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Do share-of-income limits on tax-deductibility of charitable contributions affect giving?

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  • Duquette, Nicolas J.

Abstract

The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act increased the limitation on the tax deductibility of charitable contributions from 50 to 60 percent of adjusted gross income. This note estimates the effect of the share-of-income limitation on giving for the first time. Patterns in giving over time and across charities coincide with earlier changes in the share-of-income limit, consistent with a substantial policy effect. I estimate that the 2017 limit increase will boost aggregate household giving on the order of $10 billion.

Suggested Citation

  • Duquette, Nicolas J., 2019. "Do share-of-income limits on tax-deductibility of charitable contributions affect giving?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 1-4.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:174:y:2019:i:c:p:1-4
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2018.10.009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Konow, James, 2010. "Mixed feelings: Theories of and evidence on giving," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(3-4), pages 279-297, April.
    2. Daniel Teles, 2016. "Do Tax Credits Increase Charitable Giving? Evidence from Arizona and Iowa," Working Papers 1606, Tulane University, Department of Economics, revised Oct 2016.
    3. Duquette, Nicolas J., 2016. "Do tax incentives affect charitable contributions? Evidence from public charities' reported revenues," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 51-69.
    4. Null, C., 2011. "Warm glow, information, and inefficient charitable giving," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(5), pages 455-465.
    5. Bakija, Jon & Heim, Bradley T., 2011. "How Does Charitable Giving Respond to Incentives and Income? New Estimates From Panel Data," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 64(2), pages 615-650, June.
    6. Ek, Claes, 2017. "Some causes are more equal than others? The effect of similarity on substitution in charitable giving," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 45-62.
    7. Null, C., 2011. "Warm glow, information, and inefficient charitable giving," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(5-6), pages 455-465, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan Meer & Benjamin A. Priday, 2020. "Tax Prices and Charitable Giving: Projected Changes in Donations under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," Tax Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 34(1), pages 113-138.
    2. Jonathan Meer & Benjamin A. Priday, 2019. "Tax Prices and Charitable Giving: Projected Changes in Donations Under the 2017 TCJA," NBER Working Papers 26452, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Charitable giving; Income taxation; Deductibility limits; Public policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • L31 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
    • L38 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Policy

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