As we approach the end of 2021, now might be a good time to take a closer look at a few developments surrounding required minimum distributions (RMDs) and take note of what has remained in place.

President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of December 2017 (TCJA) into law approximately two years ago, markedly changing the monetary benefits people derive from their charitable giving. The Federal Estate and Gift Tax Exclusions were increased, new laws involving standard and itemized deductions against personal income emerged, and the notion of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) was introduced. The provisions of the TCJA forced people to be more thoughtful about how, and how much, they choose to give.

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. One provision benefitting seniors that was made “permanent” is the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). I say permanent with tongue-in-cheek, of course, since very little Congress does can ever be considered permanent, particularly when it comes to tax legislation.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 first allowed taxpayers age 70½ and older to make tax-free charitable donations directly from their IRAs. By making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from an IRA directly to a qualified charitable organization, older IRA owners were allowed to exclude up to $100,000 annually from gross income. These gifts, also known as "charitable IRA rollovers," would otherwise be taxable IRA distributions.

Most of us are gathering 2016 data and getting ready to prepare (or have someone else prepare) our 2016 income taxes. It is important to be mindful of federal legislation that impacts tax returns we’ll be filing soon.

Charitable institutions stand to benefit as the first wave of baby boomers reach the stage where they are able to make significant charitable gifts. If you're like many Americans, you may have also considered donating to charity. While writing a

Have you ever considered charitable giving as being sourced from two pockets of wealth?Doing so creates a perspective that can help guide giving decisions and even enhance the benefit provided to the receiving organizations. “Cash Flow” Pocket – We all

The tax laws offer valuable opportunities to those who care to seek them out. For example, here’s how you might use a charitable gift to increase the amount of wealth you can transfer to your heirs. Taking advantage of this

According to the cliche, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You may think your collection of antique cars is worth millions. Your spouse may think it's worthless. Yet, if you plan to donate your collection to a charitable organization and want to claim a charitable contribution deduction, you will need an objective and professional opinion. A certified appraisal is essential.