Appreciated stock, anyone?

Yes, 2020’s stock market has been a rollercoaster, but as you guide your clients into year-end, don’t forget the powerful benefits of giving appreciated securities to a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation. Now is the time to start helping your clients with tax planning. Remember, not all stock is down! For many clients, 2020 is an excellent year for year-end giving.

Closely-held business exits

Clients who are preparing to sell a business should start thinking ahead about charitable planning. Before any deal is struck, or any binding commitments discussed, encourage your client to consider the benefits of making a gift of their closely-held stock to a charitable entity, such as a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation. Remember, though, that the “step transaction” doctrine is still very much alive and well. The IRS could argue that the transfer of stock to a charity should be treated as “combined” with the sale of the stock, thereby eliminating the tax benefits of the charitable transaction. The IRS could win this argument if the facts indicate that the multiple “steps” in the process were really just a single-step transaction when considering the intent and economic reality of the taxpayer’s actions.