will I still get money back for donations if I don't pay taxes

[walkinperfectlove]

its7K

[VolvoGirl]

Not exactly.   If you itemize deductions on Schedule A it only reduces your income so you get taxed on a lower amount.  It can only reduce your income to zero.  Then you would get back all your tax withholding taken out of your paychecks and any estimated payments you sent in.  

You either get the Standard Deduction or your Itemized Deductions, whichever is more.   Itemized deductions are things like Medical, Gifts to Charity, State Income Taxes Paid, Mortgage Interest, Property Taxes, Car registration fees, etc.  To itemize your deductions you use Schedule A. 

For 2024 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 14,600 + 1,950 for 65 and over or blind (16,550)

HOH 21,900 + 1,950 for 65 and over or blind (23,850)

Joint 29,200 + 1,550 for each 65 and over or blind (30,750/32,300)

Married filing Separate 14,600 + 1,550 for 65 and over or blind (16,150)

[DoninGA]

Charitable donations are entered on Schedule A as an itemized deduction.

The total of all your itemized deductions on Schedule A must be greater than the standard deduction for your filing status to have any tax benefit.

You will not receive a tax refund if you did not enter any taxes paid on your tax return.

[Hal_Al]

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.