Many people like to give a charitable gift at the end of the year. If you have an IRA and are thinking of making a year-end gift, consider a charitable rollover gift to MLHS!
To help you as you consider a charitable IRA rollover gift, here’s a list of some frequently asked questions about charitable IRA rollovers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a charitable IRA rollover?
The charitable IRA rollover, or qualified charitable distribution (QCD), is a special provision allowing certain donors to exclude from taxable income — and count toward their required minimum distribution — certain transfers of Individual Retirement Account (IRA) assets that are made directly to charities like Mayer Lutheran High School.
How does this help me?
A charitable IRA rollover makes it easier to use IRA assets, during lifetime, to make charitable gifts.
What gifts qualify for a charitable IRA rollover?
A charitable gift that qualifies, technically termed a “qualified charitable distribution,” is:
- Made by a donor age 70 1/2 or older
- Transferred from a traditional or Roth IRA directly to a permissible public charity, such as Mayer Lutheran High School. (If giving in this manner, please tell your broker or fund manager to name you as the donor on the transfer, and if your gift is intended for a particular area have the broker specify that as well.)
- Completed during the applicable tax year
Is there a limit on the amount that can be given?
Yes, there is a limit. An individual taxpayer’s total charitable IRA rollover gifts cannot exceed $100,000 per tax year.
What about the required minimum distribution?
If you have not already taken your required minimum distribution in a given year, a qualifying rollover gift can count toward satisfying this requirement.
Is an income tax deduction also available?
No. The gift would be excluded from income, so providing a deduction in addition to that exclusion would create an inappropriate double tax benefit.
Why are Roth IRAs included? Aren’t withdrawals from a Roth IRA tax-free?
Withdrawals from a Roth IRA may be tax-free only if the account has been open for longer than five years or if certain other conditions apply. Otherwise, withdrawals are taxed as if they came from a traditional IRA. Therefore, certain Roth IRAs could benefit from a charitable IRA rollover.
Can other retirement plans, such as 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, be used?
No. However, it may be possible to make a tax-free transfer from such other accounts to an IRA, from which a charitable rollover can then be made.
Who can benefit from using the charitable IRA rollover to make a gift?
- Persons with significant assets in an IRA
- Persons making gifts that are large, relative to their income. (Because a charitable rollover is not included in taxable income, it does not count against the usual percentage limitations on using charitable deductions.)
- Persons having so few deductions that they choose not to itemize
What if a withdrawal does not meet the requirements of a charitable IRA rollover?
It simply will be included in taxable income as other IRA withdrawals currently are.
Is the charitable IRA rollover right for everyone?
While this is a great option, other types of gifts may provide donors with more tax benefits. As with any gift planning question, donors should consult their tax professionals for specific advice.
Can I still make a gift with an IRA beneficiary designation?
Absolutely! Whether or not you choose to make a charitable IRA rollover gift, you can still designate Mayer Lutheran High School as a beneficiary to receive IRA assets after your lifetime. The lifetime charitable IRA rollover is simply another option for donors who would like to see their philanthropy at work now.
If I made a charitable IRA rollover gift in other tax years, can I do this again for the current tax year?
Yes. The current law extends the charitable IRA rollover provision indefinitely — with no expiration date — allowing individuals to make qualifying gifts every tax year.
More questions?
Contact Joel Landskroener at 952-657-2251 ext. 1007, or email joel.landskroener@mayerlutheran.org.
