Legal Question in Tax Law in California

Re: Gift tax / Form 709

Gift income is not taxable to you. Let Godfather get his own tax advice (a US national would be liable for gift tax). Now hurry up and cash the check before he changes his mind.

P.S.: I am assuming this is your real godfather and not some Internet scam. Never cash checks for people you don't know, especially "cashier's checks," and do not wire money or "change" to anybody by Western Union, for any reason, ever.

Re: Gift tax / Form 709

see:

unless your uncle is a US resident or an expatriate, he is not likely to incur gift tax.

see:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i709.pdf

you will need to report the gift to the IRS.

see:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i3520.pdf