Tax-Efficient Giving with Qualified Charitable Distributions

Justin Lopez March 11th, 2024

If you envision your financial legacy leaving a lasting impact, consider using your Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) for charitable donations. This strategy can not only help you mitigate your tax liability, but also turn this financial obligation into a meaningful contribution to society.

If you hold a traditional IRA, you’re obligated to start making RMDs once you hit the age of 73. These withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, potentially catapulting you into a higher tax bracket—a concerning scenario for many in their retirement years.

However, the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) rule is a strategy that may help you put these distributions to good use. By channeling your RMD directly to a charity, you will be able to exclude the donation from your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and potentially reduce your taxable income. The IRS caps this tax-exempt charitable giving at $100,000 per year, offering a sizeable opportunity for tax savings.

Once you decide to make a QCD, choose a charity that qualifies under IRS rules and then inform your IRA custodian to transfer the intended amount directly to the organization. This process is crucial since QCDs must be made directly from your IRA. If the distribution is paid to you first, you may forfeit any tax advantages.

Remember that this blog is for informational purposes only, so before initiating or modifying a charitable giving strategy, consider consulting with your financial and tax professionals.

If you have questions about QCDs or would like to discuss how they could fit into your broader financial strategy, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Read More By Justin Lopez, AIF®

Disclosures: Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Concord Wealth Partners, or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this newsletter will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this newsletter serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Concord Wealth Partners. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. Concord Wealth Partners is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of the newsletter content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of Concord Wealth Partners’ current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or on our website. Please Note: If you are a Concord Wealth Partners client, please remember to contact Concord Wealth Partners, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating, and/or revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. Concord Wealth Partners shall continue to rely on the accuracy of information that you have provided. Please Note: If you are a Concord Wealth Partners client, please advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.

Join The Conversation

Contact Us

Give us 15 minutes to listen to your situation, then we will connect you with an advisor ready to help you reach your financial goals.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.