charity direct donation from retirement account

[AnnetteB6 · Accepted solution]

When you transfer part of your IRA distribution to a charity as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), TurboTax will take your age into account and determine if you qualify to make a QCD.  After you enter the information from your Form 1099-R which reports the distribution there will be some follow-up questions.  One of those questions will be if the distribution was transferred to a qualified charitable organization.  You can choose either all, part, or none of the distribution was transferred.  This will take care of reporting the distribution correctly on your return.

Then, on your actual Form 1040, line 4a will include the amount of your distribution and line 4b will show any taxable amount ($0 if the entire distribution was transferred to the charitable organization) and the designation QCD will be shown on that line as well.

@sdevincent9

[Noslomot]

I made a distribution out of my IRA and into my checking account.  Then I sent those funds to a qualified charity.  Does the withdrawal have to be made directly from my IRA to the charity or can it go from my account to me and then from me to the charity?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[SusanY1]

The donation must be made directly to the charity from the IRA to qualify for the special rules. 

If the money comes to you before it is sent to the charity, it is treated as a normal taxable distribution to you and then a normal charitable donation that is itemized with your other deductions.

@Noslomot