A checklist for charitable tax rules in 2026
As we settle into 2026, it’s a great time to take stock of the IRS changes that took effect this year and think about how they might affect your charitable giving. Tax thresholds and rules shift regularly, and some of those changes can actually work in your favor when it comes to donations. Here are some helpful things to keep in mind as you plan your giving for the year ahead.
Social Security COLA increases
The Social Security Administration announced a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase effective January 1, 2026. If you’re retired and receiving Social Security benefits, this change may affect your finances, and it’s also a good moment to think about your charitable giving plans.
Importance to charitable giving: Retirees are among the most generous givers, with a high percentage donating to charity each year. So as you think through how your updated Social Security income fits into your overall budget, it’s worth considering how charitable giving might fit in too.
Standard deduction increases
For tax year 2026, the standard deduction increased to $16,100 for single taxpayers, $24,150 for heads of households, and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly.
Importance to charitable giving: The standard deduction is a key factor in charitable giving strategies. If your total itemized deductions – including charitable gifts – exceed the standard deduction, they are eligible to itemize. Reviewing this threshold and considering a “bunching” strategy (accelerating multiple years of giving into one tax year) can help maximize charitable support through 2026 and beyond.
Tax brackets
While tax rates themselves haven’t changed — they still range from 10% to 37% — the income levels that define each bracket have shifted for 2026. This is worth paying attention to, as it may affect how much of your income falls into a given bracket.
Importance to charitable giving: It’s also a good time to revisit your charitable giving strategy. Two notable changes took effect in 2026 that affect itemized deductions: a new 0.5% floor and a 35% cap. These changes mean that planning your donations thoughtfully can make a real difference in keeping your giving as tax-efficient as possible.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
If you’re 70½ or older, you may be familiar with Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) which are a way to donate directly from your IRA to charity without counting that money as taxable income. For 2026, the annual limit on QCDs has increased to $111,000. And, the limit for a one-time QCD from an IRA to a split-interest vehicle has been adjusted for inflation to $55,000.
Importance to charitable giving: QCDs are one of the most tax-efficient ways to give, since the distribution reduces your taxable income and can also count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. A QCD to a qualified fund at CFHZ (such as a nonprofit or field-of-interest fund but not a donor-advised fund) remains one of the most tax-efficient ways to support charity.
Non-itemizer charitable deductions
Starting in 2026, you don’t have to itemize your deductions to get a tax break for charitable giving. If you file as a single taxpayer, you can deduct up to $1,000 in cash donations to qualified charities. If you file jointly, that limit doubles to $2,000. Note that gifts of appreciated stock and donations to donor-advised funds don’t qualify for this particular deduction.
Importance to charitable giving: This is especially good news if you’re just starting to explore charitable giving. Even if you’ve never itemized deductions before, you can now get a tax benefit from donating which makes it a great time to begin building a giving habit. And if you have adult children who are early in their careers, this is worth passing along to them as well.
We always encourage donors to first seek the advice of their legal, financial, or tax advisors when considering a gift of non-cash assets. While our team does not offer tax advice, we stay knowledgeable on charitable giving strategies. Please contact Colleen Hill, Vice President of Development & Donor Services, at chill@cfhz.org for more information.
