Most people haven’t heard about it yet, but beginning January 1, 2026, there’s a brand-new national tax benefit for charitable giving. And unlike past tax rules that mainly helped high earners, this one helps everyday donors — especially the 90 percent of Americans who take the standard deduction.

This guide explains the new rule in plain English so you understand:

• What changed
• What stayed the same
• How to claim the new deduction
• What documentation you’ll need
• How to plan your giving strategically in 2026

Everything here is simple, clear, and designed for real people — not tax experts.

(And as always, this is general educational information, not tax advice. Everyone’s tax situation is different, so always check with a tax professional.)

What Changed in 2026

Starting with donations you make on or after January 1, 2026, you may now qualify for a new charitable tax deduction even if you take the standard deduction.

Here’s what the new rule allows:

• Up to $1,000 of your own charitable giving can be deducted if you file as an individual
• Up to $2,000 can be deducted if you are married filing jointly

This deduction is above the line, which means it reduces your taxable income before the standard deduction is applied.

This has never been available before for standard-deduction filers. Historically, only itemizers could deduct charitable donations. Now, almost everyone can.

What Stays the Same

Some things about charitable giving aren’t changing:

• You still need to donate to a qualified nonprofit
• You still need receipts to claim the deduction
• You still need to make the donation within the tax year
• Company matching gifts do not count toward your personal deduction
• Donor-advised fund gifts do not count toward the new $1,000 / $2,000 limit

If you donate using a platform like Percent Pledge’s Giving Platform, all your donations go to verified, eligible nonprofits — and you automatically receive IRS-compliant receipts for tax time.

How to Claim the New Deduction

When you file your 2026 taxes (in early 2027), here’s what you’ll do:

1. Confirm you are taking the standard deduction
2. Add up all your eligible cash donations made in 2026
3. Report up to $1,000 (or $2,000 if married filing jointly) on the new charitable deduction line
4. Keep your donation receipts with your tax records

The IRS will release updated forms and instructions, but the process is expected to be simple — much simpler than itemizing.

If you gave through Percent Pledge, you can log into the Giving Platform and download all your receipts in one place.

What Documentation You Should Keep

To use the new deduction, you’ll need standard donation documentation.

Here’s a quick checklist:

• A receipt for every donation
• The date of each donation
• The name of the nonprofit
• A record of the amount you donated
• Written acknowledgment for any donation of $250 or more

When you use Percent Pledge:

• Every nonprofit is verified through our charity vetting
• Every donation automatically generates a receipt
• You can download a full donation summary at tax time

This reduces the risk of giving to the wrong kind of organization or losing paperwork — two of the most common reasons deductions get delayed or denied.

How to Plan Your Giving Strategically in 2026

Because the new deduction has a clear cap, the smartest giving strategies in 2026 are simple and easy to follow.

1. Aim to donate at least $1,000 (or $2,000 if married)

That amount is now “tax-advantaged” giving. Giving more is great — but the first $1,000 / $2,000 will have the biggest tax impact.

2. Spread giving throughout the year or set up recurring donations

Recurring giving helps many people stay on track without thinking about it. You can adjust monthly or quarterly.

3. Use workplace matching to increase your impact

Your company’s matching program doesn’t change your deduction, but it dramatically increases your impact.
If you donate $1,000 and your company matches $1,000, your impact doubles immediately.

If your employer uses Percent Pledge’s Matching Gifts, your match is automatically applied, and all receipts stay in one place.

4. Focus your giving on causes you care about

It’s always easier to give consistently when the causes matter to you.
Tools like the Passion Assessment help you discover which causes align with your values and priorities.

5. Keep your receipts organized

This is the easiest thing to forget and the most important thing to remember.
Again, platforms like Percent Pledge do this for you automatically.

Putting It All Together

The new 2026 charitable deduction finally gives everyday donors a clear, simple tax benefit for giving back. It rewards generosity. It encourages people to support nonprofits they care about. And it makes giving feel even more meaningful.

Here’s the simplest summary:

• The first $1,000 you give (or $2,000 if married) now reduces your taxable income
• You need receipts and a qualified nonprofit
• You’ll claim it on your 2026 taxes
• Matching gifts and automated platforms make it even easier

If your employer uses Percent Pledge, everything you need — giving, matching, tax receipts, and verified nonprofits — is already built into one simple system.

If you’re an employer and want your team to understand and benefit from this new rule, we’d be glad to help. Pick a time to chat with our team.