The end-of-year charitable giving season is underway. Here's what you need to know.

No doubt you're already swarmed with solicitations for end-of-year donations to your favorite charities. This year, there are a few new tax considerations for your 2026 giving.

"If you intend to make your donations at year-end, when most people think about giving, don't do that," Ed Slott, a certified public accountant in New York and an expert on IRAs, told Yahoo Finance. "Get these done by the first week in December."

When you file your tax return, you have the option to take the standard deduction to lower your taxable income, or claim itemized deductions. For 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for those married and filing jointly.

Additionally, those age 65 and older — and their spouses if filing jointly — can claim a $6,000 deduction per qualified individual whether they itemize or not.

If you're over 65 but have an adjusted gross income that exceeds $75,000 for individual filers or $150,000 for joint filers, that additional deduction is reduced by 6% for every dollar above those income limits.

There is an itemized deduction for charitable donations, but it has limits. Donations to qualified, tax-exempt organizations are tax-deductible up to a percentage of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

And starting with the 2026 tax year , non-itemizers can claim an additional charitable deduction of up to $1,000 for single filers and up to $2,000 for married couples.

One way to give above that standard deduction ceiling is to give two years' worth of deductions in one year in a donor-advised fund.

"That way your total giving will be high enough to allow you to itemize, said Ann Reilley, a certified financial planner in Charlotte, N.C.

You can open one of these funds at financial services firms like Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard. There are typically minimum amounts to open an account and to give to an individual charity, along with annual administrative fees.

"This is a good year to consider doing this since the markets have been up considerably over the past few years and likely there are some good 'candidates' in your portfolio to donate," said Reilley. "Meaning there are highly appreciated securities in the brokerage account where you can donate and avoid paying (capital) gains taxes.

"It's important to note that this strategy is best when you are already itemizing deductions."

When you make a contribution of cash, stocks, mutual funds, or ETFs to a donor-advised fund, you instantly receive a tax deduction.