question: can I give money from a retirement account to a church without paying taxes or penalty?

If you are at least 70.5 years old, yes. This age wasnt't adjusted with RMD age in the CARES act. This is called a qualified charitable deduction or QCD.

Gifts this way aren't deductible, but avoid being recognized as income while satisfying RMD (once 73).

Doesn't work in 401(k), assets need to have made it to IRA.

The custodian has to effect the transition from your IRA to the church, if you take the money and write a check to the church it doesn't count.

OldArmyCT said:

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The custodian has to effect the transition from your IRA to the church, if you take the money and write a check to the church it doesn't count.

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this.

And you have to tell your accountant that you did it because the 1099-R does not have a special code telling us that it happened.