How to Make an IRA Gift to Charity

It is helpful for owners of traditional IRAs to understand how to do a QCD, what is required to report a QCD on your tax return and the required information on your acknowledgment from the nonprofit.

1. How to Set Up a QCD — A traditional IRA owner may contact his or her IRA custodian to start the process for a QCD. While your distributions from a traditional IRA are normally taxable, the QCD payouts will be tax-free as long as they are paid directly to a qualified nonprofit. The QCD is made through a check payable to the nonprofit. An electronic payment or a check made out to the IRA owner does not qualify as a QCD. The owner must be age 70½ or over and the 2024 limit is $105,000. If both spouses are over age 70½, and have their own IRA, then the $105,000 per person limit may allow a couple to distribute up to $210,000 per year to the nonprofit. Since QCDs are not taxable, there will be no charitable deduction for making the gift.
2. How to Report Your QCD — Your QCD must be reported on your 2024 federal income tax return. You can expect to receive an IRS Form 1099-R from your IRA custodian. This will show the traditional IRA distribution in Box 1. Generally, you will report the IRA distribution on Line 4 of IRS Form 1040 (the final IRS 2024 tax return may use a different line but is likely to use Line 4). You will enter the total amount of the IRA distribution on Line 4a. If the full amount is a QCD, you then enter zero on line 4b. If part of the distribution is a QCD, the taxable portion is normally entered on Line 4b. You must enter "QCD" next to Line 4. If you have entered zero on Line 4b, the entire QCD will not be taxable.
3. How To Receive a QCD Acknowledgment — Your QCD is not deductible as a charitable contribution. However, you are required to obtain a written QCD acknowledgment from the nonprofit prior to filing your return. This acknowledgment should state the date and amount of the QCD and that the donor has received "no goods or services in exchange for the gift." You should retain the acknowledgment with your other 2024 tax records.

Editor's Note: Many individuals will fulfill part or all their RMD this year through a gift to charity from a traditional IRA. It is best to start the gift process in November or early December. Some IRA custodians may take longer than expected to process the transfer. If a donor has the right to make distributions from his or her traditional IRA through a checkbook, it will be important to send the check directly to the charity. A donor must allow sufficient time for the charity to deposit the check and for the financial institution to process the check. This process must be completed by December 31, 2024 to qualify as an RMD for 2024.