Donation Deadline Calculator
Enter what you plan to give and your tax bracket. The calculator shows the tax saved if you itemize, the real after-tax cost of the gift, the days left before the December 31 deadline, and the receipt rule that applies at your amount.
Year-end giving posts push urgency and skip the fine print. This one leads with the honest headline - since the standard deduction doubled, most filers get no deduction at all - then prices the real levers: bunching two years of giving into one December, swiping the card before midnight, and donating appreciated stock even at modest amounts.
How to use
- Set the amount and your marginal bracket from your last return.
- Check whether you itemize - if not, read the bunching note twice.
- Give before December 31; the card swipe date is what counts.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 500 dollar donation save in taxes?
At the 22 percent bracket, 110 dollars - but only if you itemize. Since the standard deduction roughly doubled in 2018, about 90 percent of filers take the standard deduction instead, and charitable gifts then save nothing. The calculator says which world you are in.
What is the deadline for tax-deductible donations?
December 31 of the tax year. An online card gift counts on the swipe date - December 31 at 11 pm is still this year - and a mailed check counts by postmark. Payroll-deduction gifts count when deducted from pay, even if the charity receives it later.
What receipt do I need for a donation?
Under 250 dollars, a bank record or receipt is enough. At 250 dollars or more, the charity must send an acknowledgment letter stating whether they gave you anything in return - the IRS rejects the deduction without it. Get it before filing, not before December 31.
How does donating stock instead of cash help?
If you have held appreciated shares over a year, donating them avoids the capital gains tax entirely and still books the full value as a deduction if you itemize. The move works at 500-dollar scale, not just for foundations - brokers handle the transfer in days, so start before mid-December.