(a) Computation of tax. The rate of tax is determined by the total of all gifts made by the donor during the calendar period and all the preceding calendar periods since June 6, 1932. See § 25.2502-1(c)(1) for the definition of “calendar period” and § 25.2502-1(c)(2) for the definition of “preceding calendar periods.” The following six steps are to be followed in computing the tax:

(1) First step. Ascertain the amount of the “taxable gifts” (as defined in § 25.2503-1) for the calendar period for which the return is being prepared.

(2) Second step. Ascertain “the aggregate sum of the taxable gifts for each of the preceding calendar periods” (as defined in § 25.2504-1), considering only those gifts made after June 6, 1932.

(3) Third step. Ascertain the total amount of the taxable gifts, which is the sum of the amounts determined in the first and second steps. See § 25.2702-6 for an adjustment to the total amount of an individual's taxable gifts where the individual's current taxable gifts include the transfer of certain interests in trust that were previously valued under the provisions of section 2702.

(4) Fourth step. Compute the tentative tax on the total amount of taxable gifts (as determined in the third step) using the rate schedule in effect at the time the gift (for which the return is being filed) is made.

(5) Fifth step. Compute the tentative tax on the aggregate sum of the taxable gifts for each of the preceding calendar periods (as determined in the second step), using the same rate schedule set forth in the fourth step of this paragraph (a).

(6) Sixth step. Subtract the amount determined in the fifth step from the amount determined in the fourth step. The amount remaining is the gift tax for the calendar period for which the return is being prepared.

(b) Rate of tax. The tax is computed in accordance with the rate schedule in effect at the time the gift was made as set forth in section 2001(c) or corresponding provisions of prior law.

(c) Definitions. (1) The term “calendar period” means:

(i) Each calendar year for the calendar years 1932 (but only that portion of such year after June 6, 1932) through 1970;

(ii) Each calendar quarter for the first calendar quarter of the calendar year 1971 through the last calendar quarter of calendar year 1981; or

(iii) Each calendar year for the calendar year 1982 and each succeeding calendar year.

(2) The term “preceding calendar periods” means all calendar periods ending prior to the calendar period for which the tax is being computed.

(d) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this section with respect to gifts made by citizens or residents of the United States:

Example 1.Assume that in 1955 the donor made taxable gifts, as ascertained under the first step (paragraph (a)(2) of this section), of $62,500 and that there were no taxable gifts for prior years, with the result that the amount ascertainable under the third step is $62,500. Under the fourth step a tax is computed on this amount. Reference to the tax rate schedule in effect in the year 1955 discloses that the tax on this amount is $7,650. Example 2.A donor makes gifts (other than gifts of future interests in property) during the calendar year 1955 of $30,000 to A and $33,000 to B. Two exclusions of $3,000 each are allowable, in accordance with the provisions of section 2503(b), which results in included gifts for 1955 of $57,000. Specific exemption was claimed and allowed in a total amount of $50,000 in the donor's gift tax returns for the calendar years 1934 and 1935 so there remains no specific exemption available for the donor to claim for 1955. The total amount of gifts made by the donor during preceding years, after excluding $5,000 for each donee for each calendar year in accordance with the provisions of section 1003(b)(1) of the 1939 Code, is computed as follows:

Calendar year 1934

$120,000

Calendar year 1935

25,000

Total amount of included gifts for preceding calendar years

145,000

The aggregate sum of the taxable gifts for preceding calendar years is $115,000, which is determined by deducting a specific exemption of $30,000 from $145,000, the total amount of included gifts for preceding calendar years. The deduction from the 1934 and 1935 gifts for the specific exemption cannot exceed $30,000 for purposes of computing the tax on the 1955 gifts even though a specific exemption in a total amount of $50,000 was allowed in computing the donor's gift tax liability for 1934 and 1935. (See paragraph (b) of § 25.2504-1.) The computation of the tax for the calendar year 1955 (following the steps set forth in paragraph (a) of this section) is shown below:

