What Are the 202 Standard Deduction Amounts?
Learn how your tax filing status, age, or blindness determines your standard deduction and whether taking it is the most beneficial option for your return.
The standard deduction is a fixed dollar amount that taxpayers can subtract from their adjusted gross income (AGI), which simplifies tax filing and lowers their overall tax bill. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) adjusts these amounts for inflation each year. This article provides the standard deduction amounts for the 2023 tax year (for returns filed in 2024) and the 2024 tax year (for returns filed in 2025).
Standard Deduction Amounts by Filing Status
The standard deduction amount is based on a taxpayer’s filing status. For the 2023 tax year, the deduction for Single filers and those Married Filing Separately is $13,850, rising to $14,600 for 2024. For Head of Household filers, the amount is $20,800 for 2023 and increases to $21,900 for 2024.
Married couples filing a joint return and Qualifying Widow(er)s can claim a standard deduction of $27,700 for 2023, which increases to $29,200 for 2024.
Single status is for unmarried individuals, while Married Filing Jointly is for couples filing one return and Married Filing Separately is for spouses who file individual returns. Head of Household status applies to unmarried individuals paying over half the household costs for a qualifying person. A Qualifying Widow(er) can use joint return rates for two years after a spouse’s death if they have a dependent child.
Increased Standard Deduction for Age or Blindness
Taxpayers who are age 65 or older or are legally blind can claim an additional deduction amount for each condition met. A person is considered 65 on the day before their 65th birthday. Legal blindness is defined as having vision no better than 20/200 in the best eye with correction or a field of vision of 20 degrees or less.
For the 2024 tax year, the additional amount for a Single or Head of Household filer is $1,950 for each condition, while for married individuals or a qualifying surviving spouse, it is $1,550. A person who is both over 65 and blind can claim the additional deduction twice.
For example, a single taxpayer who is 67 years old in 2024 adds $1,950 to their base deduction of $14,600, for a total of $16,550. If that taxpayer were also legally blind, they would add another $1,950, bringing their total deduction to $18,500.
Taxpayers Who Cannot Use the Standard Deduction
Certain rules make some individuals ineligible to use the standard deduction. One common restriction applies to married couples filing separate returns; if one spouse itemizes deductions, the other spouse must also itemize and cannot claim the standard deduction. Another restriction applies to individuals classified as a nonresident alien or a dual-status alien for any part of the tax year.
A taxpayer who files a return for a period of less than 12 months because of a change in their accounting period is also barred from taking the standard deduction. Finally, estates, trusts, and partnerships are not eligible.
Choosing Between the Standard Deduction and Itemizing
Taxpayers must choose between taking the standard deduction or itemizing. Itemizing involves listing specific deductible expenses on Schedule A of Form 1040, such as home mortgage interest, state and local taxes up to a $10,000 limit, and charitable gifts. Medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income can also be deducted.
A taxpayer should add up all their potential itemized deductions for the year to make the choice. If the total of these expenses is greater than the standard deduction for their filing status, they will lower their tax bill by itemizing. For example, a married couple filing jointly in 2024 with $32,000 in itemized deductions should itemize rather than taking their $29,200 standard deduction.