What is the Standard Tax Deduction?

When a business brings in revenue, not every penny is taxed. Businesses are allowed to deduct their expenses from their income. It seems only fair considering there are costs to doing business and it would be unreasonable not to consider those when taxing their income. The same is true for individual taxpayers. We are permitted to deduct certain expenses from our income to reduce our tax liability. These are expenses that the tax code has permitted us to deduct from our taxable income and help us lower our tax liability.

The standard deduction is a dollar amount that a taxpayer can claim to reduce their taxable income. The amount you can claim depends on a variety of factors including your filing status, disability, and age. For example, nonresident or dual-status aliens are not eligible for a standard deduction. It’s separate from a personal exemption, which is a set amount available to taxpayers and dependents.

A taxpayer can claim either a standard deduction or a series of itemized deductions, whichever is greater. The standard deduction for the 2016 tax year is $6,300 for single filers and $12,600 for married filing jointly tax filers. Head of households can claim a $9,300 standard deduction while those married filing separately can only claim $6,300. A qualifying surviving spouse may claim $12,600. If you are married filing separately, both taxpayers must claim the standard or both claim the itemized deduction, they must match.

The standard deduction is higher if you are 65 years of age or older, blind, or your spouse is 65 years or older and blind. Blind is defined as having not corrected vision of at least 20/200 or field of vision of no more than 20 degrees. For either 65 or older or blind, you get an additional standard deduction. For single filers, it’s $1,550 for 65 and older or blind. For married filers, it’s $1,250 for each.

Common itemized tax deductions include mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and state and local taxes paid. If your itemized deductions are greater than the standard deduction, you’ll want to itemize your tax deductions. You cannot claim both. For example, if you are only eligible to take the standard deduction and you made charitable contributions this past year, you would not be able to claim those contributions as a deduction. However if your total deductions are right at the threshold amount for standard deductions ($6,300 single and $12,600 married filing jointly), it is worth making sure you gather additional receipts for expenses like charitable contributions, un-reimbursed employee expenses, or job search to bump you up over the standard deduction, which will give you the opportunity to take additional deductions.

If you are a dependent and someone else is claiming you as an exemption, such as a parent, then your standard deduction is limited to $1,050 or your earned income for the year plus $350, not to exceed the standard deduction amount. Earned income refers to salaries, wages, tips, and any fees you receive for work you do. This is different than unearned income, which would be returns from investments or interest.

Don’t worry about knowing these tax laws. TurboTax will compare your tax deductible expenses entered to the standard deduction and choose either itemized deductions or the standard deduction. Whichever method gives you the biggest tax refund you are eligible for.

7 responses to “What is the Standard Tax Deduction?”

1. 

   Is the standard deduction applied before you begins entering income in Turbo Tax or is it applied later on? I inputted my income & shows I owe $5900 so am wondering if the Standard Deduction is applied later which would improve what I have to pay. I have not entered donations yet but not sure that will change my overall what I will owe. Am considering itemizing. Any input is helpful. Thank you. Tom Sutton

   Reply
2. 

   Why should I spend the money to buy TurboTax when only taking the standard deduction this year? Filing jointly. Used to itemize with only mortgage, property tax and charitable giving deductions which will be less than the new standard deduction.

   Reply
3. […] started. Gather together your W-2s and 1099s. If you claim the standard deduction, that is probably all you need by way of paperwork to go online and file. If you itemize tax […]

   Reply
4. 

   Wanted to know if person can still deduct bills from Pharmacy for medcine in age 76

   Thank You

   Reply
   • 

     Hi Nelta,
     If you itemize your deductions you can still claim medical expenses regardless of your age. If you are 65 or older your medical expenses have to be more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income(10% if under 65). TurboTax will ask you simple questions and give you the tax deductions and credits you deserve.
     Thank you,
     Lisa Greene-Lewis

     Reply
5. 

   Total income from soc. security. How do you figure IRS due

   Reply
   • 

     Hi Flo,
     Generally social security income is not taxable, but if you have other taxable income a portion of your social security may be taxable. TurboTax figures it out for you. Here is more information on how social security income is taxed http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/income-and-investments/how-social-security-income-is-taxed-7676/
     Thank you,
     Lisa Greene-Lewis

     Reply