Q: What is the best way for my parents in China to give me money for buying a house in the United States?

My parents in China are ready to transfer $20,000 to me as a gift because my boyfriend and I plan to buy a house together. So far though, I'm just in the U.S. on a visitor's visa. How should I handle this to minimize tax on the gift? Should I ask them to transfer it into my boyfriend's bank account?

A: Having your parents transfer $20,000 to a bank account inside the U.S. is not necessarily a good idea from a gift tax standpoint. If you are here in the US on a visa (rather than a green card), it might be a better idea for them to transfer the money to you in China (for example, to your bank account in China, assuming you have one). That way the entire gift takes place "offshore", and would not be subject to US gift taxes.

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