401k Charitable Distribution: How to Donate From Your Plan

After decades of contributions and compound growth, your 401(k) stands ready not only to fund your retirement but to leave a lasting mark on the causes you support. Yet distributing funds directly to charity from an employer‐sponsored plan isn’t an option under IRS rules. Instead, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)—executed by rolling assets into an IRA and directing the custodian to pay a charity—offers a tax-efficient path: payments aren’t counted as taxable income, they can satisfy required minimum distributions, and they advance the missions you care about.

Navigating the rules around rollovers, eligibility, and documentation may seem daunting. This guide removes the guesswork by breaking down each phase:

Clarifying QCD fundamentals and why 401(k) plans require an IRA rollover
Verifying your age, account type, and RMD status
Setting up a direct trustee‐to‐trustee transfer
Choosing a qualified charity and submitting your QCD request
Reporting the transaction accurately on your tax return

Follow these steps to transform your retirement account into a powerful giving tool—one that aligns your financial objectives with your philanthropic vision.

Step 1: Understand Qualified Charitable Distributions and Why You Can’t Donate Directly from a 401(k)

Before you launch into paperwork and custodian calls, it helps to grasp the core reason behind this strategy: the IRS only recognizes Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs, not employer-sponsored accounts. By rolling over a portion of your 401(k) into an IRA and then directing that IRA to pay a charity, you unlock a way to give that bypasses ordinary income taxation and ticks off your required minimum distribution (RMD) box.

What Is a Qualified Charitable Distribution?

A Qualified Charitable Distribution is a direct transfer of funds from an IRA custodian to a qualifying 501(c)(3) organization. When executed correctly, QCDs:

Are excluded from your taxable income, lowering your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Count toward your annual RMD obligation
Don’t require you to itemize deductions to receive the tax benefit

In essence, a QCD lets you support your favorite causes without increasing your tax burden—and you don’t need to claim a charitable deduction on Schedule A. For a more detailed overview, see Investopedia’s guide to 401(k)s and Qualified Charitable Donations.

Why 401(k) Plans Require an IRA Rollover for QCDs

IRS regulations tie QCD eligibility exclusively to IRAs. Employer-sponsored plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s simply aren’t on the list. Here’s what that means in practice:

401(k) distributions are taxed as ordinary income when paid to you
You can’t instruct a 401(k) custodian to send funds directly to a charity
Only after moving assets into an IRA do you gain the authority to initiate a QCD

This rollover requirement ensures you avoid both unintended taxable events and the 10% early-distribution penalty (if you’re under age 59½). Rolling over directly—via a trustee-to-trustee transfer—keeps the cash moving straight from one tax-sheltered account to another, setting the stage for a clean, tax-advantaged gift.

Step 2: Confirm Your Eligibility Criteria for Making QCDs

Before you initiate any transfers, it’s essential to verify that you meet the IRS requirements for Qualified Charitable Distributions. These rules hinge on three factors: your age, your required minimum distribution (RMD) status and the specific type of IRA account you hold. Overlooking any one of these criteria could result in unexpected tax consequences or disallowed gifts.

Age and RMD Requirements

To qualify for a QCD, you must be at least 70½ years old on the date the distribution is made. While the SECURE Act raised the starting age for RMDs to 73, the QCD age threshold remains 70½—meaning you can begin directing charitable transfers before you hit your first mandatory drawdown. Any QCD you execute counts toward your annual RMD obligation once you reach age 73, helping you reduce your taxable income. For complete details, refer to the IRS guidance on Qualified Charitable Distributions.

Eligible IRA Account Types for QCDs

Not every IRA qualifies for a charitable distribution. You can only make QCDs from:

Traditional IRAs
Rollover IRAs
Inherited IRAs
Inactive SEP IRAs
Inactive SIMPLE IRAs

“Inactive” for SEP and SIMPLE plans means no employer contributions are made in the plan year of your intended gift. If your SEP or SIMPLE IRA remains active, you’ll need to roll those assets into a traditional IRA or wait until the plan year ends without employer contributions. For a detailed breakdown of account eligibility, see Fidelity Charitable’s list of eligible accounts.

