Strategic Gifting That Protects Wealth and Reduces Taxes
At OMNI 360 Advisors, we believe that smart financial planning goes beyond investments and retirement accounts—it includes thoughtful strategies for how and when you transfer assets to loved ones. Gift tax planning plays a crucial role in reducing estate taxes, maximizing exemptions, and ensuring your legacy is preserved for the next generation. Our comprehensive gift tax planning services are designed to help high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and families manage their wealth efficiently while staying compliant with current tax laws.
What Is Gift Tax Planning?
Gift tax planning involves legally transferring assets or money to others, often family members, without incurring unnecessary tax liabilities. The Internal Revenue Code allows a certain amount to be gifted each year without triggering the federal gift tax, and more advanced strategies can help reduce the size of your taxable estate while benefiting your heirs today.
At OMNI 360 Advisors, we help you structure your gifting in a way that leverages all available exemptions, annual exclusions, and lifetime credits while aligning with your overall financial, tax, and estate planning goals.
Why Gift Tax Planning Matters
Whether you’re looking to transfer wealth to your children, make charitable donations, or provide financial support to loved ones, gift tax planning is a powerful tool for:
- Minimizing future estate tax burdens
- Protecting family assets from probate or creditors
- Helping children or grandchildren with education or home buying
- Supporting charitable causes in a tax-efficient manner
The IRS places limits on how much you can gift without triggering gift tax consequences. As of 2025, the annual exclusion amount is $18,000 per recipient, and the lifetime exemption is $13.61 million per individual (subject to change). Planning with foresight allows you to make the most of these thresholds before potential future reductions in exemption limits.
Our Gift Tax Planning Services
At OMNI 360 Advisors, our team of CPAs, estate planning attorneys, and financial advisors works together to deliver fully integrated gift tax planning solutions. We assess your entire financial picture and long-term goals before recommending a tailored strategy. Our services include:
1. Annual Gift Exclusion Strategy
We help you take full advantage of the annual gift tax exclusion, allowing you to gift up to $18,000 per person (or $36,000 per couple) each year without dipping into your lifetime exemption. Our experts create a schedule that aligns with your cash flow, goals, and family structure.
2. Lifetime Gift Exemption Planning
Strategically using your lifetime gift tax exemption can reduce the size of your taxable estate while shifting significant wealth during your lifetime. We’ll help you determine how to use this powerful exemption efficiently—whether you’re gifting appreciated securities, business interests, or real estate.
3. Gifting Through Trusts
We use irrevocable trusts like Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs), and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) to remove assets from your estate and minimize taxes. These vehicles provide added control, asset protection, and income benefits to beneficiaries.
4. Education and Medical Expense Gifting
Gifts made directly to educational institutions or medical providers for someone’s tuition or medical bills are not subject to gift tax or counted against your annual exclusion. OMNI 360 Advisors helps structure these direct payments to maximize your giving power without triggering taxes.
5. Charitable Giving with Tax Benefits
Charitable gifts can reduce your income and estate tax burden. We advise on donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), and other charitable strategies that align with your values and deliver meaningful tax savings.
6. Business Interest Transfers
Gifting interests in a family-owned business or LLC can allow for valuation discounts (like lack of marketability and minority interest), enabling you to transfer more value with less gift tax exposure. We’ll guide you through IRS valuation standards and develop a defensible, compliant transfer plan.
Who Needs Gift Tax Planning?
Gift tax planning is essential for individuals and families with substantial assets who want to:
- Reduce the future estate tax burden
- Provide early inheritances or financial support
- Support grandchildren’s education or other life milestones
- Transition ownership of a family business
- Make charitable contributions in a tax-smart way
- Prevent future disputes through structured wealth transfers
Even if your estate currently falls under the federal exemption threshold, laws may change. The current lifetime exemption is set to sunset at the end of 2025, potentially reverting to around $6–7 million. Planning now can secure your position and protect more of your legacy.
Integration with Broader Financial Planning
At OMNI 360 Advisors, we don’t view gift tax planning in isolation. We take a 360-degree approach by integrating your gifting strategy with:
- Income Tax Planning: Understanding how gifts affect your personal income taxes
- Estate Planning: Coordinating with your wills, trusts, and succession plans
- Investment Strategy: Ensuring transferred assets are aligned with the risk profile and needs of your recipients
- Asset Protection: Using legal structures to protect family wealth from creditors or unintended use
Our in-house team—including CPAs, financial advisors, and legal counsel—collaborates to ensure a seamless and strategic execution.
Common Questions About Gift Tax Planning
Q: Will I owe taxes on gifts I give to my children or grandchildren?
Not necessarily. If your gift falls under the annual exclusion ($18,000 per person in 2025) or you have remaining lifetime exemption, you may not owe tax. However, you may need to file IRS Form 709 to report the gift.
Q: Do my children have to pay taxes on gifts they receive?
No. Gift tax is typically paid by the giver, not the recipient. Gifts are also generally not considered income for the recipient.
Q: What happens if I exceed the annual limit?
If you give more than the annual exclusion, the excess is subtracted from your lifetime gift and estate exemption. You won’t owe tax until you exceed your lifetime limit.
Q: What’s the difference between a gift and an inheritance for tax purposes?
Gifts are transferred during your lifetime and may reduce your estate size. Inheritances occur after death and may be subject to estate taxes. Gift planning helps you manage both ends effectively.
Why Choose OMNI 360 Advisors for Gift Tax Planning?
Choosing OMNI 360 Advisors means gaining a trusted partner with deep expertise in advanced tax planning strategies. We provide:
- Multidisciplinary Guidance: Access to estate attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors—all in-house
- Proactive Compliance: Stay ahead of shifting IRS rules and exemption thresholds
- Tailored Strategies: Solutions based on your goals, values, and family dynamics
- Long-Term Vision: Integration with estate, retirement, and wealth transfer planning
- Confidentiality and Care: Discretion and personal attention to your financial goals
Our team stays ahead of changes in federal tax law, including the scheduled reduction in estate and gift exemptions. We ensure you are positioned to make smart, timely decisions.
Ready to Preserve Your Legacy?
Gifting can be one of the most powerful and rewarding financial decisions you make. Whether you’re looking to support loved ones now, minimize future tax burdens, or align your giving with personal values, OMNI 360 Advisors is here to guide you every step of the way.Contact us at (609) 452-0889 to schedule a consultation to start your personalized gift tax plan.
