How can a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) help with my RMD?

A qualified charitable distribution lets you send money directly from your traditional IRA to a qualified charity – up to $108,000 per year in 2025 – and it counts toward your required minimum distribution while staying completely off your taxable income. You must be at least 70½, and the check must go straight from the IRA custodian to the charity, never through your hands. This beats taking the RMD and then donating, because the QCD lowers your adjusted gross income, which can reduce taxes on Social Security, cut Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and help even if you take the standard deduction. If you're charitably inclined and facing RMDs, a QCD is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give. Coordinate the timing with your custodian so it's clearly recorded as a QCD.