The Choice Of What To Give

Cash: A Popular Gift

When most people think of giving to public broadcasting, they think of making a pledge and writing a check. Cash gifts are convenient for many people and are easily recorded through canceled checks and receipts. It is important to save all receipts to assure maximum tax savings.

Non-Cash Gifts: Enjoy More Savings

Some supporters choose to make their gifts in forms other than cash. Examples include:

Securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds)
Real estate
Insurance policies
Retirement plans
Other items of value (jewelry, paintings, collections, antiques, automobiles, etc.)

After considering the properties you own, you may find giving something other than cash to be an appealing alternative. Giving non-cash property enables you to help public broadcasting while conserving cash for other uses and enjoying what may be greater tax savings than those provided by gifts of cash.

Giving Appreciated Property

If you have non-cash property, such as stocks and mutual funds, that has grown in value (appreciated) and been held long-term (more than one year), you can generally enjoy greater tax savings from giving such property than from giving an equivalent amount of cash. That’s because a gift of long-term appreciated property lets you bypass capital gains tax that could be due if you sold the asset. You are also entitled to a charitable deduction based on the property’s current value, including the “paper profits” you have earned since you have owned it.

For example: Barbara is in the highest federal income tax bracket. She wants to make a $5,000 gift for charitable purposes. Should she give stocks, bonds, or mutual funds worth that amount, or should she sell them and give the cash from the sale?

If she gives $5,000 cash, she’ll receive a deduction for $5,000, saving her $1,750 in taxes. If she gives stock valued at $5,000 that was purchased years ago for $1,000, she will achieve the following results:

A charitable income tax deduction for $5,000, saving her $1,750 in taxes (just like a cash gift), plus
Avoidance of capital gains tax on the $4,000 increase in value, a $600 savings (15% capital gain tax rate x $4,000)

All told, the after-tax cost of Barbara's gift of stock worth $5,000 is just $2,650. Comparing that to the $3,250 after-tax cost of giving cash, she decides to give the stock and thus make the same gift to the charity at a savings of almost 20% over the after-tax cost of the same gift in the form of cash.

Giving Depreciated Property

If you have stocks or other properties that have decreased in value, you will normally save more in taxes by selling them and giving the proceeds. You may be able to claim a capital loss on your tax return. You can also deduct the cash proceeds you give as a charitable gift. The result can be to enjoy tax deductions that amount to more than the current value of the asset.