Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

Under current tax law, individuals who have a traditional IRA and have reached the age of 73 must take a distribution from that account every year, which is taxed as regular income. Some donors may find that this Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) places them in a higher tax bracket or affects other benefit programs like Social Security or Medicare.

Consider instead sending that amount directly to a charitable organization, like Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, through a Qualified Charitable Distribution. 

By doing this, the requirement for the IRA is met, the funds sent to PHSS are not counted as taxable income, and your support will directly go towards the care of our native wildlife. 

Note that this distribution does not count as a tax-deductible charitable donation, but the standard deduction is unaffected by the QCD. 

To decide if a QCD to PHSS is the right decision for you, please consult your tax professional and/or IRA custodian.

If you have any questions for Pelican Harbor regarding giving through a DAF or QCD, please reach out to Julie@pelicanharbor.org