gift tax investment & finance definition

A tax that is assessed on a person who gives assets or money to another person without receiving fair compensation. Gifts up to $11,000 a year are exempt from the gift tax. A married couple may give a total of $22,000 to one person as a gift if each person writes a separate check. A spouse may receive unlimited gifts free of tax, unless the spouse is a foreigner. Top gift tax rates are at 50%.