The current standard deduction
| Filing status | TY2025 | TY2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Single / Married separate | $15,750 | $16,100 |
| Married filing jointly | $31,500 | $32,200 |
| Head of household | $23,625 | $24,150 |
Taxpayers 65 or older or blind get an additional amount, and there is a temporary extra senior deduction through 2028 for those who qualify.
What you can itemize (Schedule A)
- Mortgage interest on up to $750,000 of acquisition debt
- State and local taxes (SALT): the cap was raised substantially starting in 2025, with a phase-down for very high incomes
- Charitable contributions: cash gifts to qualified charities, subject to AGI limits
- Medical expenses above 7.5% of AGI
- Casualty losses in federally declared disasters
The quick test
Add up those categories from last year. If the total is well below your standard deduction, stop. Take the standard amount and move on. If it is close, consider bunching: make two years of charitable gifts in one year (a donor-advised fund helps) to clear the threshold in alternating years.
Deductions you get either way
Above-the-line adjustments (IRA and HSA contributions, student-loan interest, half of self-employment tax, and educator expenses) do not require itemizing. Neither does the new deduction for certain tip and overtime income, or qualified business income (QBI) for pass-through owners.
State returns can differ
Several states have their own, lower standard deductions or still allow itemizing when you took the federal standard amount. Run both.
This guide is general information for United States taxpayers, not advice for your specific situation. Rates and thresholds change with each IRS revenue procedure; confirm current figures with the IRS or with us before acting.
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