If I receive a cash gift, do I have to pay taxes?

If I receive a cash gift of $80,000, do I have to pay taxes on that amount?

I believe the max for a tax free cash gift is $10,000 - but, I'd strongly recommend you talk to a tax professional at some point, as you don't want to spend all the money, only to find out later that you owe a bunch in taxes for which you can't pay.

Copied from : (irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=107815,00.html)

Gift Taxes

IRS Tax Tip 2007-39

If you gave any one person gifts in 2006 that valued at more than $12,000, you must report the total gifts to the Internal Revenue Service and may have to pay tax on the gifts.

>>>> The person who receives your gift does not have to report the gift to the IRS or pay gift or income tax on its value. <<<<

Gifts include money and property, including the use of property without expecting to receive something of equal value in return. If you sell something at less than its value or make an interest-free or reduced-interest loan, you may be making a gift.

There are some exceptions to the tax rules on gifts. The following gifts do not count against the annual limit:

Tuition or Medical Expenses that you pay directly to an educational or medical institution for someone's benefit
Gifts to your Spouse
Gifts to a Political Organization for its use
Gifts to Charities
If you are married, both you and your spouse can give separate gifts of up to the annual limit to the same person without making a taxable gift.

For more information, get the IRS Publication 950, Introduction to Estate and Gift Taxes, IRS Form 709, United States Gift Tax Return, and Instructions for Form 709. They are available at the IRS Web site at IRS.gov in the Forms and Publications section or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

Publication 950, Introduction to Estate and Gift Taxes (PDF 44K)
Form 709, United States Gift (And Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return (PDF 300K)
Form 709, Instructions (PDF 79K)

Good luck !!