Charitable giving is a powerful way to channel gratitude and generosity, creating a positive impact on the lives of others and fostering a sense of community. Reviewing a checklist before the end of 2023 can be beneficial in ensuring that your contributions are aligned with your values and optimized for tax efficiency. Take note of the 2023 deadlines to ensure that your gift is counted for this fiscal year. Reach out to your Wealth Consultant and tax advisor to discuss how gifting fits into your financial plan. If you are not currently an Evergreen client, click here to speak with our team.
Contributions are only qualified for a tax deduction if they are made to a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Before donating make sure you either confirm tax status with the charity or use the IRS Exempt Organizations Select Check Tool. You should also review to make sure the organizations you are giving to are utilizing funds appropriately. Websites such as Charity Navigator can help you identify institutions that align with your values and are efficiently managed, helping get money to those most in need.
2. How Should You Give?
Direct Donations: Writing a check is the simplest way, but donating appreciated securities can help you give more while reducing your taxes. Gifting low-basis stock is a savvy move as you do not realize the capital gain by transferring the asset and charities do not realize gains from selling assets. Reach out to the charity directly to determine the best way to fund
Donor-Advised Funds: Maximize your long-term impact by gifting to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). These vehicles are well-suited for those who want to make ongoing gifts to charity and want to set up multi-generational giving. Donations can include cash, securities, artwork, and private investments, among others. You receive an itemized deduction in the year you make the gift but you can reinvest the funds within the DAF and can select grants to various organizations over time. For example, if you gift $50,000 of Apple stock in 2023 there is no requirement to grant any of the funds to a charity in the tax year. You could choose to gift it all in 2023, or you can also choose to parcel it out over the next five or ten years. With the increased standard deduction, a common strategy is to bunch multiple years of donations into one year to maximize the tax benefit.
Contributions to DAFs are irrevocable, while you maintain how the funds are invested and granted, you cannot transfer the funds back into your name. You can make grants to charitable organizations as you see fit, these can be made online or via an app, and there is no requirement to distribute a specific dollar amount or percentage in any given year. Family members and loved ones can be set up as successor trustees to ensure that your legacy of charitable giving continues beyond your lifetime. These accounts are offered through Charles Schwab and many other custodians. They do charge administrative as well as investment costs, so make sure to review them before opening an account.
Qualified Charitable Distributions: If you are over 70 ½ and have a tax-deferred retirement account, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are another effective way to give. This is especially true if you do not itemize deductions, as these gifts are above-the-line deductions and you do not have to exceed a specific threshold to receive tax benefits. You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA, reducing your total required minimum distribution (RMD) and resulting in a dollar-for-dollar deduction. For example, if your RMD is $25,000 for 2023 and you donate $15,000, the total income realized from the RMD is $10,000. Going forward, this $100,000 will be indexed for inflation and you can give $105,000 for 2024. To properly qualify the cash donation should be sent directly from the IRA to the charity, it cannot be sent to a bank account first.
3. Understand your Deductions
If you are gifting cash or assets be aware of the itemized deduction limits. In 2023 the maximum percentage of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) you can deduct is 60% for cash contributions and 30% of AGI for long-term capital gain property. Excess contributions can be carried forward for up to 5 years. Please note in 2020 and 2021 there was a temporary 100% AGI deduction for certain qualified cash contributions, which is no longer applicable. [1]
Certain organizations may also be limited to 50% or 30% of AGI deductions for cash contributions. Confirm with the organization about their deduction percentage or learn more here.
4. Track Documentation
Make sure to get records of contributions you have made, no matter the dollar amount. For cash contributions keep records of a bank/credit card statement and a receipt from the charity. For donations over $250, the IRS requires a letter of acknowledgment from the charity by the date that you file your taxes.[2] QCDs are listed as normal distributions on 1099s, so it is important to list the total amount of RMD and the taxable amount on 1040 lines 4a and 4b. [3]DAFs will provide acknowledgment for each donation, so check with your custodian.
5. Know The Deadlines
If you are planning to make donations to a Schwab DAF or are doing a QCD, review the transfer deadlines below. Make sure to review the details if you are using another custodian.
[1] Charitable Contribution Deductions | Internal Revenue Service.
[2] Topic No. 506, Charitable Contributions | Internal Revenue Service.
[3] Reminder to IRA owners age 70½ or over: Qualified charitable distributions are great options for making tax-free gifts to charity | Internal Revenue Service
Katie Vercio, CFP®
Director of Financial Planning
DISCLOSURE: Securities highlighted or discussed in this communication are mentioned for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation for these securities. Evergreen actively manages client portfolios and securities discussed in this communication may or may not be held in such portfolios at any given time. This material has been prepared or is distributed solely for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Any opinions, recommendations, and assumptions included in this presentation are based upon current market conditions, reflect our judgment as of the date of this presentation, and are subject to change. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed and Evergreen makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness.