Understanding Estate Taxes
16. Appreciating assets are best to give
Appreciating assets are usually the best ones to give because both the asset and any future appreciation will then be out of your taxable estate forever.
But don't think you'll cut out Uncle Sam altogether. When you give away an appreciated asset, it keeps your original cost basis (what you paid for the asset when you purchased it). This means the recipient may have to pay capital gains tax when he or she sells the asset later.
However, the top capital gains rate is still just 15% (on assets held at least 12 months). That's a lot less than estate taxes which, remember, have been 35-55%.