Make Charitable Gifts by Year End to Lock In Deductions Now
By Jim Glass, J.D.
IRA Analyst
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This is the season for charitable giving. And this year, it is especially so for those who want to get the most tax benefit from charity deductions before the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act becomes law. The Act effectively reduces the tax-saving value of the charitable contribution deduction for many.
While details may change, at this writing the Act increases the standard deduction on joint returns to $24,000 from $12,700, on single returns to $12,000 from $6,350, and eliminates many popular itemized deductions. Because taxpayers claim itemized deductions only when their total exceeds the standard deduction, lawmakers project that under the Act, the number of taxpayers who itemize deductions may be reduced by half or more.
To deduct a charitable gift, you must itemize deductions. Persons who don’t itemize in 2018 because of the Act will lose the charity deduction, and many who continue to itemize will see it fall in value.
Example: Say that for 2017 a couple takes $20,000 of itemized deductions and also a $15,000 charity deduction. Their $35,000 total is $22,300 more than the standard deduction of $12,700. Next, say that in 2018 their situation is the same but the Act reduces their itemized deductions to only $10,000. Adding the charity deduction they get itemized deductions of $25,000 compared to the $24,000 standard deduction — their $15,000 charitable contribution provides only $1,000 of deduction benefit.
Prefund Future Gifts for a Deduction Now
If your charity deductions may be jeopardized by the new law, consider accelerating into this year contributions you intended to make next year.
Even better, you can get a deduction in 2017 for gifts to charity that will take place several years into the future by contributing to a Donor Advised Fund. Your contribution is deductible when made, and it is invested to earn returns until it is distributed to charities that you choose through a series of future-year payments. Donor Advised Funds are offered by financial institutions such as Fidelity and Charles Schwab, as well as charitable organizations like United Way.
IRAs and Giving
Taxable distributions from Traditional IRAs, including required minimum distributions (RMDs), can be offset by gifts to charity with the charity deduction eliminating tax. This helps IRAs fund a series of annual charitable gifts, or larger gifts such as to a Donor Advised Fund.
Roth IRA conversions also can be sheltered from income tax using a deduction from charitable giving, provided other funds are available to make the gift. If you’ve been planning to use this strategy, consider doing so before year end.
IRA owners over age 70 1/2 may be eligible to make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) via a transfer directly from the IRA to a public charity (not a Donor Advised Fund). QCDs can be as large as $100,000, satisfy RMD requirements, and have the advantage of not being included in income — but they also don’t provide a deduction and thus aren’t affected by deduction rule changes of the Act.
When not contributing IRA funds, consider donating appreciated assets such as stock shares instead of cash. The advantage is that when you donate the appreciated property, you obtain a deduction for its full value while avoiding ever paying any future gain tax on the property.
Protect Deductions
Before making a large year-end gift, consult with your financial advisor to be sure it fits into your larger plans. The IRS imposes documentation and contribution limit rules on donations, so check its rules as well.