McBride: Financial gifts for your spouse can reduce tax bill

Are you trying to think of the perfect gift for your spouse? Certain financial gifts to your spouse help reduce your household’s overall income tax bill.
Meet a fictional couple, Hi, who is the higher-income spouse, and Lo, the lower-income spouse.
Pay dividends
Suppose Hi is a small-business owner and Lo is a shareholder in the family’s private corporation but not actively involved in the business. Changes to the dividend sprinkling rules are supposed to take effect January 1, 2018.