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Year-End Charitable Giving Strategies for Ulta Beauty Employees: Enhance Your Impact This Holiday Season

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With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. The tax benefits associated with charitable giving could potentially enhance your ability to give and should be considered as part of your year-end tax planning.


Tax deduction for charitable gifts
If you itemize deductions on your federal income tax return, you can generally deduct your gifts to qualified charities. This may also help potentially increase your gift.

Example(s) : Assume you want to make a charitable gift of $1,000. One way to potentially enhance the gift is to increase it by the amount of any income taxes you save with the charitable deduction for the gift. At a 24% tax rate, you might be able to give $1,316 to charity [$1,000 ÷ (1 - 24%) = $1,316; $1,316 x 24% = $316 taxes saved]. On the other hand, at a 32% tax rate, you might be able to give $1,471 to charity [$1,000 ÷ (1 - 32%) = $1,471; $1,471 x 32% = $471 taxes saved].

However, keep in mind that the amount of your deduction may be limited to certain percentages of your adjusted gross income (AGI) from your company. For example, your deduction for gifts of cash to public charities is generally limited to 60% of your AGI for the year, and other gifts to charity are typically limited to 30% or 20% of your AGI. Charitable deductions that exceed the AGI limits may generally be carried over and deducted over the next five years, subject to the income percentage limits in those years.

For 2021 charitable gifts, the normal rules have been enhanced: The limit is increased to 100% of AGI for direct cash gifts to public charities. And even if you don't itemize deductions, you can receive a $300 charitable deduction ($600 for joint returns) for direct cash gifts to public charities (in addition to the standard deduction).

Make sure to retain proper substantiation of your charitable contribution. In order to claim a charitable deduction for any contribution of cash, a check, or other monetary gift, you must maintain a record of such contributions through a bank record (such as a cancelled check, a bank or credit union statement, or a credit-card statement) or a written communication (such as a receipt or letter) from the charity showing the name of the charity, the date of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution. If you claim a charitable deduction for any contribution of $250 or more, you must substantiate the contribution with a contemporaneous written acknowledgment of the contribution from the charity. If you make any noncash contributions, there are additional requirements.


Year-end tax planning
When making charitable gifts at the end of a year, you should consider them as part of your year-end tax planning. Typically, you have a certain amount of control over the timing of income and expenses. You generally want to time your recognition of income so that it will be taxed at the lowest rate possible, and time your deductible expenses so they can be claimed in years when you are in a higher tax bracket.

For example, if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket next year, it may make sense to wait and make the charitable contribution in January so that you can take the deduction next year when the deduction results in a greater tax benefit. Or you might shift the charitable contribution, along with other deductions, into a year when your itemized deductions would be greater than the standard deduction amount. And if the income percentage limits above are a concern in one year, you might consider ways to shift income into that year or shift deductions out of that year, so that a larger charitable deduction is available for that year. A tax professional can help you evaluate your individual tax situation.

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A word of caution
Be sure to deal with recognized charities and be wary of charities with similar-sounding names. It is common for scam artists to impersonate charities using bogus websites, email, phone calls, social media, and in-person solicitations. Check out the charity on the IRS website, irs.gov, using the Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. And don't send cash; contribute by check or credit card.

 

What type of retirement savings plan does Ulta Beauty offer to its employees?

Ulta Beauty offers a 401(k) retirement savings plan to help employees save for their future.

Does Ulta Beauty match employee contributions to the 401(k) plan?

Yes, Ulta Beauty provides a company match on employee contributions to the 401(k) plan, helping to boost retirement savings.

What is the eligibility requirement for Ulta Beauty's 401(k) plan?

Employees of Ulta Beauty are generally eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan after completing a specified period of service, typically 30 days.

Can Ulta Beauty employees choose how to invest their 401(k) contributions?

Yes, Ulta Beauty employees can select from a variety of investment options within the 401(k) plan to suit their individual retirement goals.

Is there a vesting schedule for Ulta Beauty's 401(k) company match?

Yes, Ulta Beauty has a vesting schedule for the company match, meaning employees must work for a certain period before they fully own the matched funds.

How can Ulta Beauty employees access their 401(k) account information?

Ulta Beauty employees can access their 401(k) account information online through the plan's designated website or by contacting the plan administrator.

What contribution limits apply to Ulta Beauty's 401(k) plan?

Ulta Beauty follows the IRS guidelines for contribution limits, which may change annually. Employees should check the latest limits for the current year.

Can Ulta Beauty employees take loans against their 401(k) savings?

Yes, Ulta Beauty allows employees to take loans against their 401(k) savings, subject to plan rules and limits.

What happens to an Ulta Beauty employee's 401(k) if they leave the company?

If an Ulta Beauty employee leaves the company, they have several options for their 401(k) savings, including rolling it over to another retirement account or leaving it in the Ulta Beauty plan if eligible.

Does Ulta Beauty offer financial education resources for employees regarding their 401(k)?

Yes, Ulta Beauty provides financial education resources and tools to help employees make informed decisions about their 401(k) savings.

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For more information you can reach the plan administrator for Ulta Beauty at , ; or by calling them at .

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