The standard deduction method is generally advantageous for most taxpayers, unless the total amount of itemized deduction is larger than the total standard deduction amount. In addition to the standard deduction, a taxpayer might qualify for these other deductions and income adjustments. See a detailed comparison of standard versus itemized deductions.
The eFile Tax App applies the basic, additional, and dependent standard deduction amounts based on the taxpayer's information. Start and eFileIT!
The IRS and state standard deduction amounts generally increase each tax year. When you use eFile.com, you can be sure that the correct standard deduction is applied to your tax return. 2025 tax returns are due by April 15, 2026.
Single
Birth Date: After Jan. 2, 1961 = Standard Deduction: $15,750, and legally Blind (add $2,000) = Standard Deduction $17,750
Single
Birth Date: Before Jan. 2, 1961 (add $2,000) = Standard Deduction $17,750, and legally Blind (add $2,000) = Standard Deduction $19,750.
=> Add $6,000 senior deduction (phases out $75,000 Modified Adjusted Gross Income - MAGI - and ends at 175,000).
Head of Household
Birth Date: After Jan. 2, 1961 = Standard Deduction $23,625, and legally Blind (add $2,000) = Standard Deduction $25,625
Head of Household
Birth Date: Before Jan. 2, 1961 (add $2,000) = Standard Deduction $25,625, and legally Blind (add $2,000) = Standard Deduction = $27,625.
=> Add $6,000 senior deduction (phases out $75,000 Modified Adjusted Gross Income - MAGI - and ends at 175,000).
Attention: When you prepare and eFile your taxes on eFile.com, all of these various scenarios will be calculated for you. Plus, the eFile Tax App will calculate itemized deductions and make a recommendation for you. However, you decide which deduction method you prefer.
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Married Filing Separately
Important: Both spouses have to use the same deduction method either Standard or Itemized. Birth Date: After Jan. 2, 1961 = Standard Deduction $15,750, and legally Blind (add $1,600) = Standard Deduction = $17,350
Married Filing Separately
Important: Both spouses have to use the same deduction method either Standard or Itemized. Birth Date: Before Jan. 2, 1961 (add $1,600) = Standard Deduction $17,350, and legally Blind (add $1,600) = Standard Deduction $18,950.
=> Add $6,000 senior deduction (phases out $75,000 Modified Adjusted Gross Income - MAGI - and ends at 175,000).
Surviving Spouse
Birth Date: After Jan. 2, 1961 = Standard Deduction $31,500, and legally Blind (add $1,600) = Standard Deduction $33,100
Surviving Spouse
Birth Date: Before Jan. 2, 1961 (add $1,600) = Standard Deduction $33,100, and legally Blind (add $1,600) = Standard Deduction = $34,700.
=> Add $6,000 senior deduction (phases out $75,000 Modified Adjusted Gross Income - MAGI - and ends at 175,000).
Married Filing Jointly
Birth Date: After Jan. 2, 1961 = Standard Deduction = both Spouses after = Standard Deduction $31,500 or one Spouse before and one Spouse after add $1,600, and legally Blind (only Spouse legally Blind add $1,600) or (both Spouses blind add $3,200)
Married Filing Jointly
For example: Both Spouses are born before Jan. 2, 1961 (add $1,600/each or total $3,200) = Standard Deduction $31,500 plus $3,200 = $34,700. If both Spouses are also blind (add $3,200) = Standard Deduction = $37,900. In comparison, one Spouse born before (add $1,600) and one Spouse born after (add $0) = Standard Deduction (one Spouse before $33,100) (one Spouse after $33,100), and one or both are blind (one Spouse blind add $1,600) (both Spouses blind add $3,200) = Standard Deduction and one Spouse younger than 65 (after) and one over 65 (before) and one blind (add $3,200 = Standard Deduction= $34,700. Or one Spouse younger than 65 (after) and one Spouse 65 or older (before) and both Spouses are blind (add $4,800) = Standard Deduction = $36,300.
=> Add $6,000 senior deduction (phases out $150,000 (both after) and 75,000 (one after) Modified Adjusted Gross Income - MAGI - and ends at 250,000 (both after) and 175,000 (one after).
Dependent
At any age, if you are a dependent on another person's tax return and you are filing your own tax return, your standard deduction cannot exceed the greater of $1,350 or the sum of $450 and your individual earned income. Additionally, this rule does not apply if the dependent makes equal to or greater than the standard deduction for their filing status. Learn more about
how to file a tax return as a dependent.
Sample 1: If your earned income was $700. Your standard deduction would be: $1,150 as the sum of $700 plus $450 is $1,150, thus less than $1350.
Sample 2: If your income was $15,000, your standard deduction would be: $15,750 as the sum of $450 plus $15,000 is $15,450, thus greater than $1,350, but it cannot exceed the single standard deduction amount for 2025 which is $15,750.
Sample 3: As a dependent, if you have taxable income of $16,000, then you claim the standard deduction for single taxpayers of $15,750 and pay tax on the remaining $250.
Learn more about
who qualifies as a dependent.
Nonresident Aliens
As a nonresident alien or dual-status alien, you are not allowed to claim the standard deduction and must
itemize in order to claim tax deductions on
Form 1040NR.
The standard deduction has certain situations and other rules which can affect how it is claimed and the amounts. These are for informational purposes as the eFile app claims your standard deduction for you when you eFileIT.
Certain individuals may not qualify for the standard deduction; review the information below or simply start free on eFile.com and we will determine this for you.
Married Filing Separate
When a couple file as
married filing separately and if one spouse
itemizes deductions, than the other spouse can not claim the standard deduction. As this filing status, both taxpayers need to use the same deduction method.
Trust, estate, etc.
A common trust fund, estate or trust, or partnership can not claim the standard deduction.
Filing Period
A taxpayer who who files a tax return for a period of less than 12 months as the result of a change in the annual accounting period does not qualify for the standard deduction. This does not apply to most taxpayers filing a regular, annul income tax return in a timely manner.
Nonresident Alien
There are
nonresident aliens who can claim the standard deduction, however, in general, a
nonresident alien filing Form 1040-NR can not claim the standard deduction. Here are the exceptions:
A: If a nonresident alien is married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien as of Dec. 31 of the tax year and makes a joint election with the spouse to be treated as a U.S. resident for the entire tax year, then they can claim the standard deduction.
B: If a nonresident who is married to a U.S. citizen or resident converts to a U.S. citizen or resident by Dec. 31 of the tax year and makes a joint election with the spouse to be treated as a U.S. resident for the entire tax year, then they can claim the standard deduction.
C: Nonresident students and/or business apprentices who are residents of India at the end of the tax year, and who are eligible for benefits under
paragraph 2 of Article 21 (Payments Received by Students and Apprentices) of the United States-India Income Tax Treaty, can claim the standard deduction.
Dependent
Dependents are able to claim a deduction on their income, but it is limited due to their status. The table above has specific details.