[net.taxes] one-time gift to spouse legal?

rcj@burl.UUCP (R. Curtis Jackson) (05/31/85)

This sounds really stupid even to me, but I though I'd ask anyway.
I was reading a bit of fiction last night and a guy in one story
helped another guy keep a $35,000 inheritance considerably intact
and out of harm's (the IRS's) way by telling him to give the money
to his wife.  Apparently there at least used to be some provision
for a [potentially large] one-time gift to spouse as an incredible
tax writeoff.  Is this the product of a fertile imagination, or
did/does some version of this writeoff exist?

P.S.: The book in question (I failed to look at the copywrite) seems
about 10-15 years old.

Thanks, and if you'll PLEASE send me mail instead of using that
nassssty costly 'f' key, I'll be glad to post a summary,
-- 

The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3313 (Cornet 291)
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