The annual amount exempt from the federal gift tax, called the annual gift tax exclusion, was indexed for inflation beginning in 1997 and has slowly increased over the years. Below is a chart that shows the increases in the annual gift tax exclusion from 1997 through 2010 since recently the IRS issued Rev Proc. 2009-50 which states that the annual gift tax exclusion will remain at $13,000 in 2010. Where the amount will go beyond 2010 depends on inflation, and, as the chart indicates, it can only be increased in increments of $1,000.
Historical Annual Exclusion Gift Amounts
| Year | Annual Exclusion Amount |
| 1997 | $10,000 |
| 1998 | $10,000 |
| 1999 | $10,000 |
| 2000 | $10,000 |
| 2001 | $10,000 |
| 2002 | $11,000 |
| 2003 | $11,000 |
| 2004 | $11,000 |
| 2005 | $11,000 |
| 2006 | $12,000 |
| 2007 | $12,000 |
| 2008 | $12,000 |
| 2009 | $13,000 |
| 2010 | $13,000 |
