By Jared Price, special to the Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana Baptists need to anticipate upcoming tax changes and consider using strategies that will increase the impact of their charitable giving while reducing their overall tax burden. Current 2025 Rules For 2025, only taxpayers who itemize deductions on their tax return can benefit from a charitable deduction. Generally, cash gifts to qualified charitable organizations are deductible up to 60% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI) and non-cash gifts (such as real estate or stock) are deductible up to 30% of AGI. Upcoming 2026 Changes General thresholds for charitable deductions remain the same in 2026. However, there are some key changes that affect both non-itemizers and itemizers. Non-Itemizers In the past, individuals who claimed the standard deduction could not deduct charitable gifts. Beginning in 2026, non-itemizers can claim a charitable deduction of up to $1,000 above the standard deduction ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly). However, some donations are ineligible such as non-cash gifts (e.g. real estate and stocks) and those to donor-advised funds. Itemizers New Charitable Deduction “Floor” Starting in 2026, itemizers … [Read more...]