All givers deserve fair treatment

If you loved and lost someone and wanted to make a gift to the people of Iowa in their memory by giving some of your IRA funds to help purchase Iowa land for Twin Prairie in western Iowa, it would not be (in IRS terms) a QCD (qualified charitable distribution). It means that our federal government would require the payment of income taxes on the donated IRA funds. If the payment of those income taxes requires the withdrawal of additional IRA funds to pay those taxes, then that withdrawal to pay taxes would also be taxed. It become ridiculous and discourages giving when government is so greedy.

With no opinion or prejudice against other very worthwhile endeavors or the acts of different layers of government, how does a proposed Cedar Rapids structure get 15 to 20 years of no property taxes, but a gift of IRA funds cannot be given without being taxed? Big seems to get what it wants but small seldom does. Change the laws so that all sizes of givers get fair treatment and none are discouraged from giving.

Marv Rops

Cedar Rapids