Can people give cash gifts (tax free) to people they dont know.?

Question

I am under the impression that people are permitted to give gifts, in the form of cash, up to a certain amount and write it off there taxes. Is it illegal to ask someone you dont know to give you a cash gift and have them write it off? This is something I was question after recently purchasing a house.

Answer 1

You are partially correct that you can give cash gifts up to a certain amount ($12,000 per recipient) without paying a gift tax on it. But no, you can't write it off your taxes. Donations to an individual are not deductible. A donation to an authorized 501(c)3 charity can be deducted if you itemize, but even then, not if it's specified to go to a particular person or family.

So sure you can ask anyone to give you a gift - but the CANNOT write it off their taxes.

Answer 2

People can give anyone up to 12,000 without paying gift tax or filing a form. If they give more they need to complete a tax form but probably not pay tax since the lifetime limit is a million.
There isn't a tax benefit to giving gifts no people only to charities that are legit.
Feel free to ask anyone you want for gifts but if they don't know you it isn't likely to get gifts.

Answer 3

No, that is not true. You can only make deductible charitable donations to registered charities. Other gifts are actually taxable to the donor! You can give gifts of up to $12,000 per year per recipient without incurring a Gift Tax liability. Over that amount, gifts may be taxable to the donor (you) not the recipient.