taxandfinancialplanning.net/ - fee based financial planner san jose - - The gift tax exclusion can be used to avoid taxes on your estate, but taking advantage of it requires careful planning. Here’s what you need to know in order to benefit from the gift tax exclusion this year:Only those individuals leaving behind an estate exceeding $5.45 million are faced with the prospect of estate taxes. Even if your assets exceed this threshold, it’s still possible to reduce or eliminate this tax by planning ahead. The annual gift tax exclusion permits you to pass assets down to your heirs tax-free while you’re still alive.