Compare Before Deciding on the Standard Deduction
The TCJA of 2019 dramatically increased the standard deduction so that many homeowners benefit from taking that rather than itemizing their deductions. Taking the standard deduction may result in a larger deduction even if you have no expenses that qualify for claiming itemized deductions. Another thing that made reinforced that was interest rates for mortgages were low at the time and the interest paid plus the property taxes were less than the standard deduction. In 2022, mortgage rates more than doubled, so, anyone who purchased a home or refinanced at the higher rates might benefit from itemizing rather than taking the standard deduction. The takeaway in this article is to compare both methods each year to see which way provides the larger deduction. For 2022, the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly is $25,900, for single filers and married individuals filing separately is $12,950, and for heads of households is $19,400. There are ...