Qualified Charitable Distributions
(Also referred to as Charitable IRA Rollover Gifts)
Did you know the gift of a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) benefits donors aged 70½ and up?
The Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is an excellent way to show your support for the American Cancer Society and receive tax benefits in return. As you plan your required minimum distributions (RMD), consider using your IRA account to make the most of your charitable giving. You receive a tax benefit even if you take the standard deduction!
It’s important to consider your tax situation before deciding whether to make a charitable contribution from your IRA. Be sure to share this gift plan with your financial advisor.
For more information, please contact us.
Please mail QCD checks to:
American Cancer Society
PO Box 6704
Hagerstown, MD 21741
Please note: We need your name and address to accompany the check in order to correctly credit and acknowledge your gift.
To qualify
- You must be 70½ or older at the time of gift.
- Distributions must be made directly from a traditional IRA account by your IRA administrator to the American Cancer Society.
- Gifts must be outright, meaning they go directly to the American Cancer Society. Distributions to donor-advised funds do not qualify.
- Gifts from 401(k), 403(b), "ongoing" SEP or SIMPLE IRAs, and other plans do not qualify. Ask your financial advisor if it would make sense for you to create a traditional IRA account so you can benefit from an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution.
Tax Benefits
- IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions are excluded as gross income for federal income tax purposes on your IRS Form 1040.
- The gift counts toward your required minimum distribution for the year in which you made the gift.
- You could avoid a higher tax bracket that might otherwise result from adding an RMD to your income.
Example
John is 73 years old and wants to make a gift to the American Cancer Society. He has $500,000 in his IRA and wants to gift $20,000. He can authorize the administrator of his IRA to distribute $20,000 to the American Cancer Society. Because the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution is excluded from income, John will not be eligible for a charitable income tax deduction — but he still receives tax savings. The $20,000 distributed to the American Cancer Society will be counted toward his annual minimum required distribution and he will not pay income tax on the portion given to the organization.
Questions and Answers
What’s the IRS Rule?Important Notes:
If your administrator provides you an IRA checkbook, please note that the date of your QCD is NOT the date you send the distribution check, but the date that your IRA administrator transfers the funds to the charity. If you want your distribution check to be credited toward the current tax year, it is critical that you mail your check several weeks before the end of the year to ensure there is time for the check to be received by common reporting standards (CRS) and to clear your account. This is especially true if you are relying on those gifts to fulfill your required minimum distribution.
Documentation
There are several ways to send a gift from a qualified retirement account to the American Cancer Society. Once you’ve decided how you want the check sent to us, follow the appropriate procedure below.
If you are requesting that your IRA administrator send a check directly to the American Cancer Society:
- Notify your plan administrator, preferably in writing, that the documentation accompanying the check must include your name and address. You can use our sample letter to make your request.
If you have check-writing capability on your IRA account:
- If your name and address are not printed on your check, include that information along with your check.
If your IRA administrator is sending the check directly to you, the check must be payable to the American Cancer Society:
- Make a copy of the check for yourself. Send the original check, and include your name and address, to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
An important note: No matter how your check is sent to the American Cancer Society, we need your name and address to accompany the check in order to correctly credit and acknowledge your gift.
Questions? Please contact us. We are here to help.
Be sure to check with your financial advisor to determine whether this gift plan is right for you. This information is not meant as tax or legal advice.
