How to fill out schedule A of form 709 when gift splitting with spouse

[bretthardy]

Question regarding how to fill out schedule A on the 2024 version of form 709 when gift splitting with spouse.

I made a large cash gift to our adult son and would like to split the gift with my wife. I understand we both need to fill out form 709 and each attach a notice of consent. On schedule A, I am filling out the top half of schedule A. Does my wife also fill out the top half of schedule A on her gift tax return or does she fill out the bottom half labeled “Gifts made by spouse”?

[RobertB4444]

On hers she is the primary and you are the spouse.  So on hers she will fill out the top half for her gift and put your gifts in the spouse section of schedule A.

On your 709 you will fill out the top portion and put her gifts in the spouse portion of schedule A.

If the gift is split evenly then the returns should essentially be identical.  Other than the name at the top.

@bretthardy 

[bretthardy]

Thanks for the reply. One follow-up question: If we just made one gift which we are splitting, would it really be listed on the top AND bottom of schedule A?

The end result in this case would be listing the same gift twice which would double the amounts in part 4 of schedule A, this does not seem right. It seems the top table is for gifts I make which are being split and the bottom table is for other, separate gifts that my spouse has made which are also being split. The heading for the bottom table is: "Gifts made by spouse—complete only if you are splitting gifts with your spouse and spouse also made gifts." This is not my situation, there is just ONE gift that we are splitting.  Let me know if that clarifies my question.

[DianeW777]

See the information specifically for gift splitting below and it would not be double. You are entering for each spouse as indicated by our Tax Expert @RobertB4444 .

• Gift splitting elected.  Enter on Schedule A the entire value of every gift you made during the calendar year while you were married, even if the gift's value will be less than $18,000 after it is split in column (h) of Part 1, 2, or 3 of Schedule A.
• Gifts made by spouse.   If you elected gift splitting and your spouse made gifts, list those gifts in the space below “Gifts made by spouse” in Part 1, 2, or 3. Report these gifts in the same way you report gifts you made. 

@bretthardy