Step 3: Review Your 401(k) plan’s Rollover and Distribution Policies

Before you initiate any rollovers, it’s crucial to confirm that your 401(k) plan allows the kind of in-service distributions and trustee-to-trustee transfers required for a QCD. Plans vary widely in their rules, fees, and processing timelines. Skipping this step can lead to unexpected delays, extra charges, or even disallowed transfers.

Locate and Read Your Summary Plan Description (SPD)

Your plan’s Summary Plan Description (SPD) is the definitive guide to what you can—and can’t—do with your 401(k). Follow these steps to track it down and decode the key sections:

• Obtain the SPD:

Log in to your plan’s online portal, or
Request a copy from your HR department or plan administrator.

• Focus on these SPD sections:

Rollover Eligibility: Do you qualify for in-service distributions?
Distribution Windows: Are rollovers allowed at any time, or only during certain periods?
Required Forms: Which rollover request or distribution forms must you submit?

Reading these sections up front helps you avoid surprises—like discovering you’re not yet eligible for a distribution or that you need extra signatures from a former employer.

Understand Plan Fees, Timelines, and Restrictions

Once you know the rules, dig into the costs and timing. Even modest fees or blackout periods can nudge a QCD request past year-end deadlines:

• Common Fees to Watch

Processing Fees: A flat charge per distribution request.
Account Closure Fees: Levied if rolling out the last dollar.
Paper Statement Fees: If you need physical plan documents.

• Potential Restrictions

Blackout Periods: Times when no transactions are allowed (e.g., quarter-end, system upgrades).
Vesting Schedules: If unvested funds are involved, only vested balances can roll over.
Minimum Distribution Amounts: Some plans set a floor (e.g., $1,000) before permitting an in-service transfer.

• Example Timeline

Day 1: Submit a rollover request form to your 401(k) custodian.
Days 2–10: Custodian processes the request—watch for blackout windows.
Day 11: Trustee-to-trustee transfer is initiated.
Days 12–14: Funds arrive in your IRA, ready for a QCD.

By confirming these details in advance, you’ll minimize delays and ensure your QCD can be booked before December 31. If anything in your SPD is unclear, a quick call to your plan administrator can save you headaches—and keep your charitable timeline on track.

Step 4: Roll Over Funds from Your 401(k) to an IRA in Preparation for a QCD

With eligibility and plan rules squared away, your next move is shifting funds from your 401(k) into an IRA. A direct rollover keeps the money tax-sheltered and positions it for a seamless Qualified Charitable Distribution. This step involves two main tasks: choosing an IRA custodian that fits your needs, then executing a trustee-to-trustee transfer.

Selecting the Right IRA Custodian

Not all custodians handle QCDs equally. Before opening an IRA, evaluate:

Fee structure: look for low or no annual maintenance fees and minimal transaction charges.
QCD support: confirm the custodian processes charitable distributions without hidden surcharges.
Customer service: ensure you can reach a rep who understands QCD mechanics.
Online tools: a solid portal helps you track rollovers and charitable payments in one place.

Here’s an example comparison of three fictional custodians:

Custodian	Annual Fee	QCD Processing Fee	Online Tools
Summit Consulting Group IRA	$0	$0	Full-service portal with QCD dashboard
BigName Custodian	$50	$25	Basic account view
Discount IRA Co.	$20	$10	Advanced trading tools

Use this template to compare real firms—Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab—or any boutique trust you’re considering. Reading fee schedules and recent customer reviews will reveal which choice aligns with your budget and support preferences.

Executing a Trustee-to-Trustee 401(k) to IRA Rollover

Once your IRA is open, follow a direct rollover process to avoid tax withholding or penalties:

• Contact your 401(k) custodian and request a direct rollover. Specify that funds should transfer straight into your new IRA, not to you personally.
• Provide the IRA account details—custodian name, account number, and mailing or electronic transfer instructions.
• Complete any rollover request forms, including beneficiary designations for your IRA. Double-check that the form states “trustee-to-trustee” transfer to prevent any withholding.
• Confirm the expected transfer date and note any blackout windows or administrative delays.
• Monitor both accounts until the IRA custodian notifies you of receipt. Only then can you proceed with your QCD.

Checklist:

Submit rollover request form to 401(k) custodian
Supply new IRA details and verify “direct rollover” wording
Track the transfer and confirm arrival in your IRA account

A clean, trustee-to-trustee rollover sets the stage for your QCD without tax surprises—and gets you one step closer to supporting your favorite charities from retirement assets.

