How Do I Write a Gift Letter? The donor's name, address and phone number. The donor's relationship to the client. The dollar amount of the gift. The date when the funds were (or will be) transferred. A statement from the donor that no repayment is expected. The donor's signature.
Making a gift or leaving your estate to your heirs does not ordinarily affect your federal income tax. You cannot deduct the value of gifts you make (other than gifts that are deductible charitable contributions).
If you meet all of the following requirements, you are not required to file Form 709. You made no gifts during the year to your spouse. You did not give more than $18,000 to any one donee. All the gifts you made were of present interests.
Generally, Form 709: U.S. Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return is required if any of the following apply: An individual makes one or more gifts to any one person (other than his or her citizen spouse) that are more than the annual exclusion for the year.
In that case, you'll file Form 709: United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. We don't support Form 709, but you can download it from the IRS website and fill it out per the Form 709 instructions.
California does not levy a gift tax, however, the federal government does. That tax rate can climb to as high as 40%. Still, there are plenty of ways you can minimize the hit or avoid it all together. For 2025, you can give up to $19,000 to any individual without triggering a gift tax, which is up from $18,000 in 2024.
Most mortgage providers will have a template that you can follow, but in general, your gift letter should include: The donor's name, address and phone number. The donor's relationship to the client. The dollar amount of the gift. The date when the funds were (or will be) transferred.
Use Form 709 to report: Transfers subject to the federal gift and certain generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes.
(Date) Dear (Donor): I have received your "Offer of Gift," dated ___________________, by which you, on behalf of the (Name of Company), offered to convey (Description of Property) to the United States of America as a gift. I accept with pleasure your gift and conveyance of the (Property), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2601.