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If you’re thinking of giving stock to a child, there a few options for how to do so: Purchase stock specifically for a child – you can do that via a custodial account over which you have or another family member has control. Give stock from an existing investment account – contact your broker to help make the transfer electronically or by stock certificate. Give stock with an app – find an online app that allows you to give stock. In any case, the recipient should have a . A minor child should have a custodial account, while an of-age child may have a regular account. While you could transfer the stock as physical certificates, it’s merely a novelty and pricey to do so, too. Either way, you’ll want to stay under legal thresholds that could cause tax headaches. You can safely give stock to a child (or to anyone) under the annual gift exclusion, which allows individuals to give up to $15,000 annually (for 2021) to any number of recipients without incurring a gift tax. A married couple filing jointly can give up to $30,000 annually. To qualify for this year’s exclusion, you need to make the gift before the end of the calendar year. Otherwise, your gift will count toward next year’s exclusion. It can require time and paperwork to go through a broker, so if you’re looking for a simpler way to gift stock, there are . Two options include and . allows you to give a stock at no cost to yourself, with the value given (up to $50) determined by the app. Stick around on the site (or have your gift receiver do so) to learn more about investing and finance, join talks about socially responsible investing and more. allows you to give a gift card for a preset amount (ranging from $1 to $2,000) redeemable for stocks or ETFs. You can buy , so you don’t need the money for a full share. If you’re looking to get started investing, you can also use the app. Tips for gifting stock to family members
To optimize the gift and avoid other potential complications, you should pay attention to the fine print, especially if your gift is particularly large. Going over the gift exclusion
If you go over your gift exclusion in any given year, you can use your lifetime gift exclusion – worth $11.7 million in 2021 – to shelter the excess giving, says Victor. But using that shelter is less tax-efficient overall, because of how gifts are taxed relative to inherited stock. “Recipients will carry over the donor’s cost basis for gifts made during the donor’s lifetime, and will then realize and upon sale of the stock,” says Victor. “Whereas appreciated stock included in the donor’s gross estate and passed [down] at death will typically receive a step-up in basis, so that capital gain will not be realized on a sale.” In short, inheriting appreciated stock is more tax-efficient than receiving it as a gift. Consider a trust
If you’re looking to give a gift of substantial value, . The trust structure can help you “postpone the recipient’s access and control beyond the age of majority,” says Victor. By placing some constraints on the money, the trust may help ensure that the gift ends up being used more judiciously later in life. If you’re thinking of going this route, you’ll probably want to consult a lawyer who’s experienced in estate planning, since trusts are a complex area of the law. Make a charitable donation
While you’re in the gift-giving spirit, you may also consider giving stock to a charity and securing a tax write-off for the stock’s fair market value in the process. If you donate appreciated property, you’ll avoid the tax hit on the gains, take a tax deduction and help out someone, too. “Applicable adjusted gross income limits are 30 percent of adjusted gross income for gifts of stock held for more than one year, with a five-year carryforward for any unused deduction,” says Victor. Make sure your favorite charity qualifies for tax-deductible contributions and get any donations in by the end of the year to secure a write-off. If you’re not quite sure what you want to fund but want to take advantage of a tax write-off this year, , which can allow you to take a large deduction this year but distribute the funds over a multi-year period. Bottom line
Giving stock can be a good way to teach younger relatives about business and how to invest. However, be sure that you consider the tax and estate repercussions if you’re making a sizable gift and . Learn more
SHARE: Bankrate senior reporter James F. Royal, Ph.D., covers investing and wealth management. His work has been cited by CNBC, the Washington Post, The New York Times and more. Brian Beers is the managing editor for the Wealth team at Bankrate. He oversees editorial coverage of banking, investing, the economy and all things money. Kenneth Chavis IV is a senior wealth manager who provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management and tax planning services to business owners, equity compensated executives, engineers, medical doctors and entertainers. Related Articles