Step 5: Ensure Your IRA Is Properly Set Up to Receive QCDs

Before you make a Qualified Charitable Distribution, double-check that your IRA is configured to accept and process charitable transfers. A small hiccup—like an active employer contribution or a custodian that doesn’t handle QCDs—can derail the whole plan. Taking a few moments now to confirm your account’s status and your custodian’s procedures will pave the way for a smooth, tax-efficient gift.

Confirm IRA Account Activation Status

Not all IRAs are created equal when it comes to QCDs. Traditional, Rollover, and Inherited IRAs are always “active” and ready for charitable distributions. However, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs require a special check: they must be “inactive,” meaning no employer contributions occur during the calendar year of your QCD. If your SEP or SIMPLE IRA is still tied to ongoing contributions, you’ll need to either roll it into a traditional IRA or wait until the plan year closes without further deposits.

To verify:

Review your most recent plan statement or contribution history.
Contact your employer’s payroll or benefits department to confirm that no further SEP/SIMPLE deposits are scheduled.
If you discover the plan remains active, initiate a trustee-to-trustee rollover into a traditional IRA well before year end.

Verify Your Custodian’s QCD Process

Each IRA custodian handles qualified charitable distributions a bit differently. A quick phone call or secure message can save you from unexpected paperwork or missed deadlines. Reach out and ask the following:

How do you initiate a QCD? (online portal, paper form, phone request)
Which specific form(s) must I complete?
Can you send funds directly by check or wire, and what payee details do you need?
Are there cut-off dates for processing QCDs to count in the current tax year?
Do you charge a fee for issuing a QCD?

Once you’ve gathered the answers, keep a copy of any forms and processing guidelines. Having a clear understanding of the timeline and requirements ensures that when you’re ready to direct money to charity, your custodian can execute the transfer without a hitch—so your gift counts exactly when and how you intended.

Step 6: Choose a Qualified Charity to Receive Your QCD

Giving a Qualified Charitable Distribution only counts when it lands with a properly recognized nonprofit. Picking the wrong recipient can lead to disallowed gifts or a tangled audit trail. In this step, you’ll learn how to confirm an organization’s eligibility under IRS rules and vet potential charities for mission alignment and financial integrity.

What Makes an Organization a “Qualified Charity”

To qualify for a QCD, the charity must generally be a public 501(c)(3) organization. That means it:

Holds tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Receives a determination letter from the IRS confirming its exemption
Is not a private foundation, donor-advised fund, or supporting organization (these are excluded)

You can verify an organization’s status using the IRS Exempt Organizations Select Check. Search by name or Employer Identification Number (EIN) to confirm its 501(c)(3) standing and review any revocations or pending compliance issues. Keeping a screenshot or PDF of your query results helps document your due diligence.

Research and Vet Potential Charitable Organizations

Beyond legal eligibility, you want to know how effectively a charity uses its resources and achieves impact. Start by examining:

Mission Fit: Does the organization’s stated purpose align with the causes you care about?
Financial Transparency: Are audited financial statements and IRS Form 990s publicly available? Look for a low program-expense ratio (ideally 75% or higher).
Impact Reporting: Does the charity publish clear metrics or stories demonstrating outcomes?

Academic research shows donors stick with charities that deliver measurable results and maintain open communication about their programs (donor behavior study). To streamline your vetting, use this checklist:

• Verify 501(c)(3) status on the IRS Exempt Organizations Select Check
• Review the most recent Form 990 and annual report
• Assess program-to-administrative expense ratio
• Read third-party ratings (e.g., Charity Navigator, GuideStar)
• Confirm the charity’s governance practices (board independence, conflict-of-interest policies)

By combining legal verification with impact analysis, you’ll select a recipient that not only meets IRS requirements for your QCD but also maximizes the good your retirement assets can do.

Step 7: Initiate the QCD Transaction with Your IRA Trustee

With your IRA primed for charitable distributions and a qualified charity selected, it’s time to put your plan into action. Initiating the QCD with your IRA trustee transforms an administrative setup into an impactful gift. While procedures vary by custodian, the core steps—submitting a distribution request and confirming direct payment—remain the same.

