Deduction

What is a Deduction?

In the world of finance and taxation, a deduction refers to any expense that a taxpayer can subtract from their gross income.

Deductions serve as effective tools to reduce your taxable income and, in turn, the overall amount of tax that an individual or business owes to the government.

These can include a wide variety of expenses, from home mortgage interest to medical expenses, and are a critical aspect of any taxpayer's financial planning.

Types of Deductions

Deductions can be broadly categorized into two types: standard deductions and itemized deductions.

Standard Deductions

A standard deduction is a fixed dollar amount that taxpayers can subtract from their income each year.

The value of the standard deduction varies depending on the taxpayer's filing status, age, and whether they are disabled or claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.

Who can claim Standard Deductions?

Nearly all taxpayers can take the standard reduction. However, if you or your spouse decide to itemize, the standard option becomes unavailable.

How much can you claim in Standard Deductions?

For the tax year 2021, the standard deduction amounts are $12,550 for individuals, $12,550 for those married filing separately, $18,800 for heads of household, and $25,100 for married filing jointly.

Itemized Deductions

Itemized deductions allow taxpayers to subtract eligible expenses from their gross income. These expenses can include home mortgage interest, state and local taxes, medical and dental expenses, and charitable donations, among others.

• Mortgage Interest: The interest you pay on a mortgage for your home can be deducted.
• State and Local Taxes: Also known as SALT, these include state and local sales, income, and property taxes.
• Charitable Contributions: Donations made to qualifying charitable organizations can be deducted.
• Medical and Dental Expenses: In certain circumstances, you can deduct medical and dental expenses that exceed a certain percentage of your adjusted gross income.

Who can claim Itemized Deductions?

Any individual is free to specify expenses if the aggregate sum surpasses the standard relief they'd typically be entitled to. This approach often proves advantageous for those with substantial-deductible costs in a specific year.

How much can you claim in Itemized Deductions?

The claimable amount varies based on the individual's specific costs. Certain expenses, like those for medical and dental care, can only be claimed if they exceed a certain percentage of the person's adjusted gross income.

Above-the-line Deductions

These allowances, also known as adjustments to income, can be taken irrespective of your choice to itemize or take the standard route. They include:

• Educator Expenses: Teachers can reduce their taxable income with out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies up to a certain limit.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) Contributions: Amounts contributed to a health savings account can be subtracted from your taxable income.
• Student Loan Interest: Interest paid on student loans can be subtracted up to a certain limit.

How Deductions Affect Your Tax Obligation

Both standard and itemized deductions reduce the amount of income subject to federal income tax. By decreasing your taxable income, deductions can lower your tax bill and, in some cases, result in a larger refund.

The more deductions you can claim, the less taxable income you will report, which may put you in a lower tax bracket. This effectively reduces the overall amount of tax you owe, potentially saving you a substantial amount of money.

The Process of Reducing Taxable Income

Claiming allowances that can lower your taxable income can be a straightforward process, but it requires careful attention to detail and potentially some legwork to gather the necessary documents.

Choose Standard or Itemized

Firstly, decide whether the standard route or itemizing will be most beneficial. You'll want to calculate your expenses for potential itemized allowances to see if they exceed the standard amount.

Gather Documentation for Itemizing

If you choose to itemize, you'll need to gather receipts, invoices, or other records that verify your expenses. For example, if you're claiming medical expenses, you may need bills or invoices from your doctor.

Complete the Correct Tax Form

When you file your taxes, the form you use will depend on whether you're taking the standard or itemizing. If you're taking the standard route, you can often use a simplified tax form. If you're itemizing, you'll likely need to fill out a more detailed form.

Review the Rules

Lastly, remember that tax laws and rules can change from year to year. It's crucial to review the latest rules, either by doing your research or consulting with a tax professional, to ensure you're maximizing your tax savings and meeting all IRS requirements.

Common Misconceptions about Deductions

Numerous misconceptions surround the topic of claimable allowances. One prevalent myth suggests that itemizing would always be more beneficial for individuals and businesses. Although in some scenarios itemization might yield a larger allowance, the standard claim proves more advantageous for many taxpayers.

Another misconception is that you can claim deductions without keeping any records or receipts. If you're audited by the Internal Revenue Service IRS, you'll need to provide proof of the expenses related to your itemized deductions.

Important Tax Deduction Changes

• Rise in Standard Amounts: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 considerably boosted the standard figures, almost doubling them. For the tax year 2023, these figures are projected to be $13,500 for single filers, $27,000 for married couples filing jointly, and $19,800 for heads of households.
• State and Local Tax (SALT) Cap: The TCJA also introduced a $10,000 limit for state and local taxes (SALT), affecting taxpayers in high-tax states significantly.
• Removal of Personal Exemptions: The TCJA eradicated personal exemptions, which formerly provided substantial tax relief for many families.
• Adjustments to Home Mortgage Interest: The TCJA decreased the limit for this interest-based benefit. It now applies only to the first $750,000 of eligible personal residence debt, down from a previous limit of $1 million.
• Medical Expense Threshold: For the tax years 2017 and 2018, taxpayers could claim medical expenses that surpassed 7.5% of their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). From the tax year 2019 onwards, this threshold has returned to 10% of AGI.