Blue Ridge School is adapting and changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic uncertainty. We are grateful for your generous support of our mission and would like to bring to your attention new tax rules for charitable giving included in the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the CARES Act.

You may deduct gifts of cash to most public charities to offset as much as 100% of your income! For the 2020 tax year only, you may deduct cash contributions to BRS to offset up to 100% of your income. Ordinarily, the income tax charitable deduction for cash gifts is limited to 60% of your income. This 100% limit allows especially generous donors to reduce their 2020 federal income tax to zero. If you are even more generous, you can carry forward unused cash contribution deductions for up to five years.  Check with your financial or other advisors to determine whether the 100% deduction makes sense for your specific circumstances.

You may reduce your taxable income by $300 for your charitable contributions in 2020, even if you do not itemize. For tax year 2020, you can reduce your taxable income by up to $300 for contributions of cash to public charities using an “above the line” adjustment even if you don’t itemize. 

Required minimum distributions from retirement plans are waived for 2020. Most required minimum distributions from retirement plans have been eliminated for 2020. Check with your financial advisor to see how this temporary rule will apply to you. 

REMEMBER: Qualified charitable distributions are still a great way to make contributions.  If you are 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution (“QCD” or “IRA charitable rollover”) allows you to make a tax-free gift of up to $100,000 to Blue Ridge School from your IRA.

You have important priorities for your family and loved ones, and we know that their health and financial well-being comes first. When you are ready, we will be here to help you shape a charitable gift plan that suits your needs and allows you to keep helping with our important work.

Please contact Cathy Boyd, Director of the Baron Fund at mcboyd@blueridgeschool.com or call her at 434.992.0581 to learn about the many ways you can support Blue Ridge School.