The standard deduction for 2025 is $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly, $15,000 for married filing separately, and $22,500 for head of household.
If you are 65 or older or blind, you get an additional standard deduction of $2,000 (single) or $1,600 (married).
The standard deduction is a flat amount subtracted from your gross income before calculating tax. About 90% of taxpayers take the standard deduction because it exceeds their total itemizable deductions.
You should itemize only if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. Common itemized deductions include state and local taxes (SALT) up to $10,000, mortgage interest on the first $750,000 of mortgage debt, charitable contributions, and medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of your AGI.
For example, if you are a single filer with $8,000 in SALT, $6,000 in mortgage interest, and $2,000 in charitable donations, your total itemized deductions are $16,000. Since this exceeds the $15,000 standard deduction, you would benefit from itemizing.
However, most renters and homeowners with smaller mortgages will not exceed $15,000 in itemized deductions. In that case, the standard deduction is the better choice.
One strategy is to "bunch" deductions into alternating years. For example, make two years of charitable contributions in one year to exceed the standard deduction threshold, then take the standard deduction the following year.
Use our US take-home pay calculator which automatically applies the standard deduction to calculate your take-home pay.