Get A Jump on 2026 Tax Planning
Whether you just received a refund or a tax bill, now is the perfect time to think about tax-efficient ways to fulfill your philanthropic goals in 2026. Members of the BSO’ s Planned Giving Advisory Council( PGAC) share three ways to learn from 2025 and how to get an immediate jump start on 2026.
1
Transform your appreciated stock into a new kind of support and reduce concentration risk.
One strategy to consider is donating appreciated stock— especially concentrated holdings from equity compensation, inherited positions, or shares of a personally meaningful company— which can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to give. This strategy allows you to pass on appreciated stock without recognizing capital gains while receiving a charitable deduction on the full fair market value. You can thoughtfully reduce concentrated exposure without selling, preserve your cash flow, and often give more than you could with cash alone— turning investment gains into enduring support for the BSO.
Ben Galloway, CFP ® Partner & Senior Financial Advisor, Greenspring Advisors PGAC member
DID YOU KNOW?
Nearly 50 donors gifted the BSO( including BSO OrchKids) a total of $ 4.5 million between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, with stock gifts ranging from $ 500 to $ 500,000.
2
QCDs and RMDs( oh my) … remember to distribute your funds!
Starting as early as 70 1 / 2, we work with clients to evaluate charitable giving opportunities from their individual retirement accounts( IRAs). At 70 1 / 2, you can access your IRA or even an inherited IRA from a loved one to make tax-efficient contributions to charities. A Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD, from your IRA avoids income taxation if the gift is made directly to a qualified charity. Upon reaching your Required Minimum Distribution( RMD) age— now 73 for most— you can also use QCDs toward making your annual RMD, without needing to report the QCD portion as taxable income. For 2026, an individual can make up to $ 111,000 in qualified charitable distributions, or $ 222,000 per married couple.
Christine M. Buckley CFP ®, CPWA ®, AEP ® Senior Vice President- Financial Advisor, RBC Wealth Management PGAC Member
DID YOU KNOW?
Gifts via QCDs— and Donor Advised Funds( DAFs)— are deeply impactful— but per IRS requirements, are not eligible to receive tangible benefits( including Gala tickets and BSO Membership). If you give via these tools, we encourage you to cover the membership benefits via other sources. We will always clarify the“ Fair Market Value” for your consideration.
3
Start your legacy with your refund today.
New in 2026— you can get a tax deduction for charitable giving even if you take the standard deduction! Previously, you could only get a tax benefit for gifts to the BSO if you itemized your deductions( or gave directly from an IRA), but a new provision in last year ' s " OBBB Act " tax law allows up to a $ 1,000 deduction per person($ 2,000 per married couple) even if you take the standard deduction. This means that even smaller donations to the BSO can get full recognition even as the standard deductions continue to be increased.
Daniel Razvi, Esquire Senior Partner / Tax Attorney, Higher Ground Financial Group PGAC Member
DID YOU KNOW?
A gift of $ 1,750 not only comes with the benefits of BSO Membership at the Symphony Society Level— it underwrites the minimum weekly base pay for a member of the Orchestra!
The PGAC is a group of CPAs, financial advisors, and estates and trusts attorneys who provide strategic direction to the BSO’ s Advancement team and care deeply about the Orchestra’ s mission. They are collectively sponsoring our Broadway Standing Ovations concerts May 8-10!
Learn more about our PGAC members,
and BSO membership, at BSOmusic. org / PlannedGiving
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