Women in Leadership: Bobbye Sweat
December 10, 2021 | 4 min. read
The last few years have been a challenging time for all of us – and that includes businesses. Because of their reliance on charitable donations, nonprofit organizations have been adversely affected as well. Due to the pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainties, public charities are reporting a decrease in charitable giving – which, in turn, affects their revenue and their ability to support the communities they serve.
If you have a cause you are passionate about, now is an optimal time to pinpoint a charity you would like to support this holiday season. IRA owners age 70½ or older have the option of making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to make this happen. A QCD is a direct transfer from a traditional or inherited IRA made payable to a qualified charity. Transfers from inactive Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP) and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA plans apply as well. Making a QCD to support a deserving cause during this time could have an enormous impact, and it may provide a tax benefit to you.
How Qualified Charitable Distributions Work
QCDs must be paid directly from an IRA to your charity of choice, which means you cannot receive a distribution directly from your IRA to then donate to a charity. In addition, you cannot receive any benefit in return for your charitable donation.
Your designated charity must be qualified to receive QCDs. Charities such as donor-advised funds, private foundations, and nonprofits that support these types of organizations are ineligible.
IRA owners can directly transfer up to $100,000 annually ($200,000 for joint tax filers) from an IRA to a charity without taxation. This limit applies to donations made to one or more charities in a calendar year. QCDs cannot be made from an IRA prior to the owner reaching the age of 70½.
Requesting a Qualified Charitable Distribution
Requesting a QCD is relatively simple, but be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:
Tax Implications Resulting from Qualified Charitable Distributions
Unlike a regular IRA withdrawal, a QCD excludes the withdrawn and donated amount from taxable income. You will receive a Form 1099-R from your IRA custodian, and the QCD should be reported as a Normal Distribution for the calendar year the distribution is made. You would then report the QCD on your Form 1040 accordingly.
It’s important to note that a distribution from your IRA will not qualify as a QCD – and will therefore be treated as taxable income if:
Our daily lives have been upended, and we should expect holiday celebrations and gift giving to be different, too. If you’re eligible to make a QCD, it could be a game changer for a deserving cause. And you could reap the potential tax benefits while making a positive change in the world. To learn more about whether a QCD is right for you, contact your First Command Financial Advisor today.
For more information about estate planning, read Estate Planning 101, Six Estate Planning Questions to Always Ask Your Attorney,  Digital Assets for your Estate Plan and Planning Your Estate with Minors and Young Adults.
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