Why keep a gift ledger at all
Most families don't owe gift tax. They still have to track gifts, because anything over the annual exclusion to one person draws down the lifetime exemption and needs a Form 709. Miss the paperwork and you can lose track of how much exemption is left, which is the number that decides your estate-tax exposure later. A ledger turns scattered checks, 529 deposits, and transfers into one running total you and your CPA can trust.
Do I owe tax on gifts over $19,000?
Usually not. Gifts over the annual exclusion file a Form 709 and draw against your ~$15M lifetime exemption. You only owe gift tax once that's used up. The ledger tracks how much you've used.
Does this replace a CPA?
No. It organizes the inputs so your CPA's job is easy. It's a record-keeping aid, not tax advice.
General information, not tax or legal advice. The IRS figures change every year, so check the current numbers with your CPA and the IRS.
Rather not keep a spreadsheet?
Family Matters tracks every gift against the exclusion and your lifetime exemption - automatically.