Standard vs Itemized Deduction Calculator

Itemized deduction	You entered	Deductible
Medical (above 7.5% of AGI)	$0.00	$0.00
State & local taxes (capped)	$12,000	$12,000
Mortgage interest	$14,000	$14,000
Charity (above 0.5% of AGI)	$5,000	$4,250
Other	$0.00	$0.00
Total itemized		$30,250

About the Standard vs Itemized Deduction Calculator

This calculator tells you whether to take the standard deduction or itemize on Schedule A for tax year 2026. Enter your filing status, AGI and the expenses that can be itemized — medical and dental costs, state and local taxes, mortgage interest, charitable gifts and other deductions — and it compares the two totals and estimates the tax difference.

It applies the 2026 rules from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and IRS inflation adjustments: a standard deduction of $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly and $24,150 head of household (plus $1,650 or $2,050 for each taxpayer who is 65 or older or blind); a SALT cap of $40,400 that shrinks by 30% of MAGI above $505,000, down to $10,000; medical expenses only above 7.5% of AGI; and the new 0.5%-of-AGI floor on itemized charitable gifts.

It also includes the new deduction for people who do not itemize: from 2026 they can deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 joint) of cash gifts to charity on top of the standard deduction. The senior $6,000 bonus deduction for those 65+ is available either way, so it does not change which option is better. Assumptions: AGI is used as MAGI for the SALT phase-down, all charitable gifts are cash to public charities (gifts to donor-advised funds do not qualify for the non-itemizer deduction), and the 2026 limit that caps the value of itemized deductions at 35 cents per dollar for the 37% bracket is not modelled.

With the default inputs, the your best deduction is $34,200.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.

How to use the standard vs itemized deduction calculator

1Choose your filing status and count any 65+ or blind boxes.
2Enter your AGI — it sets the medical and charity floors and SALT phase-down.
3Enter medical costs, state and local taxes, mortgage interest and donations.
4Add any other itemized deductions.
5Compare the totals and take whichever deduction is larger.

Formula and method

Standard = base + extra for 65+/blind + min(cash charity, $1,000/$2,000)

Itemized = max(0, medical − 7.5% AGI) + min(SALT, cap) + mortgage interest + max(0, charity − 0.5% AGI) + other

SALT cap = max($10,000, $40,400 − 30% × (MAGI − $505,000))

The standard deduction for 2026 is $16,100 (single or married filing separately), $32,200 (married filing jointly) or $24,150 (head of household), plus $1,650 per box for married filers or $2,050 for unmarried filers who are 65+ or blind. From 2026, non-itemizers may also deduct cash gifts to charity up to $1,000, or $2,000 on a joint return.

Itemized deductions include medical costs above 7.5% of AGI, state and local taxes up to the SALT cap ($40,400 for 2026, halved for married filing separately, phased down by 30% of MAGI above $505,000 to a $10,000 floor), home mortgage interest, charitable gifts above the new 0.5%-of-AGI floor, and other allowed items. You take whichever is larger; the tax saved is the difference times your marginal rate. The 35% cap on the benefit of itemized deductions for top-bracket taxpayers is not modelled.

AGI: Adjusted gross income (used as MAGI for the SALT phase-down)
SALT: State and local income/sales and property taxes

Worked examples

Married couple with a mortgage, $150k AGI

Itemized deductions total $30,250: $12,000 SALT, $14,000 mortgage interest and $4,250 of charity after the $750 floor. The $32,200 standard deduction plus the $2,000 non-itemizer charity deduction gives $34,200, which wins by $3,950.

High-tax state homeowner, $300k AGI

All $35,000 of state and local taxes fits under the $40,400 cap. With $24,000 of mortgage interest and $6,500 of charity after the $1,500 floor, itemized deductions are $65,500 — $31,300 more than the $34,200 standard option.

Single filer, $600k MAGI, SALT phase-down

MAGI is $95,000 above $505,000, so the SALT cap falls by $28,500 to $11,900. Adding $20,000 of mortgage interest and $7,000 of charity after the $3,000 floor gives $38,900, well above the $17,100 standard option.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard deduction for 2026?+

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. People 65+ or blind add $2,050 (unmarried) or $1,650 per person (married).

When should I itemize deductions?+

Itemize only when your deductible expenses — mostly state and local taxes, mortgage interest and charity — add up to more than your standard deduction. With the higher SALT cap from 2025, more homeowners in high-tax states benefit from itemizing again.

What is the SALT deduction limit for 2026?+

The cap on state and local tax deductions is $40,400 for 2026 ($20,200 married filing separately). It is reduced by 30% of modified AGI above $505,000, but never below $10,000.

Can I deduct charity if I take the standard deduction?+

Yes, starting in 2026. Non-itemizers can deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 married filing jointly) of cash donations to qualifying charities, in addition to the standard deduction. Gifts to donor-advised funds do not qualify.

Is the $6,000 senior deduction part of the standard deduction?+

No. The 2025–2028 senior deduction of $6,000 per person aged 65+ is a separate deduction available whether you itemize or not, phasing out above $75,000 of MAGI ($150,000 joint). It does not change which option is better.

Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.

Sources