Non-Itemizer Charitable Deduction Calculator

New for 2026: deduct cash gifts without itemizing. Track your giving against the cap for your filing status.

Free, no signup. Everything you enter stays in your browser.

Estimates based on the 2026 law as reported by major tax publishers. Final IRS guidance for 2026 filing is still pending — treat every number here as an estimate, not a promise.
Counted toward the cap: $0 Cap (estimate): $0

Giving above the cap adds no benefit here — no carry-forward.

Estimated deduction: $0

Estimated tax benefit at your selected rate: $0 (estimate — your actual benefit depends on your full return)

Not tax advice. This tracker estimates one specific deduction under the 2026 rules. Whether it applies to you depends on your full return — consult a tax professional.

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The four rules that trip people up

  1. Cash only. Checks, cards, online gifts, payroll deductions. Donated goods do not qualify for this deduction.
  2. Direct gifts to qualifying public charities. 501(c)(3) public charities, given directly.
  3. DAFs and most private foundations are excluded. A gift routed through a donor-advised fund doesn't count here.
  4. No carry-forward. Giving above the cap adds nothing to this deduction in any year.

Frequently asked questions

No — that's the point. Starting with tax year 2026, filers who take the standard deduction can also deduct qualifying cash gifts above the line, up to the cap for their filing status.

No. Only cash counts: checks, card payments, online donations, payroll giving. Bags of clothes and furniture do NOT qualify for this deduction — those only matter if you itemize.

No. Gifts to donor-advised funds, most private foundations, and supporting organizations are excluded. The gift must go directly to a qualifying public charity.

Nothing — there's no carry-forward for this deduction. Amounts above the cap simply don't add benefit here (they may matter if you itemize instead).

Yes. Normal substantiation rules apply, including a written acknowledgment from the charity for any single gift of $250 or more.

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