Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§6019 Gift tax returns

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Procedure and Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 61— - INFORMATION AND RETURNS › Subchapter Subchapter A— - Returns and Records › Part PART II— - TAX RETURNS OR STATEMENTS › Subpart Subpart C— - Estate and Gift Tax Returns › § 6019

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must report any gift transfer you make in a calendar year unless the gift is one of these exceptions. The exceptions are gifts excluded by section 2503(b) or 2503(e); gifts that qualify for a deduction under section 2523; and gifts that qualify under section 2522 only in two cases — when the donor gives away their entire interest and no other interest was (or had been) transferred for less than full payment to a person or for a use not listed in 2522(a) or (b), or when the gift is the type described in section 2522(d).

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6019

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Any individual who in any calendar year makes any transfer by gift other than—
(1)a transfer which under subsection (b) or (e) of section 2503 is not to be included in the total amount of gifts for such year,
(2)a transfer of an interest with respect to which a deduction is allowed under section 2523, or
(3)a transfer with respect to which a deduction is allowed under section 2522 but only if—
(A)(i)such transfer is of the donor’s entire interest in the property transferred, and
(ii)no other interest in such property is or has been transferred (for less than adequate and full consideration in money or money’s worth) from the donor to a person, or for a use, not described in subsection (a) or (b) of section 2522, or
(B)such transfer is described in section 2522(d),

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–312 amended section to read as if amendment by Pub. L. 107–16, § 542(b)(2), had never been enacted. See 2001 Amendment note below. 2001—Pub. L. 107–16, § 542(b)(2), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted subsec. (a) heading “In general”, and added subsec. (b), which related to statements to be furnished to certain persons. 1997—Par. (3). Pub. L. 105–34 added par. (3). 1981—Pub. L. 97–34 struck out subsec. “(a) In general” designation, substituted “calendar year” for “calendar quarter” and “year” for “quarter” wherever appearing, inserted in provision designated par. (1) reference to subsec. (e) of section 2503, added par. (2), and deleted provision respecting transfers by gift other than qualified charitable transfers, repealed subsec. (b) setting forth return requirement and definition of qualified charitable transfer, and repealed subsec. (c) setting forth cross reference to section 2515(c) relating to tenancy by the entirety. 1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–614 substituted “Any individual who in any calendar quarter makes any transfers by gift (other than transfers which under section 2503(b) are not to be included in the total amount of gifts for such quarter and other than qualified charitable transfers) shall make a return for such quarter with respect to the gift tax imposed by subtitle B” for “Any individual who in any calendar year makes any transfers by gift (except those which under section 2503(b) are not to be included in the total amount of gifts for such year) shall make a return with respect to the gift tax imposed by subtitle B”. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 91–614 added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–312 applicable to estates of decedents dying, and transfers made after Dec. 31, 2009, except as otherwise provided, see section 301(e) of Pub. L. 111–312, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2010 Amendment note under section 121 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2001 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–16 applicable to estates of decedents dying after Dec. 31, 2009, see section 542(f)(1) of Pub. L. 107–16, set out as a note under section 121 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1997 Amendment Pub. L. 105–34, title XIII, § 1301(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1039, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to gifts made after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997].”

Effective Date

of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to gifts made after Dec. 31, 1981, see section 403(e)(2) and 442(e) of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as a note under section 2056 and 2501 of this title, respectively.

Effective Date

of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–614 applicable with respect to gifts made after Dec. 31, 1970, see section 102(e) of Pub. L. 91–614, set out as a note under section 2501 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 6019

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73