Nonprofit groups oppose Obama’s change in charitable deductions

Nonprofit groups oppose Obama’s change in charitable deductions

For the fourth year in a row, President Obama is proposing lower tax deductions for the wealthy on donations to churches and other nonprofit organizations. And for the fourth year in a row, nonprofit groups say the change would lead to a dramatic drop in charitable giving.

Under the Obama proposal, the tax break for charitable donations would fall from 35 percent to 28 percent for the top 2 percent of taxpayers, those earning more than $250,000.

In real terms, that would mean a wealthy taxpayer who donates $10,000 to a charity would be able to only claim a $2,800 deduction on his taxes, rather than the current $3,500.

When it analyzed a similar proposal in Obama’s 2012 budget, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University said it would boost federal revenue by billions of dollars and have a “modest negative effect” on charitable giving.

Obama has argued in the past that it is not fair that the wealthy receive a larger tax break for the same donations to charity when a middle class taxpayer can only claim a deduction of 15 percent. He has also said charities would “do just fine” under the change.

On Feb. 16, the White House said the change wouldn’t affect the 80 percent of overall contributions that come from individuals and foundations, and is “unlikely to have a substantial impact on donations.”

The last time the charitable deduction rules were changed, in 2002–2003 under President George W. Bush, the top rate was lowered from 38.6 percent to 35 percent.

Based on 2009 data, 74 percent of Americans’ charitable donations went to churches and religious organizations, said Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of the Illinois-based Empty Tomb research organization, which tracks charitable giving. (RNS)