Category Archives: Philanthropy Planning

QCDs – An Age Disconnect with Regular RMDs

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QCDs or Qualified Charitable Distributions transfer money from pre-tax accounts directly into a Charitable account. This direct distribution of pre-tax dollars to a charity will not be recognized as income and not added to your tax filing since it is under a QCD transaction. The distribution sent to the charity is usually part or the entire annual RMD (required minimum distribution) amount. QCDs are often used when they help avoid income taxes and increased Medicare premiums for RMDs that are not needed to fund lifestyle spending.

The pairing of QCDs and RMDs used occurs at the same age but not anymore.  This has created a disconnect between the QCD and the RMD age for regular pre-tax accounts. QCD rules permit that QCDs begin at age 70½ but Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) age has changed from 70½ to 73+ (depending on your birth year) on saved regular pre-tax accounts. Since there is no requirement to make a pre-tax distribution until age 73+, QCDs shouldn’t be used until the start of RMD age.

On the other hand, for inherited IRAs, QCDs can begin at age 70½.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com

Charitable Deductions

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There are many ways to give to charitable causes without risk of IRS wrath. We agree that there is a lot of value in making contributions to charities partly with dollars that would be paid in income taxes, but each person has to recognize that you must simultaneously give away non-tax money. For example, a gift of $1M can in some cases reduce your taxes by about $400K (or 40% of the donated dollars) BUT you must accept that the other $600k will be funded from your savings (non-tax dollars).

The tools used to make charitable contributions can be simple direct donations to a charity or to many using Donor Advised Funds (DAF), or a specific group using a charitable trust or use of Family Private Foundations. The type of contributions can be cash, stock, shares in a company, or any asset. What is important is that the charitable deduction follow IRS proven process to the letter. This will prevent negative consequences of having to pay taxes and tax penalties years later.

This month, we have a case (Braen, et. al v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, TC) that disallowed a $5.22 million charitable income tax deduction claimed by the Braen family in connection with a sale of a property in NY made through S Corp shares. The rejection appears to be based on not adhering to standard timing/practices and on property valuation misstatements. Unless they appeal, the family will have no deduction and must pay substantial penalties to the IRS.

What does this mean for you? There is nothing risky about using known and established ways to reduce your tax liability and particularly advantageous if you can also use it to fulfill your philanthropic plan, but this must be implemented using proven processes. Let us know if you are ready to create your philanthropic financial plan.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com

New tax rules (Secure Act of 2019)

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As you know, we believe strongly that managing tax liability is essential to building wealth. The Secure Act of 2019 has made significant changes which we will use to create and action strategies best suited for each of you.
Everyone, near retirement, is aware that there was an extension to the Required Minimum Distribution (i.e., RMD) from age 70.5 to age 72. This is good for many since it gives you more control over your tax liability early in retirement, but it also has made the Roth accounts an even more powerful tool for some.

Sadly, the Secure Act of 2019 has made inherited IRAs a big tax burden for beneficiaries, particularly trust beneficiaries. Because of this, IRA accounts that use a trust as a beneficiary may need to be re-examined to ensure that the language allows beneficiaries to minimize their tax liability.
Let me know if these topics are of interest and we’ll include them at our next financial planning meeting.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com

What Legacy Will You Leave?

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What Legacy Will You Leave?

Aviva Shiff Boedecker, J.D.
www.asbcharitableplanning.com

 Retirement plans are the most heavily taxed assets in most people’s estates because when heirs withdraw the funds, they must pay income tax, in addition to any estate tax that may have already been paid. By designating a charity, school, religious organization or other nonprofit as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, you can reduce or eliminate taxes, retain complete flexibility and control over all your assets, and leave a legacy that will have a lasting impact.

You and your heirs can avoid both income and estate tax on your retirement account when you give the remainder of the plan to one or more tax-exempt organizations and leave your heirs other, less-taxed property.

With a simple designation of beneficiary form, which is available from your plan administrator, and without impacting your own or your family’s security, you can make the gift of a lifetime.

For more information about making a flexible and tax-wise legacy gift to the organization(s) of your choice, contact Edi or Aviva.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com