Boost Your Tax Savings by Donating Appreciated Stock Instead of Cash

Saving taxes probably isn’t your primary reason for supporting your favorite charities. But tax deductions can be a valuable added benefit. If you donate long-term appreciated stock, you potentially can save even more. Not just a deduction Appreciated publicly traded stock you’ve held more than one year is long-term capital gains property. If you donate it to a qualified charity, you may be able to enjoy two tax benefits. First, if you itemize deductions, you can claim a charitable deduction equal to the stock’s fair market value. Second, you won’t be subject to the capital gains tax you’d owe if you sold the stock. Donating appreciated stock can be especially beneficial to taxpayers facing the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) or the top 20% long-term...