When it comes to charity, many Americans have been able to “give ‘til it hurts” — knowing the pain would be only temporary. They could write off the donations on their next tax return. However, changes ushered in by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could make the process less comfortable.
While the tax plan will make filing simpler for many taxpayers, those accustomed to deducting their charitable donations may have to make some adjustments. Here’s what you need to know about maximizing your donations in the new federal income tax landscape, as well as finding other ways to contribute.
Itemized vs. standard deduction
Under the right circumstances, itemizing your deductions can provide a tax benefit by lowering your taxable income. The key is whether certain deductible expenses exceed the standard deduction.
The process involves:
- Choosing to itemize individual deductions rather than claiming the standard deduction.
- Claiming your allowable expenses, which include mortgage interest, state and local sales taxes, property taxes, and, of course, charitable donations.
- If your itemized deductions add up to more than the standard deduction, your taxable income goes down that much more.
It may not be a financial windfall, but a lower taxable income can lead to a lower overall tax bill. In the case of charitable donations, itemizing also provides a financial incentive for supporting worthy causes.
However, critics of the reformed tax code say its new deduction standards reduce the benefits, and therefore the incentive to give.
The new deduction standards
Although the basic procedure remains unchanged, the various thresholds for itemized deductions have nearly doubled. As a result, taxpayers have a much higher bar to clear for itemizing to make financial sense.
Deduction thresholds, then and now
Itemized deductions must exceed …
Critics of the deduction rules say they will result in fewer people giving as generously to charity because of losing the tax break. Researchers from both the political left (Tax Policy Center) and right (American Enterprise Institute) have predicted that the change would:
- Put the charitable deduction beyond the reach of most taxpayers
- Reduce donations to charitable nonprofits by several billion dollars each year
“We know that most people who donate to charitable nonprofits do so because they believe in the mission of the organization and not for a tax deduction,” said Rick Cohen, Chief Communications Officer for National Council of Nonprofits. “But a lot of research has shown that while people will still give, they will give less without access to the tax incentive. This has been proven when different states have experimented with taking away or limiting deductions on state taxes for charitable contributions.”
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also raises limits on cash donations as a percentage of adjusted gross income. In addition, it eliminates limits on itemized deductions for upper-income taxpayers. However, according to the Council, the negative effects of the increased standard deduction would limit the benefits of the other changes.
How to donate more effectively
Charitable donors have a few options for adjusting to the changes in the tax code. Consider the following strategies, but always consult with your accountant or financial adviser before making a decision.
‘Bunching’ or ‘bundling’ contributions
One way to handle the new standard deduction threshold involves a technique called “bunching” or “bundling.”
Let’s say you make regular donations that are large enough to include in your itemized deductions. Rather than donating the usual amount every year, bunching or bundling calls for staggering your donations from year to year — one year on at double the size, one year off at zero:
- Year 1: Double the size of the donation and itemize
- Year 2: Skip the donation entirely and take the standard deduction
- Year 3: Repeat the double-size donation and itemize
- Year 4: Skip and take the standard deduction
“If a taxpayer chooses to do this, we recommend connecting with someone on the development staff for the nonprofit so they know why that person might have irregular giving habits — and so the nonprofit can keep connected with that donor in those ‘off’ years in some way,” said Cohen.
Opening a donor-advised fund
A donor-advised fund (DAF) offers an alternative to bunching or bundling. Public charities establish DAFs on behalf of donors, who get a tax benefit plus the ability to direct their donations toward different charities over time.
When you contribute to a DAF, you can take a one-time tax deduction against the full amount. In addition to cash, the assets that you can contribute to a DAF include real estate, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, and other publicly traded securities.
Donor-advised funds do carry some potential drawbacks. Donors may have to pay administrative fees, for example, and some DAF providers require a large contribution to open one. Amounts vary, but a number of providers list minimum contributions ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.
Giving time instead of money
If the revamped tax rules make it financially impractical for you to contribute at your current level, you always have the option of substituting manpower for money.
Some charity advocates pose the interesting question of whether contributions of time, effort, and expertise can have comparable value to financial donations. Possible examples include an IT specialist volunteering to help a charity set up its office network, or a former college athlete volunteering to coach a youth sports team.
What is time worth to a charity? According to the Corporation for National & Community Service, 62.6 million American adults volunteered almost 7.8 billion hours for charitable organizations in 2015. Those volunteer hours translated to an estimated cash value of $184 billion.
Sources:
Donating credit card rewards to charity
Although you can’t claim it as a tax deduction, you may be able to support charitable causes by donating unused credit card rewards and loyalty program points.
Many charities accept these types of donations, which can include cash back and even frequent flyer miles. (If you’ve ever wondered how organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation can afford to fly children and families all over the country, millions of donated airline miles help make it possible.)
Check your rewards credit card issuer’s policy on rewards donations. It may not earn you a tax break, but you’ll still enjoy the satisfaction of supporting your favorite causes.
A need for continued support
Even if you don’t have the financial resources for complex tax strategies, you can still provide everyday support for your charity of choice.
A number of banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions offer checking and savings accounts that support charitable giving. Some of these accounts may donate a portion of earned interest to a charity chosen by the account holder. Others may provide a one-time donation whenever someone opens an account.
In any case, charity advocates urge supporters to continue helping now and in the future. Government policies can and do change, but the need for charitable support remains constant.
“Continue supporting the causes you care about, because the need for their services is not going away — and likely forthcoming budget cuts may further strain nonprofits’ ability to serve their communities,” said Cohen.