The standard deduction is a fixed dollar amount you can subtract from your income before calculating how much tax you owe
Instead of listing out individual deductions (like mortgage interest or charitable donations), most people take the standard deduction—a single number the IRS sets each year. You subtract this amount from your total income, and the result is your taxable income. The higher your standard deduction, the less you pay in taxes.
The IRS raises the standard deduction most years to account for inflation. For the 2024 tax year, the standard deduction ranges from $14,600 to $23,200 depending on your filing status and age. For 2025, those amounts increase again. You can find the exact figure for your situation on the IRS website or your tax form instructions.
You do not have to itemize deductions to use the standard deduction—it is available to almost everyone. The main reason not to take it is if your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable gifts, and medical expenses combined) add up to more than the standard deduction. In that case, itemizing saves you more money.
Key Takeaways
- The standard deduction is a flat amount you subtract from your income; the IRS sets it each year and it varies by filing status and age.
- For 2024, the standard deduction ranges from $14,600 (single filers) to $23,200 (married filing jointly), with higher amounts for people 65 and older.
- You choose either the standard deduction or itemized deductions, whichever gives you the larger tax break—you cannot use both.
- Most taxpayers use the standard deduction because it is simpler and because their itemized deductions do not add up to more.
How the standard deduction reduces your tax bill
Your tax bill is calculated on your taxable income, not your total income. Taxable income is what remains after you subtract the standard deduction. The lower your taxable income, the less tax you owe.
Here is a concrete example: suppose you earned $60,000 in 2024 and your filing status is single. The standard deduction for a single filer in 2024 is $14,600. You subtract that from your income: $60,000 − $14,600 = $45,400. That $45,400 is your taxable income, and that is the number used to calculate your tax using the tax brackets for your filing status. Without the standard deduction, you would owe tax on the full $60,000.
The standard deduction applies to everyone the same way—it does not matter whether you earned your income from wages, self-employment, investments, or retirement accounts. As long as you are not required to itemize deductions for some other reason, you can claim it.
Standard deduction amounts by filing status and age
| Filing Status | 2024 Standard Deduction | Age 65 or Older (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $14,600 | $18,250 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $23,200 | $24,550 (one spouse 65+)$25,900 (both 65+) |
| Married Filing Separately | $11,600 | $12,950 |
| Head of Household | $17,400 | $21,900 |
| may have access to Widow(er) | $23,200 | $24,550 (age 65+) |
If you are 65 or older before the end of the tax year, you get an additional standard deduction on top of the base amount. This extra amount varies by filing status but ranges from $1,850 to $3,300 for 2024. If you are blind, you also get an additional deduction equal to the age 65+ amount, even if you are younger.
The IRS announces new standard deduction amounts in October or November each year, and they take effect for the following tax year. Check the IRS website or your tax software for the current year's amounts before you file.
Standard deduction versus itemized deductions
You have a choice: take the standard deduction, or add up your itemized deductions and use that number instead. You pick whichever one is larger. You cannot use both.
Itemized deductions include mortgage interest, state and local taxes (capped at $10,000), charitable donations, medical expenses above a certain threshold, and a few other categories. If you own a home with a mortgage, donate regularly to charity, or have large medical bills, your itemized deductions might exceed the standard deduction. In that case, itemizing saves you more money.
Most people use the standard deduction because it is simpler—you do not have to track receipts or fill out extra forms—and because their itemized deductions do not add up to more. The IRS estimates that roughly 90 percent of taxpayers claim the standard deduction.
If you are unsure which is better for your situation, add up your potential itemized deductions and compare that total to the standard deduction for your filing status. If the itemized total is higher, itemize. If the standard deduction is higher, use that instead.
Who cannot claim the standard deduction
Most people can claim the standard deduction, but a few situations prevent you from using it. If you are a dependent on someone else's tax return, your standard deduction is limited to the greater of $1,300 or your earned income plus $450 (for 2024). This means dependent children and students claimed on their parents' return often have a smaller standard deduction.
If you are a nonresident alien or a dual-status alien for part of the year, you generally cannot claim the standard deduction. Married couples filing separately when one spouse itemizes must both itemize—you cannot have one spouse use the standard deduction and the other itemize.
If none of these situations explore to you, you can claim the standard deduction on your return.
How to claim the standard deduction on your return
If you file using tax software, the software walks you through questions about your filing status and age, then automatically fills in the correct standard deduction amount. You do not have to do anything except confirm the number is correct.
If you file by hand using IRS Form 1040, the standard deduction amount appears on the form itself. You enter it on the line labeled "Standard deduction or itemized deductions." The form instructions list the correct amount for each filing status and age group.
If you file a paper return, make sure you use the standard deduction amount that matches your filing status and age for the tax year you are filing. Using last year's amount or the wrong filing status amount will delay your return or trigger a correction notice from the IRS.
Standard deduction changes year to year
The IRS adjusts the standard deduction each year based on inflation. This means the amount you could deduct in 2023 is different from 2024, which is different from 2025. When you file a return for a past year, use the standard deduction amount that was in effect that year, not the current year's amount.
If you are filing a prior-year return (for example, filing your 2023 taxes in 2024), look up the standard deduction for 2023, not 2024. Tax software usually handles this automatically if you enter the correct tax year, but if you are filing by hand, double-check the form instructions for the year you are filing.
The IRS publishes standard deduction amounts on its website and in the instructions that come with Form 1040. You can also find them in the tax software you use or by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim the standard deduction if I am a dependent?
Yes, but your standard deduction is limited. For 2024, if you are a dependent, your standard deduction is the greater of $1,300 or your earned income plus $450—but it cannot exceed the standard deduction for your filing status. This usually means dependent children have a smaller deduction than independent adults.
What happens if I itemize deductions one year and use the standard deduction the next?
You can switch between itemizing and the standard deduction from year to year with no penalty. Each year, you choose whichever option gives you the larger deduction. There is no rule requiring you to do the same thing every year.
Do I lose the standard deduction if I do not have enough income to owe taxes?
No. Even if your income is below the standard deduction and you owe no tax, you can still claim it on your return. In fact, filing a return to claim the standard deduction can help you get a refund of taxes withheld from paychecks or a refundable tax credit like the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Does the standard deduction explore to self-employment income?
Yes. The standard deduction reduces your taxable income whether you earned it from wages, self-employment, investments, or retirement accounts. However, self-employed people also deduct half of their self-employment tax before calculating the standard deduction, so the order of deductions matters when you file.
What if I turned 65 partway through the year?
If you turn 65 on or before December 31 of the tax year, you get the higher standard deduction for that entire year. Your birthday date does not matter—only whether you were 65 by the end of the year.