Most custodians offer a dedicated Qualified Charitable Distribution form, either online or as a paper document. Reach out to your IRA provider, request their QCD packet, and review any processing deadlines to ensure your gift counts in the current tax year.

Submit a QCD Distribution Request Form

When you’ve got the form in hand, fill it out carefully. At minimum, you’ll need to provide:

Charity legal name and mailing address
Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the charity
Exact dollar amount you wish to transfer
Requested distribution date (to meet year-end deadlines)
A clear designation that this is a “Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)” from your IRA

Double-check each field before signing. Any discrepancies—like an outdated address or missing EIN—can delay processing or cause the distribution to default back to a taxable IRA withdrawal.

Confirm Direct Payment to the Charity

A valid QCD must flow straight from your IRA to the charity, not through your hands. To lock in tax benefits and satisfy IRS rules:

Ensure the check or electronic transfer is made payable to the charity’s name, not to you.
Request written confirmation from your custodian—this might be a copy of the check, a transaction receipt, or an email acknowledgment.
Keep that confirmation with your tax records. It proves the funds never hit your personal account and supports the exclusion from taxable income.

A quick follow-up call or secure message to your trustee a week after submission can reassure you that the charity will receive the gift on schedule. With the payment en route and your documentation in hand, you’ll have successfully completed the QCD step—and done so in a way that stands up to IRS scrutiny.

Step 8: Use QCDs to Satisfy Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

When you reach the age to start drawing down retirement accounts, meeting your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) becomes mandatory—and potentially taxable. A Qualified Charitable Distribution can fulfill all or part of that RMD without bumping up your gross income. In this section, you’ll learn how to calculate your RMD, align it with a QCD, and reap the added tax and Medicare‐premium benefits.

Calculating Your RMD and Matching It with QCD Amounts

Your RMD is determined each year by dividing your IRA balance as of December 31 by a life‐expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. In simple terms:

RMD = Account Balance at End of Prior Year ÷ Distribution Period

For a practical example, imagine:

Age: 75
IRA balance on December 31: $500,000
Distribution period (Uniform Lifetime Table): 22.9

RMD = $500,000 ÷ 22.9 ≈ $21,834

If you plan a QCD for $20,000, that gift covers most of your RMD, leaving only $1,834 as a taxable distribution. To see more examples of pairing RMDs with QCDs, check out this RMD matching guide.

Benefits of Reducing Taxable Income and Medicare Premiums

Using a QCD to satisfy your RMD does more than simplify paperwork. It also trims your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which can lower your:

Federal and state income taxes
Medicare Part B and Part D IRMAA surcharges
Exposure to phase-outs on deductions and credits

Consider two scenarios for a retiree with a $110,000 RMD and $50,000 in Social Security:

Scenario 1 – Take Full RMD, Then Donate Cash

AGI: $160,000
Itemized deduction for cash gift: –$35,000
Taxable income: $125,000

Scenario 2 – Donate $35,000 of RMD via QCD

AGI: $125,000 (RMD reduced by QCD)
Standard deduction: –$17,000
Taxable income: $108,000

Switching to a QCD approach could shrink your taxable income by $17,000 and, depending on your bracket, save you several thousand dollars in taxes and IRMAA surcharges. For a deeper dive into tax‐savings scenarios, explore this Tax impact case study.

Step 9: Obtain and Preserve Proper Documentation and Receipts

Proper record-keeping is the backbone of a compliant QCD strategy. Having clear, well-organized documentation not only makes tax-time smoother but also provides the audit trail you need if the IRS ever asks questions. In this step, you’ll learn which documents to collect and how long to retain them to prove that your Qualified Charitable Distribution met all legal requirements.

Start by gathering acknowledgments and distribution statements immediately after each QCD. Store them in a dedicated folder—physical or digital—alongside your IRA statements and tax return records. Organizing your paperwork chronologically or by charity will help you retrieve information quickly and demonstrate that funds never passed through your hands, preserving the tax-free benefit of the distribution.

Get Written Acknowledgment from the Charity

The IRS requires a contemporaneous written acknowledgment for any charitable gift of $250 or more. Your receipt should include:

The date of the contribution
The exact amount of the distribution
A statement confirming you received no goods or services in return

Request this acknowledgement as soon as the charity processes your QCD. If the organization doesn’t automatically send one, follow up promptly—without this document, you could lose the ability to exclude the gift from your taxable income. Keep each letter or email saved with your tax-year files, so you can easily verify the legitimacy of every QCD.

