In order to benefit from charity donations, your total itemized deductions must be more than the standard deduction, AND your overall taxable income must be more than the standard deduction. Itemized deductions are property tax, mortgage interest, medical expenses (over a certain threshold) and gifts to charity. Social security is not taxable unless you have a decent amount of other income.
For example, if you are single, get $2000/month social security and $2000/month as a pension, you should owe about $2500 in taxes with the standard deduction. If your house is paid off and your medical expenses are low, adding $12,000 in gifts to charity might only save a couple hundred dollars in tax.
Also, you generally can't claim a donation of non-cash items (used clothing, furniture, etc) unless you have your items appraised and get signatures from the charities on a special form that you must file by mail. We may need more information to help you out with this.
| IF your filing status is... |
AND at the end of 2023 you were...* |
THEN file a return if your gross income was at least...** |
| single |
under 65 |
$13,850 |
| 65 or older |
$15,700 |
| head of household |
under 65 |
$20,800 |
| 65 or older |
$22,650 |
| married filing jointly*** |
under 65 (both spouses) |
$27,700 |
| 65 or older (one spouse) |
$29,200 |
| 65 or older (both spouses) |
$30,700 |
| married filing separately |
any age |
$5 |
| qualifying surviving spouse |
under 65 |
$27,700 |
| 65 or older |
$29,200 |
