When does one have to pay gift tax?

One who is the recipient of a monetary gift does not pay the gift tax on the money received. The donor pays the tax. However, anyone can give a monetary gift of up to $14,000 per year without having to pay the gift tax. This means that a couple can give away up to $28,000 per year to a person without paying any gift tax. However a married couple can give each other an unlimited amount without any gift tax consequences.