Improved Charitable Rule for 2026 and Beyond (Tax Deduction without Itemizing)
By Steven Jon Kaplan
Prior to 2026, if you made a charitable contribution, then it would go on your Schedule A along with all of your other itemized deductions. In order to get a tax break, your total itemized deductions on Schedule A would have to exceed your standard deduction. This prevented many people from saving on their taxes. However, the rules have been improved for 2026 and future years. You are now allowed to deduct $1,000 per person per calendar year in total charitable contributions (to a group such as The VRG) paid by cash or check without having to itemize your deductions. For a married couple, this means that you can donate a total of $2,000 per calendar year and deduct the whole $2,000 from your taxable income even if you use the standard deduction.
This is not personal tax or legal advice, which you should obtain from your tax or legal advisor for your individual situation.
