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A tax deduction is a type of tax break that reduces the amount of money you owe the government. They can decrease your tax burden by lowering your taxable income. You can either claim the standard deduction or itemize your deductions when you file. Before the 2018 tax year, the standard deductions were about half as much as they are now. Below, we cover the standard deductions for the tax years 2025 and 2026, which will be filed respectively in early 2026 and early 2027.
Do you have questions about how taxes can affect your long-term retirement and financial plans? Speak with a financial advisor today.
What Is the Standard Deduction?
The standard deduction is a fixed amount the IRS allows you to subtract from your taxable income without needing to track individual expenses. It’s designed to simplify filing and ensure all taxpayers receive at least some baseline tax relief. For many people, especially those without significant deductible expenses, taking the standard deduction results in a lower tax bill and a much easier filing process.
The other option for filers is to itemize deductions. There is a range of expenses you may be able to deduct from your taxes, including charitable gifts, mortgage interest, student loan interest, some business-related costs and medical expenses. To claim these deductions, however, you must provide evidence that you’re eligible to have a portion of your income exempt from taxation.
Generally, if your standard deduction is greater than the sum of the itemized deductions you qualify for, it makes sense to take the standard deduction instead. The size of your standard deduction depends on your age, income and filing status.
How Much Is My Standard Deduction?
The standard deduction is tied to inflation, so the amounts change a bit each year. For the 2026 tax year, which is filed in early 2027, the federal standard deduction for single filers. For married folks filing separately, it is $16,100. It’s $32,200 if you’re a surviving spouse or are married filing jointly. If you’re the head of your household, it’s $24,150.
For 2025, the federal standard deduction for single filers was $15,750. For married filing jointly, it was $31,500, and for the head of household filers, it was $23,625. Individuals who are blind or at least 65 years old can qualify for an additional standard deduction.
Standard Deductions by Age: 2026 Tax Year (filed in 2027)
| If your filing status was… | And at the end of the year you were… | Your standard deduction is… |
|---|---|---|
| Single or married filing separately | – Under 65 – 65 or older | – $16,100 – $18,150 |
| Married filing jointly | – Under 65 (both spouses) – 65 or older (one spouse) – 65 or older (both spouses) | – $32,200 – $33,850 – $35,500 |
| Head of household | – Under 65 – 65 or older | – $24,150 – $26,200 |
| Qualifying widow(er) | – Under 65 – 65 or older | – $32,200 – $33,850 |
Standard Deductions by Age: 2025 Tax Year (filed in 2026)
| If your filing status was… | And at the end of the year you were… | Your standard deduction is… |
|---|---|---|
| – Single or married filing separately | – Under 65 – 65 or older | – $15,750 – $17,750 |
| – Married filing jointly | – Under 65 (both spouses) – 65 or older (one spouse) – 65 or older (both spouses) | – $31,500 – $33,100 – $34,700 |
| – Head of household | – Under 65 – 65 or older | – $23,625 – $25,625 |
| – Qualifying widow(er) | – Under 65 – 65 or older | – $31,500 – $33,100 |
The amounts above assume the taxpayer qualifies for the full basic standard deduction and, where indicated, one additional deduction for being age 65 or older. Blind taxpayers can qualify for another additional amount. For 2026, each qualifying age or blindness amount is $2,050 for an unmarried taxpayer who is not a surviving spouse and $1,650 for a married taxpayer or qualifying surviving spouse.
There is an IRS tool that you can use to calculate your own standard deduction. Within about five minutes, you’ll know exactly how much you can deduct from your income.
Standard Deduction Restrictions and Limitations
Not everyone can use the standard deduction because of certain tax activities or filing statuses. If you fall into any of the following categories, you’ll likely have no choice but to itemize your deductions:
- Shortened tax return: You file a tax return for a period of fewer than 12 months because you’re changing your yearly accounting period.
- Non-residents: You’re a nonresident alien or dual-status alien during the year, subject to limited exceptions.
- Filing status: You’re married, filing separately, and your spouse is itemizing their deductions.
