Must my Plan administrator send my RMD contributions to a charity or can I send them after the RMD has been sent to me?

[jagbox10]

Can I send a part or all of my RMD to a charity using a personal check from my checking account or MUST I HAVE PERSHING LLC SEND THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE CHARITY INSTEAD OF SENDING IT TO ME? 

[MargaretL · Accepted solution]

It depends if you want your RMD to be taxable or not. Contributions must be send directly from IRA to a qualified charitable distribution (by the plan administrator) in order for your distribution to be a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) and to be excluded from your federal taxable income.

If you receive your RMD and then send the money to a charity, your RMD is taxable but you can take an itemized deduction for charitable contribution. 

[jagbox10]

If I send the RMD to a charity in 2017, can i show it as a 2016 deduction?

[MargaretL]

No, it will reported on your 2017 tax return.