For tax year 2026 (returns filed in 2027), the IRS adjusts standard deduction amounts annually for inflation. Verify current figures at IRS.gov or in IRS Revenue Procedure for the applicable year — amounts below reflect 2025 published figures and will be revised by the IRS before 2026 returns are due.
The standard deduction is a flat dollar amount the IRS allows most taxpayers to subtract from adjusted gross income (AGI) before calculating taxes owed. You claim it instead of listing individual itemized deductions on Schedule A. No receipts required — just claim the fixed amount for your filing status. The IRS adjusts the standard deduction each year for inflation; the figures below are from IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-40 (for tax year 2025) and are provided as a reference baseline. Always verify the current-year figure directly at IRS.gov before filing.
Most taxpayers — roughly nine in ten according to IRS Statistics of Income data — claim the standard deduction because it exceeds what they could claim by itemizing. If your actual qualifying expenses (mortgage interest, state taxes, charitable donations, large medical expenses) add up to more than the standard deduction for your filing status, itemizing on Schedule A is worth exploring. A tax professional can run the comparison. See IRS Topic No. 501 for the full rules.
If someone claims you as a dependent on their tax return, your own standard deduction is limited to the greater of $1,350 (2025 baseline) or your earned income plus $450, up to the regular standard deduction. The amounts adjust annually — see IRS Publication 501.
Standard deduction amounts change every year. The figures above are a 2025 baseline for reference. For your 2026 tax return (due April 2027), verify the official amounts in IRS Rev. Proc. for tax year 2026 at IRS.gov, or consult a tax professional.
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