With the introduction of new tax law this year, you may wonder how you will be impacted. For many taxpayers, the new tax law creates an opportunity in the form of increased disposable income.

Here are the main takeaways of the new law, along with some things to consider for charitable giving this year.

What’s New?

Income Tax Brackets
Whether you’re a single filer or a married person who files jointly, separately or as head of household, your tax bracket will be new as of 2018.
The new law maintains seven tax brackets, but lowers rates for most brackets. The new brackets are: 10, 12, 22, 24, 32, 35 and 37 percent. Most taxpayers will see their tax rate decrease. A married couple with a combined income of $150,000, for example, will go from a 25 percent tax rate to 22 percent under the new law.
You may be in a lower bracket this year and pay less taxes. You may now have an opportunity to give more to the charitable organizations you care about, such as the Eugene Symphony.

Higher Standard Deductions
The new law nearly doubles the standard deduction to $12,000 for single filers, $18,000 for heads of household and $24,000 for joint filers. You may be less likely to itemize on your taxes and use the income tax charitable deduction.
You may now have an incentive to give more to the Eugene Symphony in one particular year over another to exceed the standard deduction and itemize your deductions.

Itemized Deductions
If you elect to itemize this year, your deductions may look a little different (though charitable deductions remain under the new law). Under the new plan, you will be able to deduct up to a total of $10,000 for state and local taxes.
If you purchase a new home, there is now a cap on the mortgage interest deduction for the first $750,000 of debt on newly purchased homes.

Charitable Contributions for Cash Gifts
The new law increases the limitation of 50 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) for donations by cash, check or credit card up to 60 percent. Higher net worth donors may want to consider increasing cash gifts.

Estate Tax Exemption
The threshold for triggering an estate, gift or generation-skipping tax was raised to $11.18 million per person ($22.36 million for a married couple). Only an estimated .1 percent will be subject to estate tax under the new law. (By comparison, the rates in 2017 were $5.49 million for individuals and $10.98 million for married couples.)
If you have a high net worth, you may no longer anticipate being subject to estate tax and have an incentive to make larger gifts during your lifetime to obtain an income tax charitable deduction instead of waiting until after your lifetime.

What’s the Same?

Charitable Deductions
You will still be able to deduct your charitable contributions if you itemize your taxes.

Long-Term Capital Gains and Dividends
The tax rates on capital gains and dividends remain the same at 0, 15 and 20 percent, depending on your tax bracket.

Charitable Contributions of Appreciated Property
The limitation on charitable gifts of long-term appreciated property to public charities will remain at 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. You can still carry over any excess for up to five additional years.

What Does This Mean for Me?
The lower tax brackets may mean that you are likely in a better financial position to help others this year. Here are three smart ways to be charitable as we close out the year.

1. Donate appreciated property.
With many markets experiencing strong growth, consider a gift of appreciated property to a nonprofit like the Eugene Symphony. You may qualify for an income tax charitable deduction and eliminate capital gains tax.

2. Name the Eugene Symphony Association, Inc. as a beneficiary of retirement plan accounts.
Assets in your IRA, 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan accounts remain subject to income tax when distributed to your heirs. If you name us as a beneficiary of all or part of your plan, your gift will pass to us tax-free.

3. Give from your IRA (if you are 70½ or older).
Regardless of whether you itemize your taxes, this gift helps you fulfill your required minimum distribution and is not considered taxable income.

Oregon Cultural Trust Tax Credit

The Oregon Cultural Trust was created by the state legislature in 2002 to fund culture in the state into perpetuity. Currently, more than 1,400 nonprofits, including the Eugene Symphony, are eligible to receive funds from the Cultural Trust.

Those funds are provided by Oregonians like you who receive a cultural tax credit for their donation to the Cultural Trust. Spreading the word about how easy it is to take advantage of the tax credit is how we grow funding for statewide culture. Here’s how it works:

• Total your donations to qualifying cultural nonprofits to which you donated all year. A full list of qualifying nonprofits can be found here: http://culturaltrust.org/get-involved/nonprofits/
• Give the same amount to the Cultural Trust by Dec. 31 by mail or online
• Claim the amount donated to the Cultural Trust as a tax credit when you file your taxes.*

Your Cultural Trust contribution comes back to you in the form of a decreased tax bill or potentially an increased refund. You just doubled the impact of your contribution at no additional cost to you.

Remember to make your donation by December 31. Learn more or donate at CulturalTrust.org or (503) 986-0088 or consult your tax preparer.

*Up to $500 for an individual, $1,000 for couples filing jointly or $2,500 for Class-C corporations

The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax adviser. Figures cited in examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results.

This article was developed by, and is shared with permission from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Original article here.