For Christian households, giving is not first a tax strategy. It is worship. Whether you tithe to your local church or support ministries and missions, the tithe comes first and the tax rules come second. Still, the tax rules around giving changed for 2026, and it helps to understand them before year-end.
This article is educational. It is not tax advice. Please confirm with your CPA.
Beginning with tax year 2026, if you do not itemize, you may deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 if filing jointly) of cash contributions to certain qualified organizations. (IRS Topic 506)
If you take the standard deduction, this may be the first time in years your cash gifts can show up on your return.
A few details worth confirming with your tax professional:
Starting in 2026, if you itemize, charitable contributions are generally deductible only to the extent they exceed 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (technically, your 'contribution base'). This floor does not apply to the new non-itemizer deduction above. (Internal Revenue Code section 170(b)(1)(I), added by Public Law 119-21, Sec. 70425)
Illustrative only: with an AGI of $150,000, 0.5% is $750. The first $750 of gifts would not be deductible as an itemized deduction. This is a teaching example, not your number.
If you are 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA is a separate path with its own rules, and it can count toward required minimum distributions. Our RMD guide touches on it. If you are not there yet, the rules above are the ones that apply now.
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
The tax rules are worth knowing. They should not set the size of your generosity. Let conviction lead, and let planning serve it. For the bigger picture, see our Christian legacy planning framework or learn how we serve Christian households in The Woodlands.
If you want a calm look at how giving fits in your retirement income plan, start with the Free Retirement Paycheck Readiness Scorecard or request a Retirement Clarity Call. Office: 620-670-9455.
I'm Will Snodgrass, a CFP® professional and fiduciary asset manager with Matt25 Capital, serving Christian households in The Woodlands, Houston, and across Texas.
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