There is Still Time to Make Your IRA Gift to Charity in Torrance, CA

 
Unless an IRA is a Roth, the
account owner must take yearly minimum required distributions starting at age
70½ and pay tax on the withdrawals. With the charitable IRA rollover, as it is
called, the donation can count against the minimum required distribution they
would otherwise be required to take.

The fiscal cliff deal includes a special gifting opportunity
for seniors. Those who are past age 70-1/2 must take required minimum
distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs, and must pay income taxes on those
distributions (this does not apply to Roth IRAs). What seniors may not know is
the American Taxpayer Relief Act (commonly referred to as the Fiscal
Cliff Deal) allows you to avoid income taxes by directing those RMDs to a
qualified charity with an IRA Charitable
Rollover. The rule applies for 2013, and includes a small window of
opportunity for 2012 donations as well.

We have had this deal before, but Congress let it expire at
the end of 2011. So, it’s likely that most people already took their 2012 RMDs,
as required by law, before December 31^st. If you didn’t, though,
Congress has given you until January 31^st, 2013 to make a charitable
contribution that can satisfy all or part of your RMD for 2012. Confused? You
may want to read more about it in the Forbes
article, “Fiscal Cliff Deal Allows Giving IRA Assets
to Charity.”

If this giving strategy sounds appealing to you, bear a few things
in mind:

• To qualify, your donations must be directed from
  your IRA to the charity, and cannot be distributed to you first. Ask the
  account custodian to send the distribution directly to the charity.
• Your donations cannot go to donor-advised funds,
  supporting organizations or private non-operating foundations. Otherwise, the
  money can go to any organization to which you can make a gift that would
  qualify as a charitable deduction on your tax return.

Consult with your estate attorney if you have further
questions about the gifting opportunities you may have with your IRA for 2012
…just don’t wait too long, you only have until January 31^st!

For more information about dealing with the fiscal cliff in Torrance,
CA please visit my estate planning website.

Reference: Forbes
(January 2, 2013), “Fiscal Cliff Deal Allows Giving IRA Assets
To Charity.”