Maybe. There can sometimes be a tax due on gifts. This tax is the responsibility of the person making the gift.
Gift tax returns (Form 709) are due (but not necessarily a tax) for gifts that exceed the annual exclusion for each year. If your mother has re-married she and her spouse may elect to split gifts and effectively double the amount she is allowed to give to you and your brother each under this exclusion.
The annual exclusion amount is currently $15,000 per person. This means that your mother (and her spouse, if applicable) can give you and your brother each $15,000 per year without a tax consequence. If she gives you just $15,000 per year each, no return is required. If she and her spouse elect to "split" a gift and give you each $30,000 a return is required.
While exceeding the annual exclusion requires that a return be filed, a tax won't necessarily be due because there is another exclusion that comes into play called the lifetime exclusion.
The lifetime exclusion amount is a little different because it applies to the total amount your mother can give away to all people and that amount is currently $11.58 million. (This amount, if she elects to split gifts with her spouse is $23.16 million.)
No tax is due until she exceeds this amount in gifts that she gives all people, in cash and non-cash items over the course of her entire lifetime.
This includes all gifts except:
- Gifts to charities that are approved by the IRS.
- A gift to a spouse that is a U.S. citizen.
- A gift to cover someone's educational expense, as long as paid directly to the educational institution.
- Gifts to cover medical expenses, as long as paid directly to the medical provider.
- Gifts to political organizations.
The above covers federal gift tax. If you live in Connecticut, you also have a state gift tax to contend with and should consult a local adviser for more information about that.
TurboTax does not support the gift tax form and if you are looking at a significant transfer we do recommend that you and your mother find a qualified professional in your area to discuss this matter with before you transfer any funds to ensure that you do so in the way that will be most beneficial.
Also, a good adviser can assist you with the best ways to deal with the funds once they are in your possession.
Here are a few resources that may be helpful for you:
https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/
https://www.aicpa.org/
https://www.naea.org/
https://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/roadmap/pick.htm
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