Key provisions of the CARES Act and charitable giving in 2020

In response to the health crisis facing our nation, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law in March of 2020. Most of the reporting surrounding the Act has focused on the economic relief that will be coming to individuals and businesses, but there are provisions contained in the Act that impact charitable giving options for individuals who are interested in supporting Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU during these unprecedented times. Key provisions of the new law that could influence charitable giving decisions in 2020 include:

Impact on charitable gifts made in 2020

• The CARES Act created a temporary above-the-line charitable tax deduction for cash donations of $300 per individual or $600 for joint filers. This deduction is only available to individuals who do not itemize their returns and claim the standard deduction ($12,400 for singles, $18,650 for head of household, $24,800 for married filing jointly). The inclusion of a universal charitable deduction may encourage those who do not itemize to continue their charitable giving in 2020.
• For individuals who itemize, the cap on deductions taken for annual contributions has been lifted from 60% to 100% of AGI for cash gifts to public charities in 2020. Any excess can be carried forward for five (5) years. Gifts made to Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) do not qualify for the increased deduction. While the Act does not specifically exclude cash gifts to fund charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities, these types of gifts will likely be excluded. Please speak with your professional advisors for information specific to your individual situation.

Impact on retirement accounts for 2020

• The new law impacts some owners of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) by providing a temporary waiver of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). This waiver will allow IRA owners age 72 or older to keep funds in their IRAs and other qualified retirement plans. For individuals who had to take a RMD for tax year 2019 before the April 2020 deadline, that requirement has been waived for the year.
• With recent fluctuations in the financial markets, individuals with IRAs should work with their professional advisors to determine the best strategy for giving through their IRAs. For some, keeping the funds in their IRAs until the market rebounds might be the best option. For others, continuing to make tax-free charitable gifts directly from their IRAs may be preferable.
• Individuals age 70½ and older can continue to make tax-free charitable gifts directly from their eligible IRAs through Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).

The new law, coupled with current financial uncertainty, has created an opportunity for those concerned about their income from investments. Individuals may like to consider charitable gift annuities that offer fixed and guaranteed income or other charitable vehicles that offer income streams. We recommend discussing options with professional advisors or contacting the Children’s Hospital Foundation team.

If individuals or their advisors have questions or would like additional information, please contact Amy Enoch, Annual Fund Manager at aenoch@chfrichmond.org.