Qualified Charitable Distribution Calculator
Calculate QCD tax savings from donating directly from your IRA at age 70.5+. Satisfies RMD.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 limits, including the $111,000 QCD limit
QCD Amount
$50,000.00
RMD Satisfied
$20,000.00
Tax Savings
$12,000.00
QCD Breakdown
| QCD to Charity | $50,000.00 |
| RMD Satisfied by QCD | $20,000.00 |
| Remaining RMD (taxable) | $0.00 |
Tax Benefits
| Taxable Income Reduction | $50,000.00 |
| Tax Savings (24% bracket) | $12,000.00 |
| MAGI Reduction | $50,000.00 |
| Benefit | May lower Medicare premiums (IRMAA) |
| Benefit | May reduce Social Security taxation |
Use the Qualified Charitable Distribution Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.
How It Works
Sending money straight from a traditional IRA to a qualified charity, a move available once you reach age 70.5, can shrink your tax bill, and this tool estimates by how much. The strategy carries extra weight for those 73 and older, because a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can count toward the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for 2026, keeping that income off your return and potentially holding down both taxable income and Medicare premiums.
The estimate multiplies the QCD, capped at the 2026 limit of $111,000, by the federal bracket you choose, because that money never becomes taxable income. The part of the QCD up to your RMD counts toward the RMD, and any RMD left over is still withdrawn and taxed. A lower AGI can also reduce the taxable share of Social Security benefits and Medicare Part B and Part D surcharges (IRMAA); the calculator points these out but does not put a dollar figure on them.
For the gift to qualify, the funds have to travel directly from your IRA custodian to the charity; pulling the money out to yourself first and then donating it breaks the benefit. The recipient must also be a 501(c)(3) public charity, since donor-advised funds and private foundations are not eligible destinations for a QCD.
Example: Maria's 2026 QCD
- 1 Maria, 75, has a $25,000 RMD for 2026 and is in the 24% federal bracket. She has her IRA custodian send $10,000 directly to a charity as a QCD.
- 2 Inputs: Planned QCD = $10,000, RMD = $25,000, Federal Tax Bracket = 24%. Her IRA balance does not change the result, and $10,000 is well under the $111,000 limit, so nothing is capped.
- 3 Tax savings: $10,000 × 24% = $2,400, because the $10,000 never enters her taxable income.
- 4 RMD: the QCD satisfies $10,000 of her RMD, leaving $15,000 that she still has to withdraw and report as taxable income. Her AGI ends up $10,000 lower than if she had taken the money and donated it, which can matter for the taxable share of her Social Security and for Medicare IRMAA; the calculator flags both but does not value them.
Source: IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 limits, including the $111,000 QCD limit · Last updated: September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Qualified Charitable Distribution?
Why is a QCD better than donating and deducting?
Can I make a QCD from my 401(k)?
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