If you gave more to charity in a previous year than the IRS allowed you to deduct, you may be able to claim the unused portion as a charitable contribution carryover.
A carryover happens when your charitable donations exceed the deduction limits based on your adjusted gross income (AGI). Rather than losing the deduction, you can generally carry the unused amount forward and deduct it in future tax years, subject to the applicable IRS limits. Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, explains the carryover rules in detail.
How Long Can You Carry Contributions Forward?
In most cases, you can carry forward unused charitable contribution deductions for up to five years. Each year, you'll apply the current year's charitable contributions first. Any allowable carryover deductions are applied afterward, subject to the applicable AGI limitations.
How Much of Your Carryover Can You Deduct?
The amount you can deduct depends on:
- The type of contribution originally made
- The year the contribution was made
- Your AGI for the current tax year
- Any charitable contributions you made during the current year
Carryover contributions retain their original character and limitation rules. For example, carryovers from cash contributions made in prior years may be subject to different percentage limitations than contributions made under current law.
What Amount Should You Enter?
Enter only the portion of your prior-year charitable contribution carryover that is deductible for the current tax year after applying the applicable IRS limitations.
If you're unsure how much of your carryover is available, review:
- Last year's tax return and supporting worksheets
- Any charitable contribution carryover schedules you maintained
- Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, for calculation guidance
Keep records of prior-year carryovers with your tax documents so you can track any remaining amounts available for future years.