- Entity types: Estates, partnerships, common trust funds and trusts also aren’t eligible for the standard deduction.
If you fall into one of these categories, consider speaking with a financial advisor who specializes in taxes. They can guide you in your tax-related decisions to help you properly prepare and save money when you file.
Additionally, if someone is claiming you as a dependent, your standard deduction amount for 2026 is generally limited. It can be no more than the greater of $1,350 or your earned income plus $450, up to the regular standard deduction that applies to your filing status. If you live in a state that requires you to pay income taxes, there may be a state-based standard deduction you can claim on your state tax return.
How the 2026 Standard Deduction Changes Taxable Income
The standard deduction reduces the income that is subject to federal income tax. It does not reduce your tax bill dollar for dollar. The amount of tax associated with the deduction depends on your taxable income and the marginal rates that apply after other parts of the tax calculation are taken into account.
For example, assume a single taxpayer under age 65 has $70,000 of income in 2026 and no adjustments that would change the amount used in this simplified calculation. Subtracting the $16,100 standard deduction leaves $53,900 before considering any other applicable deductions or tax provisions.
Meanwhile, a married couple filing jointly with the same $70,000 of income would start with a $32,200 standard deduction, leaving $37,800 under the same assumptions. The difference comes from filing status, not from claiming separate deductible expenses.
The calculation also shows why comparing the standard deduction with allowable itemized deductions matters. A single filer with $18,000 of allowable itemized deductions, for instance, would have $1,900 more in deductions by itemizing instead of using the $16,100 standard deduction. The effect on the final tax bill would depend on where the taxpayer’s income falls within the federal tax brackets and whether other tax rules apply.
Deciding How to Claim Your Deductions
If you aren’t sure whether to itemize deductions or take the standard deduction, it’s a good idea to run the numbers. Whichever gives you the largest deduction is the one you should probably go for.
Taking the standard deduction is certainly easier, especially if you haven’t been tracking your expenses over the year. Most Americans choose to go that route, and you can claim the standard deduction even if there isn’t a single expense that you’d be able to deduct otherwise. The standard deduction has also become even more attractive since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act dramatically increased its size while removing or reducing some itemized deductions.
If you’re unsure of which approach to take, here are four general tips to help guide your decision:
- Forecast your tax situation. Evaluate whether you’re likely to benefit more from taking the standard deduction or itemizing. Consider your potential deductible expenses, such as medical bills, charitable contributions and mortgage interest. This initial assessment will allow you to plan your spending and charitable giving throughout the year to maximize the benefits if you choose to itemize.
- Adjust withholdings. If you determine that the standard deduction will be your best option, consider adjusting your tax withholdings. This can increase your monthly income and reduce the size of a potential tax refund. You can adjust your withholdings by updating your W-4 form with your employer.
- Make tax-smart investments. Your investment decisions can also impact whether it’s more beneficial for you to itemize or take the standard deduction. For example, if you’re on the fence, making additional contributions to deductible expenses, like prepaying your January mortgage in December or increasing your retirement savings, could make itemizing more advantageous.
- Don’t forget year-end tax moves, As the year ends, reassess your financial situation to confirm you’re making the most beneficial tax choices. This might include making last-minute charitable donations or deferring some income into the next year. Such moves can not only help if you’re itemizing but could also optimize your overall tax situation depending on changes in the standard deduction and tax brackets.
Bottom Line
Deductions reduce the amount of money you have to pay in taxes. The government sets the standard deduction and dictates its amount. All tax filers can claim this deduction unless they choose to itemize their deductions. The right decision for you will depend on a number of factors, and it’s worth running the numbers if you’re unsure.
Tips for Tax Planning
- While a tax professional or tax software can help you file your annual taxes, a financial advisor could help you optimize a tax strategy for your entire financial plan. Finding a financial advisor doesnt’ have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- If you just want to estimate how much you’ll pay in taxes, consider checking out our tax calculators to see how federal and state taxes may impact you.
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