What was the 1998 gift tax exclusion?

In 1998, the annual gift tax exclusion allowed individuals to gift up to $10,000 per recipient without incurring any gift tax liabilities. This exclusion applied to each individual, meaning a married couple could collectively gift up to $20,000 to the same recipient without triggering taxes. The exclusion amount is adjusted periodically for inflation, but it remained at $10,000 for several years before increasing in subsequent years.