Charitable Deduction Carryover - Is the Deduction the Same?

[michaelmm]

It looks like I've exceeded the maximum I can deduct in charitable donations based on my income. In the case of carryover, is the deduction amount the same as if I had deducted it this year? Or will the deduction amount change based on some other variable in my next year's tax return? Assuming all things equal in my tax return this year and next year, in the case of a charitable deduction carryover, will the deduction I receive for the carryover amount be the same as if it were not a carryover?

[rjs]

The deduction amount will not change because of being carried over. The deduction next year will be the full amount that was carried over. However, your charitable deductions next year will still be subject to the same percentage-of-AGI limits. You will have to first deduct any new contributions that you make next year. Then you can deduct the carryover amount. If the total of new contributions plus the carryover exceeds the applicable percentage of AGI, you will have a carryover to the following year.

This is just a broad-brush overview, and omits a lot of details and limitations. See "Carryovers" in IRS Publication 526 for all the details.