When you start planning early, you have time on your side to help you compare between various options and choose the best for yourself. While filing your tax return, you usually have a choice of whether to itemize deductions or take the standard deduction. Before you choose, it’s a good idea to figure your deductions using both methods. Then choose the one that allows you to pay the lower amount of tax. The one that results in the higher deduction amount often gives you the most benefit. 

The IRS offers these tips to help you choose: 

1. Figure your itemized deductions. Add up deductible expenses you paid during the year. These may include expenses like: 

Home mortgage interest, up to $750,000 in mortgage debt. You can NOT deduct interest on a mortgage that was used to pay off credit cards, student loans, or a car loan. 

State and local income taxes or sales taxes (but not both), real estate and personal property taxes, up to $10,000. 

Gifts to charities, (cash and non-cash) up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. 

Casualty or theft losses if in a Federal Declared Disaster. 

Unreimbursed medical, dental, optical expenses and health insurance. 

Unreimbursed miscellaneous Employee Expenses (See week 5). 

2. Know your standard deduction. If you don’t itemize, your basic standard deduction depends on your filing status (each year the numbers change, be sure to know this year’s numbers by asking your tax professional).

Single 

Married Filing Jointly 

Head of Household 

Married Filing Separately 

Qualifying Widow(er) (widows and widowers with minor children) 

Your standard deduction is higher if you’re 65 or older and/or blind. If someone can claim you as a dependent, that can limit the amount of your standard deduction. 

3. Check the exceptions. Some people don’t qualify for the standard deduction and therefore should itemize. This includes married couples who file separate returns when one spouse itemizes.

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