Should I itemize my taxes?

Depending on your situation, you could save more by not itemizing and taking the standard deduction.

A tax deduction decreases your taxable income, which in turn can lower your tax bill. There are generally two ways you can claim deductions on your federal income tax return: you can itemize deductions, or you can take the standard deduction.

A review of the standard deduction amount and what qualifies for itemizing can help you determine which is right for you.

Why itemize?

When it comes to deductions, you generally want to choose the option that lowers your taxable income the most.

The standard deduction is a fixed amount, while itemized deductions are made up of a list of eligible expenses.

What is the standard deduction?

The standard deduction amount varies based on your income, age, filing status, and whether you’re blind, and changes each year.

If you’re married and filing jointly, your standard deduction for the 2024 tax year is $29,200 (plus $1,550 per person age 65 or older). If you’re single or filing as an individual, your standard deduction will be $14,600 (plus $1,950 if age 65 or older).

How do tax rates factor in?

The rate at which your income is taxed can play a role in whether you choose standard or itemized deductions.

There are seven tax brackets, ranging from 10-37%. The highest bracket for single filers and married couples filing jointly for tax year 2024 starts with taxable incomes over $609,350 and $731,200, respectively.¹

What expenses can I itemize?

Expenses that qualify for itemized deductions include qualified mortgage interest, state and local income taxes, medical and dental expenses, and charitable contributions.

• Mortgage interest. For married couples filing jointly, you can deduct home mortgage interest on the first $750,000 of debt. If your mortgage was incurred before December 16, 2017, married couples filing jointly can deduct home mortgage interest on the first $1 million of debt.²
• State taxes. The itemized deduction for state taxes is capped at $10,000. Residents of high tax states like California, New York and New Jersey may have a more difficult time surpassing the standard deduction because of that limitation.
• Medical and dental expenses. You’re allowed to deduct qualified, unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Qualified expenses include surgeries, preventive care, treatment, dental and vision care, and prescription medications. Medical expenses for which you’ve been reimbursed by your insurance or employer cannot be deducted.
• Charitable deductions. Contributions to qualified charities are still fully deductible. If you itemize deductions, gifts of cash to qualified public charities can be deducted in an amount up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). If donations are made to private foundations (such as a family foundation), the annual limit is 30% of your AGI.

Small donation amounts may not be enough of a deduction to take advantage of itemizing. If the tax benefits are an important consideration, you may want to approach your giving strategy differently. For example, if you bunch your donations into one year instead of multiple, you’re more likely to exceed the standard deduction.

So…should I itemize?

There’s no substitute for running the numbers. Use IRS Schedule A form to itemize your mortgage interest expense, charitable donations, medical expenses, state taxes and other itemizable expenses.

This is where significant out-of-pocket medical expenses or charitable donations could play a big role.

If your deductions put you over the standard deduction threshold, then itemizing will work for you. If you’re below the threshold, taking the standard deduction will make more sense.

Tax planning shouldn’t be a once-a-year activity. Consider these 7 essential tax planning tips that could help lower your tax bill in April.