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President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” includes trillions of dollars of tax breaks, including a new charitable deduction for most filers — and there’s an easy way to maximize it, experts say.
When filing taxes, you claim the greater of your itemized tax breaks or the standard deduction. But 90% of filers don’t itemize, according to the latest IRS data, which means they can’t take the charitable deduction.
This changes in 2026 with a new charitable tax break for non-itemizers, worth up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. The deduction only applies to cash gifts.
“This is a big deal,” said Justin Miller, partner and national director of wealth planning at Evercore Wealth Management.
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Trump’s new charitable deduction is similar to a temporary measure enacted during the pandemic, which was worth up to $300 for single filers or $600 for joint filers for 2021. Roughly 48 million filers claimed that deduction on their 2021 returns, according to IRS data.
With a bigger charitable deduction coming for non-itemizers in 2026, here are some key things to know, according to financial experts.
This giving strategy is a ‘no-brainer’
If you don’t itemize deductions and plan on making a smaller year-end charitable gift this year, you might reconsider the timing if there is flexibility, experts say.
“It seems like a no-brainer to just do it in January and capture a little benefit that you wouldn’t otherwise achieve,” said certified financial planner Edward Jastrem, chief planning officer at Heritage Financial Services in Westwood, Massachusetts.
By donating funds in 2026 rather than 2025, you could be eligible for the new charitable deduction for non-itemizers. Of course, you should consider whether it aligns with your overall financial planning strategy.
You need a ‘written acknowledgement’
“I would caution all taxpayers claiming these deductions that they still need to keep appropriate records,” Miller said.
Gifts of any amount require a bank record or written receipt from the organization, including the charity name, amount and date of the contribution, according to the IRS.
If you donate $250 or more, you need what’s known as a “contemporaneous written acknowledgement,” or CWA, with further detail from the organization.
You must have the CWA on or before the earlier of:
- the date you file your return for the year of the donation or
- your return’s due date, including extensions
“If you are ever audited, and you don’t get that letter, you can’t fix it,” which could disallow the deduction, Miller said.