Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) Provision Gets a New Twist

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) Provision Gets a New Twist

  • Learn more about Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and how they provide a tax benefit.
  • Find out more about age-restriction changes with the Appropriations Act of 2020.
  • Get real-world examples of how QCDs and recent tax changes can affect your taxes.

Ever since 2006, individuals age 70½ or older have been able to transfer up to $100,000 annually from their IRAs to qualified charities. This type of transfer is referred to as qualified charitable distribution (QCD). Here is how this provision, if utilized, plays out on a tax return:

(1) The IRA distribution is excluded from income;
(2) The distribution counts toward the taxpayer’s required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year; and
(3) The distribution does NOT count as a charitable contribution.

At first glance, this may not appear to provide a tax benefit. However, by excluding the distribution, a taxpayer with itemized deductions lowers his or her adjusted gross income (AGI). This helps with other tax breaks (or punishments) that are pegged at AGI levels, such as for medical expenses, passive losses, and taxable Social Security income. In addition, non-itemizers essentially receive the benefit of a QCD to offset the IRA distribution. Thinking this might affect your tax return in a positive way? Your Fiducial representative can advise you about QCDs and how they may be beneficial to you.

calculator with pen and paper, new twist on QCD rules

Age Restriction Changes with the Appropriations Act of 2020

The age 70½ threshold for a QCD was originally coordinated with the age 70½ requirement to begin taking distributions from qualified employer plans and traditional IRAs known as RMDs. But that's changing.

The SECURE Act (Appropriations Act of 2020), effective beginning in 2020, increased the RMD age to 72. But, it still allows QCDs once the taxpayer reaches age 70½. The act also repealed the age restriction for making traditional IRA contributions beginning in 2020. This means a taxpayer can make traditional IRA contributions and QCDs after reaching age 70½.

As a result, Congress included a provision in the act requiring a taxpayer who qualifies to make a QCD to reduce the QCD non-taxable portion by any traditional IRA contribution that is deducted and made after reaching 70½, even if they are not in the same year.

Example #1

Jack makes a traditional IRA contribution of $7,000 when he is age 71. He makes another $7,000 contribution at the age of 72. He claims an IRA deduction of $7,000 on his tax return for each year. Then later, when he is 74, he makes a QCD in the amount $10,000 to his church’s building fund. Since Jack had made the IRA contributions after age 70½, his QCD must be reduced, but not below zero, by the post-70½ contributions that were deducted, and as a result the $10,000 is taxable. However, he can claim $10,000 to the church building fund as a charitable contribution on Schedule A if he itemizes his deductions.

Example #2

Bob makes a traditional IRA contribution of $7,000 when he is age 71 and another $7,000 contribution at the age of 72, and he deducts the IRA contributions on his returns. Then later, when he is 74, he makes a QCD in the amount $20,000 to his church’s building fund. Since Bob had made the deductible IRA contributions after age 70½, for tax reporting, his QCD must be reduced by the $14,000. As a result, of the $20,000 QCD, $14,000 is a taxable distribution, $6,000 is nontaxable, and Bob can claim a $14,000 charitable contribution.

If you think that this tax provision may affect you and you have questions, call Fiducial at 1-866-FIDUCIAL or make an appointment at one of our office locations. Ready to book an appointment now? Click here. Know someone who might need our services? We love referrals!