Boosting the tax benefits of charitable giving
From a tax standpoint, not all charitable gifts are created equal. A tax-efficient giving strategy can help you maximize the impact of your donations to your favorite charities and take advantage of tax savings. If you are age 70½ or older, you may have an opportunity to make donations to a qualified charity directly from traditional and Roth IRA distributions. In addition to creating tax advantages, these donations also can satisfy any IRA-required minimum distributions for the year.
How an IRA charitable distribution works
Provisions that allow charitable donations from these plans have commonly been approved as part of the tax law on a year-to-year basis. In many cases the laws are passed at the end of the year. It’s important to note that Congress is still working on approving these provisions for 2015.
Historically, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs allow donations of up to $100,000 per person. Married individuals filing a joint return can make gifts up to $100,000 donated from each spouse’s own IRA ($200,000 total). People also have the flexibility to give to multiple charities provided that total charitable distributions from an individual’s IRA do not exceed the $100,000 per person limit.
The benefits of an IRA charitable distribution
With an IRA charitable rollover, money moves directly from the individual’s IRA to the qualified charity. This is an important distinction from a direct gift of cash. Some of the benefits include the following:
The transfer to the charity directly from your IRA qualifies as your “required minimum distribution” from your IRA for this tax year, if you are distributing from a traditional IRA or an inherited IRA.
You aren’t required to report the withdrawal from your IRA as taxable income, which potentially reduces your tax burden. Maintaining a lower level of taxable income is particularly important for people in the top tax brackets who may risk being subject to higher tax rates that apply to those above certain income thresholds.
If you don’t itemize deductions, you still enjoy the tax benefits of a charitable contribution by not having to claim the income that was distributed directly from the IRA to the charity.
Start planning now—contact your financial and tax advisors
There is no guarantee that Congress will approve provisions for IRA qualified charitable contributions again, although if history is any guide approval to extend the provision for at least 2015 could come before the end of the year. However, you can consider making an IRA gift directly to a charity before Congress works out the final details. Instruct your IRA custodian to transfer money directly from your IRA to a charity or charities following the rules that have existed in the past. If Congress fails to extend the IRA qualified charitable contribution provision, you can still claim the distribution as income and also claim the gift to the charity as a charitable deduction, assuming you itemize deductions.
Now would be a great time to contact your financial advisor to discuss the implications that an IRA charitable distribution can have on your overall financial picture. Also be sure to check with your tax advisor before you make any decisions about charitable donations from IRAs and to how to properly report them.
Derrick Kinney is a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Arlington, Texas. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 20 years. To contact him, call 817-419-6001. Primary office located at 700 Highlander Blvd, Suite 335 in Arlington, Texas or visit www.DerrickKinney.com.
Ameriprise Financial and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific tax issues.