Charity tax calculator
Giving cash every year versus bunching gifts of appreciated stock.
A companion to Tax-efficient charitable giving. Three people earn the same income. Gordon donates in cash every year, Dave saves up several years of giving and donates it at once as appreciated stock, and Kevin gives nothing. Adjust the assumptions to see how their taxes compare.
The defaults are the assumptions from the post. The math is simplified (2024 brackets, federal tax only) and not rigorously checked, so treat the results as a rough guide. Everything runs in your browser.
Results
$0
less federal tax for Dave than Kevin
0¢
back in tax for each dollar Dave gives, versus 0¢ for Gordon
| Gordon cash every year | Dave bunched stock | Kevin gives nothing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donated | – | – | – |
| Federal tax | – | – | – |
| State tax | – | – | – |
| Take-home pay | – | – | – |
| Tax saved vs. Kevin | – | – | – |
| Saved per dollar given | – | – | – |
Dave's gifts exceed the deduction limit (30% of income for stock, 60% overall) in some years; the excess carries over for up to five years.