(1) Amount of taxable gifts for year

$57,000

(2) Total amount of taxable gifts for preceding years

115,000

(3) Total taxable gifts

172,000

(4) Tax computed on item 3 (in accordance with the rate schedule in effect for the year 1955)

31,725

(5) Tax computed on item 2 (using same rate schedule)

18,900

(6) Tax for year 1955 (item 4 minus item 5)

12,825

Example 3.(i) Facts. During the calendar year 1955, H makes the following gifts of present interests:

To his daughter

$40,000

To his son

5,000

To W, his wife

5,000

To a charitable organization

10,000

The gifts to W qualify for the marital deduction, and, pursuant to the provisions of section 2513 (see § 25.2513-1), H and W consent to treat the gifts to third parties as having been made one-half by each spouse. The amount of H's taxable gifts for preceding years is $50,000. Only $25,000 of H's specific exemption provided under section 2521, which was in effect at the time, was claimed and allowed in preceding years. H's remaining specific exemption of $5,000 is claimed for the calendar year of 1955. See § 25.2521-1. W made no gifts during the calendar year 1955 nor during any preceding calendar year. W claims sufficient specific exemption on her return to eliminate tax liability. (ii) Computation of H's tax for the calendar year 1955—(a) H's taxable gifts for year.

Total gifts of H

$60,000

Less: Portion of items to be reported by spouse (one-half of total gifts to daughter, son and charity)

27,500

Balance

32,500

Less: Exclusions (three of $3,000 each for daughter, wife and charity and one of $2,500 for son)

11,500

Total included amount of gifts for year

21,000

Less: Deductions:

Charity

$2,000

Marital

2,000

Specific exemption

5,000

Total deductions

9,000

Amount of taxable gifts for year

12,000

(b) Computation of tax. The steps set forth in paragraph (a) of this section are followed.

(1) Amount of taxable gifts for year

$12,000

(2) Total taxable gifts for preceding years

50,000

(3) Total taxable gifts (item (1) plus item (2))

62,000

(4) Tax computed on item (3) (in accordance with the rate schedule in effect for the year 1955)

7,545

(5) Tax computed in item (2) (in accordance with the rate schedule in effect for the year 1955)

5,250

(6) Tax for the calendar year (item (4) minus item (5))

2,295

(iii) Computation of W's tax for calendar year 1955—(a) W's taxable gifts for year.

Total gifts of W

0

Less: Portion of items to be reported by spouse

0

Balance

0

Gifts of spouse to be included

$27,500

Total gifts for year

27,500

Less: Exclusions (two of $3,000 each for daughter and charity and one of $2,500 for son)

$8,500

Balance

19,000

Less—Deductions:

Charity

$2,000

Marital

0

Specific exemption

17,000

Total deductions

$19,000

Amount of taxable gifts for year

0

(b) Computation of tax. Since W had no “taxable gifts” during the year, there is no tax. Example 4.(i) Facts. The facts are the same as in example 3 except that W made outright gifts of $10,000 to her niece and $20,000 to H at various times during the year. The amount of taxable gifts made by W in preceding calendar years is $75,000, and only $20,000 of her specific exemption provided under section 2521, which was in effect at the time, was claimed and allowed for preceding years. See § 25.2521-1. The remaining specific exemption of $10,000 is claimed for the calendar year 1955.

(ii) Computation of H's tax for the calendar year 1955—(a) H's taxable gifts for year.

Total gifts of H

$60,000

Less: Portion of items to be reported by spouse

27,500

Balance

32,500

Gifts of spouse to be included

5,000

Total gifts for year

37,500

Less: Exclusions ($11,500 as shown in example (3) plus $3,000 exclusion for gift to niece)

14,500

Total included amount of gifts for year

23,000

Deductions:

Charity

$2,000

Marital

2,000

Specific exemption

5,000

Total deductions

9,000

Amount of taxable gifts for year

14,000

$(b) Computation of tax.

(1) Amount of taxable gifts for year

$14,000

(2) Total taxable gifts for preceding years

50,000

(3) Total taxable gifts (item (1) plus item (2))

64,000

(4) Tax computed on item (3)

7,965

(5) Tax computed on item (2)

5,250

(6) Tax for year (item (4) minus item (5))

2,715

(iii) Computation of W's tax for the calendar year 1955—(a) W's taxable gifts for year.

