Benefits of Lifetime Giving

The benefits of lifetime giving include the following:

Each year, individuals can give specific gift amounts tax-free. The amount that can be gifted tax-free is determined by the annual exclusion. These gifts can be given to any number of donees each year.
If a gift is made more than three years prior to the decedent's death, the amount of gift tax paid is not brought back into the estate for computation of estate taxes.
The appreciation of a gift made during life is not subject to estate taxes in the donor's estate.