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New for 2026: How Charitable Cash Contributions Can Help Lower Your Tax Bill

Deducting Charitable Cash Contributions in 2026

If you are charitably inclined or tithe to your church, you may now benefit from cash contributions in 2026.  Starting in 2026, if you make a charitable contribution and if you take the standard deduction, you can deduct up to $1,000 (for those who file their taxes Single, Head of Household, or Married Filing Separate) and $2,000 for those who file (Married Filing Joint). 

 

You may remember similar deductions were made in 2020 of up to $300 and in 2021 of up to $600 to boost charitable giving during COVID.

 

Make sure to keep a copy of your cash receipts (digital or physical) to save with your taxes as backup in case you are audited (up to 3 years, which is how far back the IRS can go on tax returns).

 

Cash donations can be in various forms, including:

  • Actual cash

  • Check

  • Electronic funds transfer (EFT)

  • Credit Card

  • Debit Card

  • Payroll Deductions

  • Even transferring a gift card redeemable for cash

 

Note contributions to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) do not qualify for the deduction and would only make sense if you have a highly appreciated investment or security.

 

If you itemize your deductions on Schedule A, you can add that to your total amount of deductions, but only the amount that exceeds 0.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).  AGI is essentially all your income sources combined (W-2 income, Self-Employment income, interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income, Social Security, and pensions, to name the most common sources). 

 

An Example

The Johnsons’ AGI was $200,000 in 2026, and they itemized and donated $20,000.  The math would mean the 1st $1,000 of their donation does not go into their itemized amounts, but $19,000 does.

 

The 2026 standard deductions for the filing status:

  • Single / Married Filing Separately: $16,100

  • Married Filing Jointly: $32,200

  • Head of Household: $24,150

  • 65+ or Blind:

    • Single - $2,050

    • Married (each spouse) - $1,650

 

Note this doesn’t include whether those 65 and older also qualify for the enhanced senior deduction of $6,000 per person ($12,000 for joint filers), which starts to phase out at $75,000 of AGI for single filers and $150,000 AGI for married filing jointly.

 

Other Options

Other giving strategies can make sense in addition to or in place of this new deduction: donor-advised funds, “bunching” charitable contributions, or qualified charitable distributions (for those aged 70.5 or older). 

 

If you're charitably inclined or regularly tithe but aren't sure whether—or how—these changes could benefit you, reach out to one of our financial advisors for a conversation. We can discuss your planned giving strategy and how to structure your donations so more of your money goes to the organizations you care about and less goes to the government.

Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers is an SEC-registered investment adviser firm. The information presented is for educational purposes only and intended for a broad audience. The information does not intend to make an offer or solicitation to sell or purchase any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers reasonably believes that this marketing does not include any false or misleading statements or omissions of facts regarding services, investment, or client experience. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers has a reasonable belief that the content will not cause an untrue or misleading implication regarding the adviser’s services, investments, or client experiences. Please refer to the firm’s ADV Part 2A for material risks disclosures.

​

Past performance of specific investment advice should not be relied upon without knowledge of certain circumstances of market events, the nature and timing of the investments, and relevant constraints of the investment. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers has presented information in a fair and balanced manner.

​

Copyright (c) 2023 Clearnomics, Inc. and Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers, LTD. All rights reserved. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not necessarily complete and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of the information and opinions contained herein. The views and the other information provided are subject to change without notice. All reports posted on or via www.clearnomics.com or any affiliated websites, applications, or services are issued without regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific recipient and are not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future results. Company fundamentals and earnings may be mentioned occasionally, but should not be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold the company's stock. Predictions, forecasts, and estimates for any and all markets should not be construed as recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security--including mutual funds, futures contracts, and exchange traded funds, or any similar instruments. The text, images, and other materials contained or displayed in this report are proprietary to Clearnomics, Inc. and constitute valuable intellectual property. All unauthorized reproduction or other use of material from Clearnomics, Inc. shall be deemed willful infringement(s) of this copyright and other proprietary and intellectual property rights, including but not limited to, rights of privacy. Clearnomics, Inc. expressly reserves all rights in connection with its intellectual property, including without limitation the right to block the transfer of its products and services and/or to track usage thereof, through electronic tracking technology, and all other lawful means, now known or hereafter devised. Clearnomics, Inc. reserves the right, without further notice, to pursue to the fullest extent allowed by the law any and all criminal and civil remedies for the violation of its rights.

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Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers is an SEC-registered investment adviser firm. The information presented is for educational purposes only and intended for a broad audience. The information does not intend to make an offer or solicitation to sell or purchase any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers reasonably believes that this marketing does not include any false or misleading statements or omissions of facts regarding services, investment, or client experience. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers has a reasonable belief that the content will not cause an untrue or misleading implication regarding the adviser’s services, investments, or client experiences. Please refer to the firm’s ADV Part 2A for material risks disclosures.

​

Past performance of specific investment advice should not be relied upon without knowledge of certain circumstances of market events, the nature and timing of the investments, and relevant constraints of the investment. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers has presented information in a fair and balanced manner.

​

Copyright (c) 2023 Clearnomics, Inc. and Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers, LTD. All rights reserved. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not necessarily complete and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of the information and opinions contained herein. The views and the other information provided are subject to change without notice. All reports posted on or via www.clearnomics.com or any affiliated websites, applications, or services are issued without regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific recipient and are not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future results. Company fundamentals and earnings may be mentioned occasionally, but should not be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold the company's stock. Predictions, forecasts, and estimates for any and all markets should not be construed as recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security--including mutual funds, futures contracts, and exchange traded funds, or any similar instruments. The text, images, and other materials contained or displayed in this report are proprietary to Clearnomics, Inc. and constitute valuable intellectual property. All unauthorized reproduction or other use of material from Clearnomics, Inc. shall be deemed willful infringement(s) of this copyright and other proprietary and intellectual property rights, including but not limited to, rights of privacy. Clearnomics, Inc. expressly reserves all rights in connection with its intellectual property, including without limitation the right to block the transfer of its products and services and/or to track usage thereof, through electronic tracking technology, and all other lawful means, now known or hereafter devised. Clearnomics, Inc. reserves the right, without further notice, to pursue to the fullest extent allowed by the law any and all criminal and civil remedies for the violation of its rights.

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