Updated October 5, 2026. Quick answer: No. Wisconsin has no gift tax for a gift made in 2026. The Department of Revenue says: “There is no Wisconsin gift tax for gifts made on or after” January 1, 1992. The federal annual exclusion is $19,000 per recipient for 2026.
Putting a loan in writing? The interest limit, the signing rules and the time limit to sue, from the state’s own statutes: Wisconsin promissory note.
Wisconsin gift tax at a glance
| Item | What the documents say |
|---|---|
| State gift tax | None |
| What the documents say | The Department of Revenue says there is no Wisconsin gift tax for gifts made on or after January 1, 1992 |
| State estate or inheritance tax | None: no estate tax for decedents dying after December 31, 2007, and no inheritance tax for deaths on or after January 1, 1992 |
| Federal annual exclusion, 2026 | $19,000 per recipient |
| Federal basic exclusion amount, 2026 | $15,000,000 |
| Source | Wisconsin Department of Revenue; Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau; IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 |
What the Wisconsin documents say
The statement is on the Department’s Estates, Trusts, and Fiduciaries page, under the heading Wisconsin Gift Tax Return, and it says to contact the department for forms if a gift was made before January 1, 1992.
Estates, inheritances and gifts near death in Wisconsin
The same page says “There is no estate tax for decedents dying after December 31, 2007” and “There is no Wisconsin inheritance tax” for decedents dying on or after January 1, 1992.
What applies to a gift from a Wisconsin resident
Federal gift tax is separate and applies wherever you live. The IRS says gifts “not more than the annual exclusion for the calendar year” are generally not taxable gifts, and Revenue Procedure 2025-32 sets the 2026 annual exclusion at “the first $19,000 of gifts to any person”. The same procedure puts the basic exclusion amount at “$15,000,000 for calendar year 2026”. The IRS adds that “The donor is generally responsible for paying the gift tax”.
An illustration: a $50,000 gift to one child in 2026 is $31,000 above the federal annual exclusion, and Wisconsin adds no gift tax of its own on top of that. CMG’s gift tax limit and Form 709 who must file pages explain the federal side, and how Wisconsin taxes 401(k) and IRA withdrawals covers a gift of retirement money.
Common mistakes
- Filing a Wisconsin gift tax return for a recent gift; the Department says there is none for gifts made on or after January 1, 1992.
- Assuming the state answer settles the federal one, or the answer for a gift of property located in another state.
Related: the federal gift tax limit, gift tax by state, estate tax by state, and Wisconsin probate cost.
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Answer againSources
- DOR Estates, Trusts, and Fiduciaries FAQ: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/FAQS/ise-estate.aspx
- Estate Tax, Informational Paper 7: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lfb/informational_papers/january_2007/0007_estate_tax_informational_paper_7.pdf
- Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (Internal Revenue Service): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-25-32.pdf
- Frequently asked questions on gift taxes (Internal Revenue Service): https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-gift-taxes
Sources: the primary documents linked above, read on October 5, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a tax professional or the state agency itself is the right place to confirm anything consequential.