Should I claim Itemized Deductions or take the Standard Deduction?

For most taxpayers, the Standard Deduction will be larger than their Itemized Deductions. Because of this, they will use the Standard Deduction rather than Itemized Deductions. However, we recommend that you enter your Itemized Deductions to see if the total amount is larger than the Standard Deduction.

We'll calculate whether the Itemized Deductions entered or the Standard Deduction is larger and will automatically give you the larger of the two deductions.

Additionally, your state tax refund may increase by entering your Itemized Deductions.

Itemized Deductions consist of mortgage interest (Form 1098), property taxes, donations to charities, medical expenses, state and local taxes, investment interest, gambling losses, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Tax laws changed in 2018 and many Itemized Deductions were removed including:

Unreimbursed job expenses

Casualty and theft losses (except for those that occurred in a federally declared disaster)

Tax preparation fees, Investment Expenses, and other miscellaneous deductions like IRA custodial fees and safe deposit box expense

2025 tax law changes made the above 2018 tax law changes for Itemized Deductions permanent.