Tithing can be tax deductible if your place of worship is registered as a charitable organization, which most churches are. However, there’s much more to consider when trying to answer if tithing is tax deductible?
For example, you’ll likely have to itemize your donations on your tax return and keep records of your tithes to comply with IRS regulations. Plus, it might not make financial sense to claim your donations if your total amount is less than the standard deduction.
These types of considerations are why it’s always best to speak with a financial advisor prior to making any financial decisions.
What is Tithing?
Tithing is the practice of giving a portion of your income or possessions to a religious organization. This practice is rooted in the biblical traditions of many religious teachings, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It serves the dual purpose of showing selflessness to God while also supporting your religious community.
Most religious organizations rely on tithes from their followers to help pay for necessary expenses, such as maintaining the facilities, paying the religious leaders’ salaries, and carrying out the organization’s mission. Some religions consider tithing a serious obligation, while others simply encourage it as a way to give back.
Most religions recommend tithing 10% of your earnings. This can add up very quickly over the course of the year. An individual who earns $100,000 annually and tithes 10% of their income will end up donating $10,000 to their church each year. A married couple who earns $300,000 and tithes 10% will donate $30,000. With this in mind, you can see why people are interested in deducting these charitable contributions from their income.
So, back to the question at hand: are church donations tax deductible? If they are, it could represent serious tax savings.
Are Church Donations Tax Deductible?
Your tithe is only tax deductible if you send it to a qualified charitable organization that meets the IRS’s section 501(c)(3) requirements.
It’s also worth noting that you can still claim a deduction for donations to a church that meets these requirements, even if that church has not sought IRS recognition.
Using the IRS’s charitable organization search tool, you can determine if your church or similar religious organization qualifies for tax deductions. This tool allows you to search for tax-exempt organizations by searching for the organization’s name or Employer Identification Number (EIN).
You can also filter through public filings, including:
- Pub. 78 Data
- Automatic Revocation of Exemption List
- Determination Letters
- Form 990 Series Returns
- Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
If your religious organization appears in the IRS database for charitable organizations, you may deduct your tithes by itemizing them on Schedule A (Form 1040).
Even if your organization does not appear in this database, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t deduct your tithes. It may just mean that your church leaders have not gone through the process of seeking IRS recognition of their tax-exempt status yet.
In this scenario, it might be best to communicate with your church leaders to discuss how they can seek IRS recognition. While this might seem like a hassle, it can be worth it if you plan on donating frequently to your church over the coming years.
For further guidance, it’s also advisable to speak with a financial advisor who can offer customized advice on the best course of action.
Claiming Tithes on Taxes: What Else to Consider
There are a few other things to note when trying to claim tithes on your taxes.
Keep Written Records
It’s important to keep written records of your charitable donations, including tithes. This is especially true if you consistently tithe 10%, which can add up to a significant sum throughout the year.
The IRS requires you to keep a written record of charitable contributions over $250.Your written record should include:
- The amount that you donated
- A description of any noncash items you donated
- Whether you received anything in exchange for the gift and, if so, what you received and how much it’s worth (so the IRS can determine if you received fair market value for your gift)
This way, you can provide documentation on the gifts you’ve given to your church if the IRS ever asks for it. This remains true even if you don’t end up deducting your tithes, as you’ll still likely need to report large donations to the IRS. When dealing with tax issues, it almost always pays to be overprepared.
For noncash contributions totaling more than $500, the IRS requires you to fill out Form 8283, which discloses noncash charitable contributions.
Tithing Less Than 10%
One thing to note is that you will only benefit from itemizing your tithes if your total donations exceed the standard deduction for your filing status. In 2025, the standard deductions are as follows:
- Single: $15,000
- Joint: $22,500
- Head of household: $30,000
If you consistently tithe more than these thresholds throughout the year, it likely makes sense to itemize your deductions and claim your donations (depending on your income and filing status). However, if you tithe less than the standard deduction for your filing status, you likely will not benefit from itemizing your deductions.
If you want to start making your tithes more tax-friendly, then you should consider giving two years’ worth of tithes in one year and then refrain from tithing next year. This has two main benefits:
- The church receives your donations much faster: Tithing double your normal amount for one year means your church will reap the benefits of your gift more quickly, potentially using the money to pay for time-sensitive expenses like necessary repairs or hosting events.
- You can increase your tax write-off: By donating twice your regular rate, you double the size of the tax deduction you stand to receive while still technically tithing the same amount over a two-year period.
However, this strategy only makes sense in certain situations, which is why it’s best to speak with a financial advisor who can provide advice tailored to your finances.
Limitations on Donations
It’s also worth noting that the IRS limits the total amount of donations that you can deduct. If your total charitable donations exceed 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) then you cannot deduct 100% of these donations. But you’re allowed to roll the amounts that you can’t deduct this year forward to future tax returns.
This is similar to the IRS rules for deducting investment losses, in which you can only deduct $3,000 worth of investment losses per year but can carry further losses to future tax years.
Leverage QCDs to Your Advantage
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax strategy that involves sending your tithes straight from an IRA to your religious organization. This has significant tax advantages (especially for people nearing retirement age) but will likely require a bit more coordination with your religious organization.
When you turn 73 years old, you are required to start taking distributions from your IRA, which is known as a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Since these distributions are treated as income, they could bump you into a higher tax bracket. Not only will this increase your tax obligation for that year, but it could also have implications for your Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Instead of taking a distribution from your IRA (which will increase your income), you could consider sending it directly to your religious organization. This helps fulfill your tithe obligation while also minimizing your total income and, thus, your tax liability.
Ethical Implications of Claiming Your Tithes
It’s also important to consider the social implications of trying to claim tithes as a deduction on your taxes. In some religions, this thought could be frowned upon.
Tithes represent a way for you to show your support for your church while also showing devotion to God by giving away a portion of your income. It’s typically something that’s supposed to be done selflessly—not because you might be able to save some cash during tax season. Even bringing up this conversation in your religious circle could lead to unexpected pushback.
However, it’s also possible that members of your church have no issue with deducting tithes from your tax bill.
To be clear, this is a personal question. But, it’s important to consider how other people may react before bringing this topic up in casual conversation.
Final Thoughts: Tithing & Taxes
Donating to your church is a very common religious practice. As long as your church is registered as a charitable organization, you should be able to deduct these donations from your annual tax bill by itemizing them on the proper forms. You can determine your church’s status using the IRS’s charitable organization search tool.
There are also a handful of other things to consider when claiming tithes on your tax return:
- Keep written records: The IRS requires that you keep a written record of any charitable contributions over $250, including tithes. This is a standard practice, even if you don’t deduct your tithes on your tax return.
- Consider how much you donate each year: It usually only makes sense to claim your tithes if your total amount donated exceeds the standard deduction. In some cases, donating double your normal amount in one year may make sense to claim a larger deduction.
- The IRS limits donations: You cannot deduct 100% of your charitable donations if they exceed 60% of your AGI. However, you can roll the excess amounts forward to future tax years.
- Leverage Qualified Charitable Donations to your advantage: You can use QCDs to send distributions from qualified retirement accounts directly to your church. Doing so can help reduce your taxable income while fulfilling your tithe obligations.
- Consider the social implications of tithes and taxes: Before bringing this conversation up in your religious circle, it’s important to remember that people may have varying views on this topic. The idea of leveraging your tithes for personal financial gain (by reducing your tax liability) may be counter to the nature of donating.
If you want customized financial advice, please contact the ARQ Wealth team or call (480) 214-9572 to speak with a wealth management professional.
