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New, larger standard deductions for 2025 could help you save a few dollars on your federal tax return in 2026. Standard deductions are adjusted each year for inflation. For the 2025 tax year, the standard deduction is increasing to $15,000 for single filers, $22,500 for heads of household and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Millions of taxpayers claim the standard deduction instead of itemizing. The standard deduction is a preset amount you can subtract from your adjusted gross income to reduce your taxable income and tax bill. For many, the standard deduction saves time and effort; it may also be greater than the sum of your available itemized deductions.
Here's how the new 2025 standard deductions may work for you.
What Is the Standard Deduction for 2025?
The 2025 standard deduction increases by $400 for single filers and married couples filing separately, $600 for heads of household and $800 for married couples filing jointly. These increases won't affect your taxes until you file in 2026.
Below are the 2025 standard deductions for all filing statuses.
| Standard Deductions for 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single and Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly |
| $15,000 | $22,500 | $30,000 |
Source: IRS
Additionally, the 2025 standard deduction for dependents claimed on another person's tax return is limited to $1,350 or their earned income plus $450, whichever is greater.
What Is the Standard Deduction for 2024?
For comparison's sake—or for reference if you're preparing your 2024 tax return (due April 15, 2025)—here are the standard deductions for 2024.
| Standard Deductions for 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single and Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly |
| $14,600 | $21,900 | $29,200 |
Source: IRS
The standard deduction for dependents claimed on another taxpayer's return in 2024 is $1,300 or earned income plus $450, whichever is greater.
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How Does the Standard Deduction Work?
The standard deduction is a flat amount you can use to reduce taxable income on your federal tax return. Instead of identifying, tracking and documenting individual itemized deductions, you can use the standard deduction to subtract a relatively generous amount from your taxable income in a single move. The standard deduction is different for different filing statuses: single, head of household, married filing jointly or married filing separately.
Here are a few additional facts to know about the standard deduction:
- It's one and done. If you claim the standard deduction, you can't claim itemized deductions like mortgage interest or charity donations.
- It's hard to beat. The standard deduction effectively makes the first $15,000, $22,500 or $30,000 you earn tax-free by excluding it from taxable income.
- It simplifies your taxes. Standard deductions don't require any calculations or documentation; you just find the deduction that matches your filing status and plug it in. You don't have to save receipts or tally up individual expenses, and you don't have to read IRS fine print to make sure your itemized deductions comply with the rules.
- There's an additional deduction if you're 65-plus or blind. In 2025, you may take an additional standard deduction of $2,000 if you file single or head of household and you're age 65 or older or blind. If you're married, the additional standard deduction for seniors or blind individuals is $1,600.
How Much Can I Save With the New Standard Deduction?
Single taxpayers in the top tax bracket could save up to $148 using the new 2025 standard deduction; married taxpayers filing jointly could save up to $296 in 2025 versus 2024. Since relatively few people are in the top tax bracket, most people will save less.
If you want to estimate how much the 2025 standard deduction will save you over last year, choose the table for single filers or married couples below. Find your tax bracket and check the column to the right to see your potential savings.
Note: Tax savings shown in these charts are for illustration only. Your results may vary. For example, if your taxable income is near the dividing point between two tax brackets, your savings will likely fall somewhere between the tax savings amounts for the two closest brackets.
Here's a quick look at what single filers might save using the 2025 standard deduction versus 2024, assuming their taxable income stays the same.
| Potential Savings for Single Filers in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Rate | Tax Bracket | Potential Savings |
| 10% | Up to $11,925 | Up to $40 |
| 12% | $11,926 to $48,475 | Up to $48 |
| 22% | $48,476 to $103,350 | Up to $88 |
| 24% | $103,351 to $197,300 | Up to $96 |
| 32% | $197,301 to $250,525 | Up to $128 |
| 35% | $250,526 to $626,350 | Up to $140 |
| 37% | Over $626,350 | Up to $148 |
And here's an estimate of potential savings for married couples filing jointly.
| Potential Savings for Married Couples in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Rate | Tax Bracket | Potential Savings |
| 10% | Up to $23,850 | Up to $80 |
| 12% | $23,851 to $96,950 | Up to $96 |
| 22% | $96,951 to $206,700 | Up to $176 |
| 24% | $206,701 to $394,600 | Up to $192 |
| 32% | $394,601 to $501,050 | Up to $256 |
| 35% | $501,051 to $751,600 | Up to $280 |
| 37% | Over $751,600 | Up to $296 |
Learn more >> How Do Tax Brackets Work?
When Should You Claim the Standard Deduction?
You should choose the standard deduction when you don't have enough itemized deductions to beat it. If you aren't sure what your itemized deductions might be, here's a quick way to take stock. The standard deduction for single taxpayers is $15,000 in 2025. Common itemized deductions that might take you over that threshold include:
- Mortgage interest: The IRS allows you to deduct interest expenses on up to $750,000 of mortgage debt. If you have a $750,000 mortgage at 6% interest, your yearly mortgage interest expense could be greater than $44,000.
- Medical expenses: Deductible expenses include unreimbursed costs for medical or dental treatment, physical therapy or chiropractic care, hospital stays, in-patient addiction treatment, prescription drugs and more. However, only unreimbursed expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income are deductible.
- State and local taxes: Any taxes paid to state or local governments, including property taxes, sales tax, state income taxes and vehicle registration fees are deductible up to $10,000.
- Charity donations: You may deduct up to 100% of your adjusted gross income to a qualified charity organization.
If you don't have large deductions to take (or a long list of smaller deductions), the standard deduction may be the best option for you.
Learn more >> What Can You Deduct on Your Taxes?
When Should You Itemize?
Itemize when your deductions add up to more than the standard deduction, and when your records of itemized deductions are complete. To claim individual deductions, you'll need to track and document your expenses, and make sure you're meeting any other IRS requirements that apply. Itemizing may require a bit more planning and work, but the tax savings are worth it.
Who Can't Claim the Standard Deduction?
There are also a few cases in which you can't claim the standard deduction. If any of the following applies to you, you must itemize.
- You're married filing separately and your spouse itemizes their deductions.
- You were a nonresident alien or dual status alien during the tax year (with a few exceptions).
- You're filing a return for a period of less than 12 months due to a change in your annual accounting period.
- You are filing as an estate or trust, common trust fund or partnership.
The Bottom Line
For 2025, adjustments to the standard deductions are relatively modest. Together with inflation adjustments to 2025 tax brackets, they may save you a few hundred dollars over what you would have paid using last year's deduction amounts.
If you want to explore your options for saving money on your taxes, you may want to check out tax preparation software that can guide you through potential itemized deductions. Or, consider finding a tax pro who can help you develop a tax strategy to minimize your tax bill and maximize your savings.