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//// Tax · Charitable Giving

Charitable Giving Tax Deduction Calculator

See your real after-tax cost of giving. Compare cash vs appreciated stock donations, model the DAF bunching strategy, and check whether itemizing beats the standard deduction.

Where this fits

🧾 TaxTax StackTrading IncomeFreelancersTraders

This tool lives inside Tax Stack + Trading Income and is most useful for freelancers and traders.

401(k) Limit 2024$23,000
Roth IRA Limit$7,000
S&P 500 Avg Return~10%/yr

Total Donations

$5,000

Tax Savings

$648

Effective Cost

$4,352

0.9% of donated amount

Itemized vs Standard

Itemizing

+$2,400 benefit

Your Situation

$
%
%

Mortgage interest, SALT, medical...

$

Filing Status

Donations

$

Clothing, household goods, etc.

$
$

Original purchase price

$

Deduction Analysis

Cash donations (60% AGI limit)

$5,000

Non-cash donations (30% AGI limit)

$0

Stock donations — FMV (30% AGI limit)

$0

Total Charitable Deduction

$5,000

Other itemized deductions

$12,000

Total Itemized

$17,000

Standard deduction (Single)

$14,600

Itemize — saves

$2,400

DAF Bunching Strategy

Contribute 2 years of donations ($10,000) to a Donor-Advised Fund in year 1. Take standard deduction in year 2. Grant from the DAF whenever you choose.

Extra federal tax savings vs spreading annually: +$3,784

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) — Age 70½+

If you’re 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $105,000 directly from your IRA to a charity. The QCD counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution and is excluded from taxable income entirely — worth more than a deduction for most retirees, even if you don’t itemize.

1

Cash Donation AGI Limit (IRC §170(b)(1)(G))

= $72,000

Cash donations to public charities are deductible up to 60% of AGI. Excess carries forward 5 years. Donations to private foundations: 30% limit.

2

Cash Deductible Amount

= $5,000

All cash donations fall within the AGI limit

3

Stock Donation — AGI Limit

= $36,000

Appreciated property (stocks, real estate) donated to public charities: 30% of AGI limit. You deduct the full FMV — not the cost basis.

4

Capital Gains Avoided

= $0

By donating appreciated stock instead of selling it, you avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation. This is often worth more than the deduction itself.

5

Total Charitable Deduction

= $5,000

Deductible: $5,000 cash + $0 non-cash + $0 stock

6

Total Itemized vs Standard Deduction

= $17,000 vs $14,600 standard

Itemizing saves $2,400 over the standard deduction

7

Federal Tax Savings

= $528

Tax savings from itemizing over the standard deduction, at your marginal rate. Only the amount ABOVE the standard deduction generates a benefit.

8

State Tax Savings

= $120

Many states allow itemized deductions that mirror federal. Combined federal + state savings reduces your effective cost of giving.

9

Effective Cost of Giving

= $4,352

You donate $5,000 but it only costs you $4,352 after tax savings — a 0.1% discount on your generosity.

10

DAF Bunching Strategy

= +$3,784 extra savings

By contributing $10,000 to a DAF in year 1 and $0 in year 2, you clear the standard deduction hurdle and save $3,784 more in federal tax than spreading evenly.

11

QCD Limit (2024)

= $105,000

A Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA counts toward your RMD, reduces taxable income (even without itemizing), and can be worth far more than a deduction for retirees in high brackets.

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