Total gifts of W

$30,000

Less: Portion of item—to be reported by spouse (one-half of gift to niece)

5,000

Balance

25,000

Gifts of spouse to be included

27,500

Total gifts for year

52,500

Less: Exclusions (four of $3,000 each for daughter, husband, niece and charity, and one of $2,500 for son)

$14,500

Total included amount of gifts for year

38,000

Deductions:

Charity

$2,000

Marital

10,000

Specific exemption

10,000

Total deductions

22,000

Amount of taxable gifts for year

$16,000

(b) Computation of tax.

(1) Amount of taxable gifts for year

16,000

(2) Total taxable gifts for preceding years

75,000

(3) Total taxable gifts

91,000

(4) Tax computed on item (3)

13,635

(5) Tax computed on item (2)

10,275

(6) Tax for year (item (4) minus item (5))

3,360

Example 5.A makes gifts (other than gifts of future interests in property) to B in the first quarter of 1971 of $43,000 and in the second quarter of 1971 of $60,000. A gave to C in the second quarter of 1971 land valued at $11,000. The full amount of A's specific exemption provided under section 2521 was claimed and allowed in 1956. In 1966, A made taxable gifts totaling $21,000 on which gift tax was timely paid and no other taxable gifts were made by A in any other year preceding 1971. The gift tax return due for the first calendar quarter of 1971 was timely filed and the tax paid. With respect to the gifts made to B in 1971, the $3,000 annual gift tax exclusion provided by section 2503(b) is applied in its entirety against the $43,000 gift made to B in the first quarter and therefore is not available to offset the $60,000 gift made to B in the second quarter (See § 25.2503-2(b)). A further $3,000 annual gift tax exclusion is available, however, to offset the $11,000 gift made to C in the second quarter of 1971. The computation of the gift tax for the second calendar quarter of 1971 due on August 15, 1971 (following the steps set forth in paragraph (a) of this section) is shown below:

(1) Amount of taxable gifts for the second calendar quarter of 1971 ($60,000 + $11,000−$3,000)

$68,000

(2) Total amount of taxable gifts for preceding calendar periods ($43,000 −$3,000 + $21,000)

61,000

(3) Total taxable gifts

129,000

(4) Tax computed on item 3 (in accordance with rate schedule in effect for the year 1971

22,050

(5) Tax computed on item 2 (using same rate schedule)

7,335

(6) Tax for second calendar quarter of 1971 (item 4 minus item 5)

14,715

Example 6.A makes gifts (other than gifts of future interests in property) during the calendar year 1982 of $160,000 to B and $100,000 to C. Two exclusions of $10,000 each are allowable, in accordance with the provisions of section 2503(b), which results in taxable gifts for 1982 of $240,000. In the first calendar quarter of 1978, A made taxable gifts totaling $100,000 on which gift tax was paid. For the calendar year 1969, A made taxable gifts totaling $50,000. The full amount of A's specific exemption provided under section 2521, which was in effect at the time, was claimed and allowed in 1968. The computation of the gift tax for the calendar period 1982 (following the steps set forth in paragraph (a) of this section) is shown below. (1) Amount of taxable gifts for the calendar year 1982, $240,000.

(2) Total amount of taxable gifts for preceding calendar periods ($100,000 + $50,000), $150,000.

(3) Total taxable gifts, $390,000.

(4) Tax computed on item 3 (in accordance with the rate schedule in effect for the year 1982), $118,400.

(5) Tax computed on item 2 (using same rate schedule), $38,800.

(6) Tax for year 1982 (item 4 minus item 5), $79,600.

[T.D. 6334, 23 FR 8904, Nov. 15, 1958, as amended by T.D. 7238, 37 FR 28725, Dec. 29, 1972; T.D. 7910, 48 FR 40372, Sept. 7, 1983; T.D. 8395, 57 FR 4255, Feb. 4, 1992]