A choice for I.R.A. owners who want to reduce taxes linked to I.R.A. distributions.

Provided by Marc Aarons

 Do you have an I.R.A.? As you enter your 70s, you may start to look at that I.R.A. not only as an asset, but also as a problem. By law, you must take required minimum distributions (R.M.D.s) from a Traditional I.R.A. once you reach age 72; there are very few exceptions to this. The downside of these R.M.D.s? The entire distribution is taxable. (You never have to take R.M.D.s from a Roth I.R.A., provided you are its original owner.)¹

While the income from the R.M.D. is nice, the linked taxes can be a headache. Relief for that headache might be available to you, though. Did you know that you can potentially satisfy some or all of your annual R.M.D. requirement in a way that can help you manage taxes and make a charitable impact?

Consider the Qualified Charitable Distribution, Q.C.D. This is a direct asset transfer from an I.R.A. to a charity or non-profit organization of your choice. The organization must be tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Section 501(c)(3).²

A Q.C.D., sometimes called a charitable I.R.A. gift, is intended to accomplish two things. One, it gives you a chance to contribute up to $100,000 in a single year to a cause or charity. Two, you can count the entire amount of the Q.C.D. toward your R.M.D. for the year, and the Q.C.D. amount may not be included in your gross income.²

You must be at least 72 years old to make a Q.C.D. In other words, no Q.C.D.s during the years when you don’t have to take R.M.D.s. (If you take an I.R.A. distribution before age 59½, it could be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.)²

You may want to coordinate a Q.C.D. with the help and guidance of a financial professional, because if you improperly manage the transfer of assets between your I.R.A. and the charity, the tax break you hope for could be lost. You also need to allow enough time for the asset transfer to occur, meaning Q.C.D.s are best arranged before the very end of a calendar year.^2,3

In 2020, the age limit for putting money into a Traditional I.R.A. was lifted, and some older I.R.A. owners wondered if they could make a Q.C.D. to a charity and simultaneously characterize it as an I.R.A. contribution. The Internal Revenue Service said no to that.²

That said, a Q.C.D. is a choice that you may want to look at, especially if you think of taxes when you think of your mandatory annual I.R.A. distributions. It should be noted that the tax treatment of I.R.A.s can change from year to year, and remember, this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute real-life advice. If a Q.C.D. interests you, consider talking with a financial professional before making any move.

Marc Aarons may be reached at (714) 887-8000 or marc@ocmoneymanagers.com

^{MMI Disclosure This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment}

^{This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.}

 ^Citations

1. ^{Forbes, February 23, 2021}
2. ^{TheStreet, August 31, 2020}
3. ^{Investopedia, October 29, 2020}