Cash: A Popular Gift
NAVS commonly receives gifts in the form of cash, checks and electronic transfers. Cash gifts can be convenient for many and are easily documented through receipts and bank records. Remember that it is important to save gift receipts for tax purposes.
Noncash Gifts: Enjoy More Savings
Many supporters of NAVS sometimes choose to make their charitable gifts in forms other than cash. Popular examples include:
- Securities – Giving stocks, bonds or mutual funds that have increased in value may help you reduce taxes and conserve cash.
- Retirement plan distributions – These assets can be a practical resource for charitable gifts now or in your long-range estate plans.
- Life insurance policies – Using life insurance for gifts to NAVS can be a convenient way to make a tax-effective gift.
- Real estate – An often overlooked resource, real estate can be an excellent way to make a meaningful gift that could enhance your income or generate tax savings.
- Other items of value (jewelry, artwork, collections, antiques, automobiles, etc.)
After considering the properties you own, you may find a gift of property other than cash to be an attractive alternative. Giving in this way may enable you to make gifts while conserving cash for other uses and enjoying what may be greater tax savings than those provided by gifts of cash.
When Property is Worth More
If you have property, such as stocks and mutual funds, that is worth more than you paid for it and it has been owned for more than a year, you may enjoy greater tax savings from giving that property than from giving the same amount of cash. You may also receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the property’s current value, not just its original cost.
- Jordan is in the 35% tax bracket and a 15% capital gains tax bracket and would like to make a $10,000 gift to NAVS.
- Jordan gives appreciated securities with a cost basis of $2,000 instead of cash. NAVS sells the securities, pays no capital gains tax and receives $10,000, less expenses, from the sale.
- Jordan receives a charitable income tax deduction in the amount of $10,000 and pays no capital gains taxes on the sale of the securities, saving $1,200. The cost of the gift net of all tax savings has been reduced to $5,300 ($10,000 – $3,500 – $1,200), a savings of $1,200 over cash.
NOTE: This calculation is provided for educational purposes only. The type of assets transferred, the actual date of the gift, and other factors may have a material effect on the amount or use of your deduction. You are advised to seek the advice of your tax advisors before implementing a gift of this type.
Giving Property That Has Declined in Value
If you have stock or other investment property that is worth less than it cost, you will normally save more in taxes by selling that property and giving the proceeds. You may then be able to claim a capital loss on your tax return and also deduct the cash proceeds you give as a charitable gift. The result can be to enjoy tax deductions that actually total more than the current value of the asset while making a meaningful gift.
