When donating Real Property before one dies, a donor must decide whether they want to transfer all or only part of the property to Amazing Discoveries. These two options are discussed below.
Most donors gift the whole property when they have more than one house, like a rental or a second home. It could also be a commercial building or undeveloped land. This property is usually owned free and clear, and the donor transfers it to Amazing Discoveries to eliminate the Capital Gains tax and save them selling expenses. This type of transfer will also reduce their Income tax, by receiving a charitable deduction, and their Estate Tax, by removing the asset from their estate.
A lot of times when people retire they want to downsize. Maybe the home is getting too big to manage, or maybe it’s too expensive to maintain. Deciding to buy a smaller home, without all the expenses and stairs, can prove to be a wise decision.
The problem most people face is that their home has significantly gone up in value. While this may be a good thing, it also subjects them to capital gains tax on the amount of the increase.
Through a Partial Transfer, a donor can reduce or eliminate the capital gains tax, by donating part of the Real Estate to Amazing Discoveries. So, instead of paying taxes to the government, that money goes to further Amazing Discoveries ministry. Once a portion of the real estate is donated, both parties will sell the property together. Alternatively, the donor could sell his/her remaining portion to the charity. This could save the donor Capital Gains tax, Income tax and Estate tax, while also giving the donor the cash to buy a smaller home. If the donor wants to avoid Capital Gains taxes altogether, the donor should gift the amount of the real estate that makes the charitable deduction equal to the taxes owed on the sale. This is called a Zero Tax Bargain Sale.
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