By Gayle Sato
Edited by Michelle TipswordWhat Is the Standard Deduction for 2026?
Quick Answer
Standard deductions have increased to $16,100 for single filers, $24,150 for heads of household and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly in 2026. Here’s how 2026 standard deductions compare to 2025, and when the standard deduction might save you money on taxes.
Standard deductions for 2026 are increasing to $16,100 for single filers, $24,150 for heads of household and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly.
Millions of taxpayers claim the standard deduction instead of itemizing. The standard deduction lets you subtract a preset amount from your taxable income to help lower your 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 2026 standard deductions may work for you.
What Is the Standard Deduction for 2026?
The standard deduction for the 2026 tax year increased by $350 for single filers and married couples filing separately, $525 for heads of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly. These increases don't affect your taxes until you file in 2027.
Below are the 2026 standard deductions for all filing statuses.
| Single and Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| $16,100 | $24,150 | $32,200 |
Source: IRS
Additional Deductions for People Over 65 or Who Are Blind
People who are ages 65 and older or who are blind may claim the following standard deductions in addition to regular standard deductions:
- Additional standard deduction: People over 65 and blind people may claim an additional $1,650 standard deduction. This deduction is per occurrence: If you're age 65 and older and blind, you may claim an additional $3,300.
- Additional deduction for singles: The additional standard deduction increases to $2,050 if the person (over 65 and/or blind) is single and not a surviving widow.
New Deduction for Seniors Ages 65 and Up
Effective 2025 through 2028, people 65 and up can take an additional deduction of $6,000 per person (up to $12,000 if married). This deduction is in addition to the $1,650 (or $2,050) deduction discussed above, and it's available whether you claim the standard deduction or itemize. The deduction begins phasing out when your adjusted gross income reaches $75,000 ($150,000 if married filing jointly).
Standard Deduction for Dependents
The 2026 standard deduction for anyone claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return is $1,350 or their earned income plus $450, whichever is greater.
What Is the Standard Deduction for 2025?
Standard deductions increased twice for 2025, once in the fall of 2024 and again with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025. Here are the standard deductions for 2025, which apply when you file in 2026:
| Single and Married Filing Separately | Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| $15,750 | $23,625 | $31,500 |
Source: IRS
Additional Deductions and Limitations for 2025
For the 2025 tax year, seniors and blind people are eligible for additional deductions as follows:
- An additional $1,600 deduction for people who are over 65 or blind ($3,200 for people who are both)
- An additional $2,000 deduction for people who are over 65 or blind and who are not married or a surviving spouse ($4,000 for people who are both)
- A special $6,000 additional deduction for people ages 65 and older, or $12,000 for married couples filing jointly when both people qualify
If you are listed as a dependent on another person's tax return, your 2025 standard deduction is $1,350 or your earnings plus $450, whichever is greater.
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How Does the Standard Deduction Work?
The standard deduction reduces your taxable income by a flat amount on your federal tax return. It lets you subtract a relatively generous portion of your taxable income in a single move, skipping the need to identify, track and document individual itemized deductions. Each filing status has its own standard deduction: single, head of household, married filing jointly and married filing separately.
Here are three basic things to know about claiming 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 $16,100, $24,150 or $32,200 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.
Learn more: Tax Breaks for Homeowners
How Much Can I Save With the New Standard Deduction?
Increased standard deductions save you money by reducing your taxable income. But, how much can you actually save? One way to estimate is to multiply the amount of each increase ($350 for singles or $500 for married couples) by your marginal tax rate, or the top tax rate you pay based on your adjusted gross income. This isn't a precise measure, but it might help you get a ballpark on how much tax savings you have at stake.
Here's how much you can potentially save if you file as a single taxpayer:
| Tax Rate | Tax Bracket | Potential Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $12,400 | Up to $35 |
| 12% | $12,401 to $50,400 | Up to $42 |
| 22% | $50,401 to $105,700 | Up to $77 |
| 24% | $105,701 to $201,775 | Up to $84 |
| 32% | $201,776 to $256,225 | Up to $112 |
| 35% | $256,226 to $640,600 | Up to $123 |
| 37% | Over $640,600 | Up to $130 |
And here's how much you could save as a married couple filing jointly:
| Tax Rate | Tax Bracket | Potential Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to $24,800 | Up to $50 |
| 12% | $24,801 to $100,800 | Up to $60 |
| 22% | $100,801 to $211,400 | Up to $110 |
| 24% | $211,401 to $403,550 | Up to $120 |
| 32% | $403,551 to $512,450 | Up to $160 |
| 35% | $512,451 to $768,700 | Up to $175 |
| 37% | Over $768,700 | Up to $185 |
Learn more: How Do Tax Brackets Work?
When Should You Claim the Standard Deduction?
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 estimate.
Common itemized deductions that might take you over the standard deduction threshold include:
- Mortgage interest: You can 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.
- 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 $40,400 in 2026 ($20,200 if married filing separately), up 1% since 2025. This deduction begins phasing out for people with adjusted gross incomes of $505,000 ($252,500 if married filing separately), and is set to expire in 2030.
- Medical expenses: Deductible expenses include unreimbursed costs for medical or dental treatment, physical therapy or chiropractic care, hospital stays, inpatient addiction treatment, prescription drugs and more. However, only unreimbursed expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income are deductible.
- 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 individual deductions add up to more than the standard deduction. To claim individual deductions, you'll also need documentation. Track your expenses, save receipts and make sure you're meeting any other IRS requirements that apply. Itemizing may require more planning and work, but the tax savings are worth it.
Who Can't Claim the Standard Deduction?
In just a few cases, you can't claim the standard deduction. If any of the following applies to you, plan to 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 2026, adjustments to the standard deductions are relatively modest, especially after 2025 standard deductions were increased mid-year under the OBBBA.Together with inflation adjustments to 2026 tax brackets, you may save up to $130 over what you would have paid using last year's standard deductions—and probably less.
If you want to explore additional 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 go through your taxes step by step.
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About the author
Gayle Sato
Gayle Sato writes about financial services and personal financial wellness, with a special focus on how digital transformation is changing our relationship with money. As a business and health writer for more than two decades, she has covered the shift from traditional money management to a world of instant, invisible payments and on-the-fly mobile security apps.
Read more from Gayle