Standard vs Itemized Deduction Calculator

You claim whichever is larger. The calculator sums your itemized deductions and compares them to the standard deduction for your filing status, then applies the 2026 federal tax brackets to both so you can see the actual tax difference. If your itemized total is bigger, itemizing lowers your taxable income and your tax; if not, the standard deduction wins.

State and local taxes (property tax plus state income or sales tax) are deductible only up to the federal SALT cap. For 2026 the cap is $40,400, or $20,200 if you are married filing separately, before the high-income phaseout. The calculator reduces that cap by 30% of AGI above $505,000 ($252,500 if married filing separately), but never below $10,000 ($5,000 if married filing separately). Anything above the cap does not increase your deduction.

Only the portion of unreimbursed medical expenses above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income counts. For example, at $100,000 of AGI the first $7,500 is not deductible, so $12,000 of medical bills produces a $4,500 deduction. The calculator subtracts the 7.5% floor for you before adding the remainder to your itemized total.

It uses the 2026 tax-year amounts: $16,100 for single, $32,200 for married filing jointly, $16,100 for married filing separately, and $24,150 for head of household. Choose your filing status and the matching standard deduction loads automatically for the comparison.

The standard deduction is large enough that many households still do not have enough deductible expenses to beat it, even with the higher temporary SALT cap. Itemizing usually pays off only when you carry a sizable mortgage, have high state and local taxes within the cap, give large charitable gifts, or have high medical bills in a single year.

No. This tool gives an estimate for federal income tax in the 2026 tax year and does not model the AMT, state itemized rules, or itemized deduction limits outside the SALT cap phaseout. It is not financial or tax advice, so confirm your figures with the IRS instructions or a tax professional before you file.