# Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

*Retirement & Benefits — Finicade finance glossary*

A QCD sends money directly from an IRA to a charity, counting towards your required minimum distribution while never appearing in your income. That's better than donating and deducting, because a lower AGI also protects credits, deductions and Medicare premiums that phase out with income. It's available from age 70½, is capped annually, and must go straight from custodian to charity to qualify.

**Also known as:** QCD, charitable IRA rollover

**Related terms:** [Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)](https://finicade.com/glossary/required-minimum-distribution), [Traditional IRA](https://finicade.com/glossary/traditional-ira), [Tax Deduction](https://finicade.com/glossary/tax-deduction), [Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)](https://finicade.com/glossary/adjusted-gross-income), [Itemized Deductions](https://finicade.com/glossary/itemized-deductions)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/qualified-charitable-distribution