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Standard vs Itemized Deduction Calculator
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Scenario inputs — tax year 2026
Filing status: Single. AGI (also modeled as MAGI): $100,000. Taxpayer age 65 or older: No; blind: No. Dependent of another taxpayer: No.
| Deduction input | Amount / assumption |
|---|---|
| Unreimbursed medical expenses | $0 |
| State and local taxes | $0 |
| Eligible mortgage interest | $0 |
| Eligible cash gifts | $0 |
| Casualty mode | none |
| Gambling losses | $0 |
| Gambling winnings (already in AGI) | $0 |
| Investment interest | $0 |
| Eligible net investment income | $0 |
Deduction comparison
Recommendation: Take standard deduction. Difference: $16,100 larger deduction, not dollar-for-dollar tax savings.
| Modeled result | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic standard deduction | $16,100 |
| Age addition | $0 |
| Blindness addition | $0 |
| Standard deduction before separate additions | $16,100 |
| Standard option including eligible additions | $16,100 |
| Itemized total before top-bracket reduction | $0 |
| Top-bracket itemized reduction | $0 |
| Itemized deduction after reduction | $0 |
| Selected non-itemizer cash deduction | $0 |
| Selected qualified disaster addition | $0 |
| Selected total deduction | $16,100 |
| Separate senior deduction | $0 |
| Total including senior deduction | $16,100 |
Allowed itemized components before top-bracket reduction
| Component | Allowed amount |
|---|---|
| Medical | $0 |
| SALT | $0 |
| Mortgage interest | $0 |
| Charity | $0 |
| Casualty | $0 |
| Gambling | $0 |
| Investment interest | $0 |
Amounts entered must already meet legal eligibility requirements. No foreign exclusions, carryovers or casualty gains are modeled. Mortgage eligibility, disaster/event grouping and substantiation require separate review. A deduction reduces taxable income, not tax dollar for dollar. The senior deduction is separate from the selected standard/itemized option.
References and limitations
Educational planning estimate, not a complete tax return or a guarantee of eligibility. These reference links do not represent a new review of every rule or calculation. Confirm your circumstances and current guidance before filing.
Standard vs Itemized Deduction Calculator
Determine whether to take the standard deduction or itemize for 2026 tax year
Updated for OBBBA 2026 provisions
Enter already eligible mortgage interest, net investment income excluding qualified dividends/capital gains unless a Form 4952 election is separately made, and cash gifts to public charities (not property/DAFs). AGI is used as MAGI; foreign exclusions, carryovers and casualty gains are not modeled. Disaster eligibility, adjusted basis, reimbursements and event grouping must be verified externally. Gambling winnings must already be in AGI.
Taxpayer Information
Potential Itemized Deductions
Deductible only above 7.5% of AGI
Capped at $40,400 per OBBBA
On loans up to $750,000
Up to 60% of AGI
Optional Deductions
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Recommendation
Take Standard Deduction
$16,100 larger deduction (not a dollar-for-dollar tax saving) by taking the standard deduction
Non-itemizer Cash Deduction: $0
Qualified Disaster Standard Addition: $0
2026 Itemized Reduction: $0
Deduction Breakdown
Total Tax Benefit
Important Notes:
- • Educational estimate only - not tax advice
- • Based on 2026 OBBBA tax law provisions
- • Medical expenses are deductible only above 7.5% of AGI
- • SALT capped at $40,400 with phase-out above $505,000 MAGI
- • Mortgage interest limited to debt of $750,000 or less
- • Casualty losses only for federally declared disasters
- • Gambling losses limited to 90% and capped at winnings
- • Miscellaneous deductions remain disallowed
- • Consult a tax professional for personalized guidance
Last updated: October 2026
Need Help Maximizing Your Deductions?
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Understanding Standard vs. Itemized Deductions
Every filer gets to reduce taxable income by either a fixed standard deduction or the sum of specific itemizable expenses — whichever is larger. Since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction, most filers have taken the standard route by default. But OBBBA's increase of the SALT cap from $10,000 to $40,000 changes that math for many households, particularly in high-tax states, making it worth re-checking each year rather than assuming.
This calculator adds up your actual itemizable expenses — medical, state and local taxes, mortgage interest, charitable giving, casualty losses, and more — against the correct standard deduction for your filing status, age, and year, so you can see the winner in dollar terms.
How This Calculator Works
Enter your AGI, filing status, age/blindness status (which increase the standard deduction), and your actual medical, SALT, mortgage interest, charitable, casualty, gambling, and investment interest expenses for the selected tax year. The calculator applies the correct 7.5%-of-AGI medical threshold, the year's SALT cap, and other itemization rules, then compares your itemized total against the standard deduction to show which one saves you more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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