Retain Your IRA Distribution Statement (Form 1099-R)

After year end, your IRA custodian will issue Form 1099-R for all distributions, including QCDs. When you receive this statement:

Check Box 1 (gross distribution) to confirm it matches the amount you directed to charity
Verify the distribution code in Box 7; QCDs often appear with code “7” for normal distributions
Look for any entries in Box 4 (federal tax withheld) to ensure no withholding was applied

Store your Form 1099-R alongside your acknowledgment letters and prior-year tax returns. The IRS recommends keeping these records for at least seven years—the standard statute of limitations for audits on items affecting your adjusted gross income. With these documents on hand, you’ll have a rock-solid defense should any questions arise about your QCDs.

Step 10: Report Your QCD Correctly on Your Federal Tax Return

With your Qualified Charitable Distribution executed and documented, the final step is ensuring your gift is reflected accurately on your federal income tax return. Filing correctly preserves the tax benefit of your QCD and helps you avoid IRS inquiries. You’ll need your Form 1099-R from the IRA custodian and the written acknowledgments from each charity before you sit down to complete your Form 1040.

Completing Form 1040 to Reflect QCDs

On Form 1040, report your IRA distributions as follows:

Line 4a (IRA Distributions): Enter the full amount shown in Box 1 of Form 1099-R—this includes both taxable distributions and QCDs.
Line 4b (Taxable Amount): If your entire distribution qualifies as a QCD, enter “0.” If only part of the distribution is a QCD, subtract the QCD amount from the Box 1 total and enter the remaining taxable portion.
Notation: Write “QCD” next to Line 4b. This tells the IRS the zero (or reduced) taxable amount results from a qualified charitable distribution.

You do not claim a separate charitable deduction on Schedule A for the QCD amount—its tax benefit is baked into the exclusion on Line 4b.

Avoiding Common Reporting Errors

Even minor oversights can trigger IRS questions or negate your tax benefit. Watch out for these pitfalls:

Claiming a deduction on Schedule A for the same dollars you reported as a QCD.
Failing to write “QCD” next to Line 4b, which may cause the IRS to treat the distribution as fully taxable.
Entering the wrong amount on Lines 4a or 4b—double-check against your Form 1099-R.
Overlooking backup withholding codes in Box 4 of Form 1099-R. If your custodian withheld federal tax in error, you’ll need to reconcile that amount on Line 25b (Federal Income Tax Withheld).

By following these steps and reviewing your entries carefully, you’ll close the loop on your QCD—securing both the charitable impact and the intended tax advantages.

Step 11: Avoid Common Pitfalls and Compliance Issues

Even with careful planning, a few common missteps can derail your QCD strategy and trigger unexpected taxes or audit inquiries. Familiarizing yourself with these hazards—and how to sidestep them—ensures your charitable gifts remain tax-efficient and fully compliant. Below are two of the most frequent pitfalls and straightforward ways to steer clear of them.

Mistaking Standard Distributions for QCDs

A distribution only qualifies as a QCD if it moves directly from your IRA custodian to the charity. Any detour—such as taking a distribution into your account and then writing a check yourself—invalidates the treatment. For example:

• You request a distribution to your bank, then mail a donation check to a charitable organization.
• You transfer IRA funds into your checking account, buy a donor-advised fund contribution, and claim it as a QCD.

In both scenarios, the IRS treats the entire distribution as taxable income because the funds passed through your hands. To avoid this trap, always specify “Qualified Charitable Distribution” on your trustee-to-trustee request and confirm the check or electronic transfer is payable directly to the nonprofit.

Exceeding Annual QCD Limits or Missing Deadlines

The IRS caps QCDs at a set annual maximum—$105,000 per individual in 2025, indexed for inflation. Each spouse with their own IRA can use the full limit, but there’s no carryforward for unused capacity. If you accidentally exceed your limit, the excess counts as a taxable distribution.

Equally important is timing. To count in the current tax year, your IRA trustee must process the QCD so the charity receives payment by December 31. Custodian cut-off dates, year-end holidays, and mailing delays can push transactions into the next calendar year. Build in a buffer by submitting your request well before mid-December and confirming payment has been sent. Missing the deadline means you’ll forfeit the QCD treatment and may face a larger tax bill.

