2026 standard deduction amounts
The standard deduction is a flat amount that you subtract from your income before the tax brackets apply. For tax year 2026 the IRS set it at $16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. Taxpayers aged 65 or older, or blind, can add an extra amount on top.
How the deduction saves you money
The deduction doesn't reduce your tax dollar for dollar; it reduces your taxable income. The real saving equals the deduction multiplied by your marginal rate. A single filer in the 12% bracket saves about $1,932 thanks to the $16,100 deduction, while someone in the 22% bracket saves around $3,542 from the same amount. You can check those figures quickly with our percentage calculator: enter your bracket rate and the deduction.
Standard vs. itemized deductions
You can take either the standard deduction or itemize, not both. Itemizing means adding up qualifying expenses such as mortgage interest, state and local taxes (subject to a cap), charitable donations and large medical bills. If that total is greater than your standard deduction, itemizing lowers your tax more. Most households today take the standard deduction because it's large and requires no receipts.
Who usually benefits from itemizing
Homeowners with a sizeable mortgage in a high-tax state, people who give generously to charity and those with major uninsured medical costs are the typical itemizers. A useful trick is "bunching": making two years of charitable donations in one calendar year so you itemize in that year and take the standard deduction the next.
Example
A married couple pays $14,000 in mortgage interest, $10,000 in state and local taxes and gives $6,000 to charity. Their itemized total is $30,000, which is below the $32,200 standard deduction, so they should take the standard deduction. If they donated $9,000 instead, itemizing would win by $800.
Practical checklist
Collect your Form 1098 for mortgage interest, property tax statements and donation receipts before filing. Compare the total with your standard deduction, choose the larger one, and remember that pre-tax retirement contributions reduce income separately, whatever you choose. Rules change, so confirm current figures on the IRS website.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 standard deduction for single filers?
$16,100 for single filers and married filing separately.
What is the 2026 standard deduction for married couples?
$32,200 for married couples filing jointly.
Can I itemize and take the standard deduction?
No. You choose the one that gives the larger deduction.
Does the standard deduction reduce my tax directly?
It reduces taxable income; the tax saving equals the deduction times your marginal tax rate.