s rate. For children over age 14, all income is taxed at the child’s rate.

Of course, asset gifts are not limited to young children. You can also give to as many adults as you’d like up to $11,000 a year. Keep in mind, however, that the IRS considers the value of the gift its cost basis for purposes of computing gift tax to be its value at the time that it’s given, not when you originally purchased or invested in it. By making a tax-smart financial gift to an adult-aged child, you could help him or her fund a downpayment for a home or afford to maximize contributions to an employer-sponsored retirement plan.

If you’re thinking about starting a gifting program, a qualified financial professional can help you evaluate which strategies might be appropriate for your situation.

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