Payment Center
Client Portal Payment Center
In Focus Resource Center > Insights

Advantages of Utilizing Qualified Charitable Deductions

By Heather Oboda .

Qualified Charitable Deductions can be advantageous for many looking to maximize deductions and fulfill charitable giving goals, but it is important to fully understand their regulations before deciding if this deduction is right for you.

A Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) occurs when a taxpayer has funds paid directly from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to a qualified public charity. QCDs, which can only be made from IRA accounts of taxpayers 70 ½ or older, can be made up to $100,000 for each qualifying taxpayer and their spouse. A taxpayer cannot use their pension plan to make QCDs, nor can a QCD be used to contribute to a donor advised funds or a a private foundation.

QCDs do not count as taxable income from the IRA but do reduce the otherwise required minimum distribution. This allows taxpayers to have lower adjusted gross income which may increase deductible medical expenses if they itemize their deductions. In other situations, the QCD allows the taxpayer to decrease their taxable income even if they do not itemize deductions. QCDs are also an effective way to receive a state tax benefit for taxpayers who live in gross income tax states like Connecticut and New Jersey.

Under the SECURE Act, taxpayers are no longer required to take their IRA required minimum distributions until they are 72. Being able to utilize the QCD at 70 ½ allows taxpayers to fulfill their charitable giving desires without creating income. Utilizing QCDs early is also a smart way to lower a taxpayer’s potential taxable estate by decreasing the IRA value.

Keep in mind that the SECURE Act may limit the value of a QCD for any taxpayer over 70 ½ that continues to make tax deductible contributions to their IRA.

Citrin Cooperman is ready and able to assist you in navigating Qualified Charitable Deductions. To learn more about QCDs and if they are right for you, please reach out to Heather Oboda at hoboda@citrincooperman.com.

Readers can also view the full article from Westfair Communications here:

Related Service
Related Industry

Related Insights

All Insights

Our specialists are here to help.

Get in touch with a specialist in your industry today. 

* Required

* I understand and agree to Citrin Cooperman’s Privacy Notice, which governs how Citrin Cooperman collects, uses, and shares my personal information. This includes my right to unsubscribe from marketing emails and further manage my Privacy Choices at any time. If you are a California Resident, please refer to our California Notice at Collection. If you have questions regarding our use of your personal data/information, please send an e-mail to privacy@citrincooperman.com.