Charitable Giving After Tax Reform

By Mark Miller, Guest Columnist

The tax rules governing charitable contributions remained largely intact under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was recently signed into law by President Trump. The new law actually increases the allowable deduction for cash donations made to public charities from 50 percent of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to 60 percent of AGI.

Despite the deductions for charitable giving being largely unchanged, there has been concern expressed by charities that charitable giving may be adversely impacted by the tax reform legislation. One of the major goals of tax reform was simplification and that was primarily achieved by almost doubling the standard deduction.

For married couples, the standard deduction was increased from $12,700 to $24,000. The increase in the standard deduction, coupled with the capping of the state and local tax deduction to $10,000, means far fewer taxpayers will be itemizing their deductions in the future, indirectly affecting charitable giving.

The concern from charitable organizations is that taxpayers may be less charitably inclined if they don’t receive a tax benefit from their donations. Ideally, taxpayers donate to charity for helping our communities and special causes, but many individuals are motivated by the tax savings as well.

Charitable Giving Then and Now

Before tax reform, approximately 30 percent of taxpayers itemized their deductions, but now it is anticipated that as few as five percent of taxpayers will do so. While not a new concept, the bunching of charitable donations in alternate years may allow many taxpayers to continue to receive savings from their charitable giving.

Bunching Charitable Donations

Assume a married couple has $6,000 of mortgage interest and is capped at $10,000 of deductions for their property taxes and state and local income taxes. With the new standard deduction level at $24,000, this couple would receive no tax savings from the first $8,000 of charitable contributions.

If the couple gives $10,000 annually to charity by bunching their donations in alternate years, they would claim the standard deduction in one year ($24,000) and itemize their deductions in the alternative year ($36,000, comprised of $20,000 in charitable donations, $10,000 in taxes and $6,000 of mortgage interest.)

Over the two year period, the couple generates an additional $8,000 in tax deductions.  If the couple falls in the 32 percent tax bracket (with taxable income over $157,500), bunching would provide a permanent tax savings of $2,560.

One vehicle that makes it easy for taxpayers to bunch their charitable donations is a donor advised fund (DAF). The taxpayer is able to claim the charitable tax deduction in the year of funding the DAF, and can make grant requests to the desired charities over one or more years. The couple in the example would donate $20,000 in year one, but spread the actual grants made to charities over a two-year period.

The tax savings is further compounded if the couple contributes appreciated long term capital gain property to the DAF by purging the inherent gain in the contributed property.

While a relatively simple strategy, the savings can be considerable and should be a part of most charitable discussions.

Mark Miller is a CPA and Tax Partner for Sikich LLP in Milwaukee. He is a member of the AEF Council of Advisors.

We at American Endowment Foundation look forward to discussing your needs and interests in greater detail. Contact or call us at 1-888-660-4508 and let us discuss how donor advised funds can play a role in charitable planning.

Download our InfoSheet on   Charitable Bunching