# Tax deductions for charitable giving: what counts

> GoFundMe gifts don't qualify, but new rules let non-itemizers deduct up to $1,000 in 2026.
- Title: Tax deductions for charitable giving: what counts · Kiplinger
- Summary: GoFundMe gifts don't qualify, but new rules let non-itemizers deduct up to $1,000 in 2026. Only donations to IRS-recognized charities are tax-deductible…
- Keywords: charitable donations, tax deductions, gofundme, irs, section 501(c)(3), standard deduction, itemized deductions, qualified charitable distributions, charitable gift annuity, tax-exempt organizations, Tax, deductions
- Source: Kiplinger — https://kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-deductions/ask-the-tax-editor-september-25-can-i-deduct-gofundme-contributions
- Published: 2026-09-25T13:20:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: charitable donations, tax deductions, gofundme, irs, section 501(c)(3), standard deduction, itemized deductions, qualified charitable distributions, charitable gift annuity, tax-exempt organizations
## GoFundMe gifts aren't deductible
Donations to individuals through personal fundraising sites like GoFundMe cannot be deducted on your tax return, even if the cause is sympathetic.

> Donations that a taxpayer makes to individuals aren't deductible.
## Only IRS-recognized charities qualify
Tax deductions apply only to gifts made to IRS-recognized Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. Check the IRS website to verify a charity's status before donating.
## New rule for non-itemizers in 2026
Starting with 2026 tax returns, non-itemizers can deduct up to $1,000 in cash charitable donations without itemizing. Joint filers can deduct up to $2,000.
## What counts as cash donations
Cash donations include gifts by check, debit card, credit card, payroll deduction, electronic transfer, online payment, or gift card transfers. Gifts to donor-advised funds don't qualify.
## Itemizers face new threshold
Starting in 2026, itemizers can only deduct charitable donations that exceed 0.5% of their adjusted gross income. This mirrors the medical expense deduction rule.
## QCD limits increase for 2026
People 70 and a half or older can transfer up to $111,000 from a traditional IRA directly to charity in 2026 through a qualified charitable distribution.
## One-time gift annuity option
IRA owners can make a one-time QCD of up to $55,000 through a charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder unitrust, or charitable remainder annuity trust. This can only be done once.
## QCDs don't count as deductions
Qualified charitable distributions are nontaxable and don't reduce your adjusted gross income, but you cannot also claim them as a charitable deduction on Schedule A.
## Spot fake charities after disasters
Bogus charities often appear after natural disasters. Always verify a charity's Section 501(c)(3) status using the IRS tax-exempt organization search tool before giving.

> They crop up after big disasters. They want to steal your money and get you to divulge personal and financial information.
## Key takeaway

Only donations to IRS-recognized charities are tax-deductible; personal fundraisers and individual gifts never qualify.