Step 12: Explore Advanced QCD Strategies Under the SECURE Act 2.0

The SECURE Act 2.0 introduced powerful enhancements to Qualified Charitable Distributions, turning QCDs into more than just a way to satisfy RMDs. Among the new provisions is a one-time election that allows IRA owners to fund certain life-income gifts directly—transforming charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), charitable remainder annuity trusts (CRATs), or charitable gift annuities (CGAs) into vehicles for philanthropic and tax planning. Meanwhile, married couples can now coordinate their QCDs strategically to maximize the combined benefit. Let’s unpack these advanced strategies so you can supercharge your giving.

Funding Charitable Trusts and Annuities Directly with QCDs

Under SECURE Act 2.0, IRA owners aged 70½ or older may make a one-time QCD election—up to a set dollar limit—to fund a split-interest vehicle such as:

A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
A Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT)
A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)

For 2025, the lifetime maximum for this election is $54,000. Instead of rolling IRA assets into your checking account and then contributing, you instruct your custodian to transfer funds directly into the trust or annuity. The result:

You satisfy a portion of your RMD without increasing AGI.
You establish a life-income stream (for yourself or a beneficiary) while supporting a charity down the road.
You lock in estate-planning and tax benefits in a single transaction.

Before you move forward, consult your tax or estate-planning advisor to model income streams, trust fees, and remainder expectations. For a deeper dive into these new options, see Forbes’ overview of advanced QCD strategies.

Strategies for Married Couples and Maximizing Annual Limits

Spouses who each own an IRA can leverage individual QCD limits—$105,000 per person in 2025—to double their collective giving power. Here’s how to coordinate effectively:

Allocate RMDs Separately: Each spouse calculates their own RMD based on individual account balances and life-expectancy tables.
Divide Charitable Goals: You might split gifts between two charities or pool resources for one larger donation.
Advanced Timing: Stagger QCDs throughout the year to manage cash flow and track processing deadlines—mid-year and year-end transfers both count toward the same limit.
Joint Strategy for Life-Income Gifts: If using the one-time split-interest election, spouses can each direct up to their lifetime cap into separate CRTs or CGAs, potentially creating dual income streams or beneficiaries.

By planning together, married couples not only maximize the $210,000 combined QCD capacity but also fine-tune their tax impact and legacy objectives. Coordinate with your financial advisor to structure transfers, verify custodian policies, and align gift timing with your broader retirement income and estate plans.

With these SECURE Act 2.0 provisions, QCDs become a flexible, sophisticated tool—one that advances charitable causes, optimizes tax savings, and even funds life-income arrangements. As always, partner with trusted advisors to ensure your strategy fits your personal and philanthropic goals.

Putting Your Charitable Giving Plan into Action

You’ve walked through the essentials: confirming your 401(k) can roll over, opening an IRA that supports QCDs, vetting a 501(c)(3), executing a trustee-to-trustee rollover, submitting your QCD request, and carefully preserving documentation. Now it’s time to bring it all together.

Start by revisiting your Summary Plan Description to verify in-service rollover eligibility and any deadlines or fees. Next, select an IRA custodian that makes QCDs painless—zero processing fees, straightforward forms, clear cut-off dates. Once your IRA is funded, confirm its “active” status (or roll an inactive SEP/SIMPLE into a traditional IRA), then choose your charity and submit the custodian’s QCD distribution form, specifying the organization’s name, EIN, amount, and payment date.

After the trustee sends the check directly to your chosen charity, tuck away the charity’s written acknowledgment and your Form 1099-R showing the distribution. When tax time rolls around, simply report the full distribution on Line 4a of Form 1040, enter “0” on Line 4b, and write “QCD” next to it—no itemized deduction needed.

Whether you’re satisfying RMDs, trimming your AGI, or funding a charitable remainder trust under SECURE Act 2.0, this process transforms retirement savings into impact—cleanly and efficiently. If you’d prefer to offload the paperwork and compliance risk, our team at Summit Consulting Group is here to help you every step of the way. Ready to streamline your retirement plan administration and charitable giving? Visit our homepage to learn more.