Taxes
The 2026 standard deduction amounts, what actually counts as itemized, why most households no longer itemize, and how bunching changes the maths.
1
The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 single and $32,200 married filing jointly.
2
You take one or the other, never both. Itemize only when your itemized total exceeds the standard amount.
3
Most households do not itemize, which means their mortgage interest and charitable giving produce no tax benefit at all.
4
Bunching two years of deductions into one year can get you over the threshold in alternating years.
For tax year 2026 it is $16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for heads of household, per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
Only if your total itemized deductions exceed your standard deduction. Add up state and local taxes within the cap, mortgage interest, charitable gifts, and medical expenses above the threshold.
Read the full guide