"On the surface, you may think it is a 'wash' if a taxpayer includes an RMD in income, and then deducts it after contributing the same amount to charity. But there are many instances in which this is not so. For example, some taxpayers do not itemize; some are subject to limitations on itemized deductions because they have high income; and some find that increased income causes other adverse tax consequences that cannot be wiped out by a charitable contribution (such as a higher percentage of social security benefits becoming taxable, and a higher threshold for deduction of medical expenses)."  MORE >>