What's the Impact of Rising Discount Rates on Charitable Deductions?

In May, the IRS discount rate (also known as the AFR, or Applicable Federal Rate) made its largest monthly increase since June 2004, rising from 2.2% to 3.0%. Your donors might be viewing this increase with dismay, as it makes new debt more expensive, from credit cards to home mortgages. But there is a reason to celebrate this increase, as it also increases the charitable deduction for the most popular life income gifts: charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.

Rising IRS Discount Rate Creates Gift Planning Opportunities

After six years of drifting around in record-low territory, the Applicable Federal Rate, otherwise known as the IRS discount rate, has leaped upward 0.6% this month to 2.4%. That’s the highest the rate has been since mid-2014. The leap was a direct consequence of the Federal Reserve raising its target for the Fed Funds rate in mid-December. What’s more, the Fed has indicated it expects to raise the Fed Funds rate in increments three more times during 2017. That would portend further increases in the IRS discount rate over the next 12 months.