Standard Deduction: To Itemize or Not

Welcome to the new tax year, and with it, a new standard deduction!  For the 2020 tax year, you'll want to pay close attention to the standard deduction as the IRS has implemented an increase.  

A standard deduction is a way in which lawmakers have acknowledged the tedious, complicated, and often expensive process of figuring your tax savings.  The tax provision provides the freedom from having to keep track of all expenses throughout the year, and it's relatively big enough to make the standard deduction the best choice for most Americans.  While we haven't seen much of an increase in this benefit, 2020 will give people incremental savings based on filing status.  Single filing status deduction is $12,400, which is +200 from 2019.  If you're married filing jointly, you'll enjoy a +400 change from 2019 to $24,800.  Our Head of Household is a +300 at $18,650, and our married filing separately is $12,400, which is up +200.  Also, there are some extras in the standard deductions for some taxpayers.  If you're blind or 65+, you can add a $1300 bump to your withholding if you're single and a $1,650 if you're married.

In 2018 we saw tax reform and its effects on the standard deduction. With the significant increase, many Americans have chosen the standard deduction over itemizing their deductions.  Knowing all the eligible deductions you qualify for and keeping track of them is a time-consuming task, and even the most knowledgeable taxpayers miss opportunities to save.

Reducing your taxable income through the standard or itemized deductions can be a complicated equation to answer. Lewis CPA is a great resource to utilize in solving this and any other tax dilemma.