Charitable IRA Rollover Gifts

Planning your estate requires thoughtful consideration of your beneficiaries, knowledge of your options, and an understanding of taxation. If you plan on giving to both your family and charity, knowing what gifts will make the biggest impact for each recipient can be a great asset.

Good gifts to consider for family and children are stocks, homes, land, and other property. Careful planning for these gifts can help minimize state and federal taxes to you and your beneficiaries.

An IRA gift through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a good gift to consider for your church or a charity. This type of gift helps you avoid federal income taxes, helps you reach the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) each year, and ultimately enables a larger donation to a church or charity.

Ways to give through an IRA

Qualified Charitable Distribution
Once an IRA owner reaches the age of 701/2, they are required to withdraw a certain amount per year to reach the RMD. Unless given to a charity, the IRA balance, whether withdrawn or saved with the intent to give to a beneficiary, is subject to federal income taxes. Many individuals use this as an opportunity to give to charities. A QCD gift to a church or charity both helps to reach the RMD and avoids federal income taxes.

Requirements for IRA Gifts

Requirements for a Qualified Charitable Distribution:

  • The IRA account owner must be at least 70 ½ years of age
  • Rollover funds must come from an IRA
  • Rollover funds are limited to $100,000 per year
  • The transfer of funds must be completed on, or before, December 31
  • Rollover funds must be given to a qualifying 501(c)(3) charity (IRA funds cannot be used to fund: donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, private foundations, charitable remainder trusts, lead trusts, pooled income, charitable gift annuities, and tax-deductible gifts)

If you are interested in more information on this type of gift, or other ways you can give, please contact us. You can also find more ways to give at here.

Resources

Charitable IRA Rollover rack card