@sarahrgibbons
For a working person, it would be very difficult to do so...and just the Charity contributions themselves would not be enough, since what can currently be deducted from income, for making charity deductions, is limited to 60% of AGI (to so-called 50% charities....yeah, the 50/60 terminology can be confusing).....so one would have to have other "itemized" deductions to cover the other 40% of their AGI. All this assumes one has enough total itemized deductions such that the Std Deduction isn't greater.
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(Of course....If your income so low in the first place...such that the Std Ded wipes out your AGI, then no charity donations are needed at all)
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For a Retired person, might be difficult too. Certainly, if (big IF), if a retired person (age 73 or older for 2023) has most of their income coming from actual traditional IRAs...they could direct most of their RMD as a QCD (direct transfer from the IRA to a qualified charity...subject to a $100k maximum). Thus eliminating most of their income, leaving (perhaps) their Std Deduction to wipe out what's left of their other income....assuming other income is so low that SS isn't getting taxed.
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But specific details as to income, and filing status (MFJ, MFS, Single etc) would be required to even hazard a guess as to how it "might" be possible for any person, or couple.....or if it might be impossible for certain tax situations.
____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
