Hal_Al
Level 15

Deductions & credits

Q. Will I still get money back for donations if I don't pay taxes?

A. No.

 

If your calculated tax is already zero (without the donations), making donations cannot lower your tax any further. 

 

Making charitable donations does not get you a refundable tax credit  credit or refund.  It only lowers that amount of your income that gets taxed.  And as others have explained, sometimes not even then.