Tax Deduction Calculator
Find out whether itemizing beats the standard deduction. Enter your mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charity and medical costs, then press Calculate to compare.
Written by TopicDrill Editorial Team·Updated June 2026
Standard vs itemized
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How the tax deduction calculator works
Every taxpayer can lower taxable income by either the flat standard deduction or the sum of their itemized deductions, whichever is bigger. The tool adds up your four main itemizable categories, applies the SALT cap to state and local taxes and the income floor to medical costs, and stacks them against the standard deduction for your filing status.
The stacked bar chart shows each itemized category as its own segment, so you can see at a glance which expenses are pushing you over the standard deduction line and which barely move the needle.
A quick example
A single filer with $9,000 of mortgage interest, $12,000 of state and local taxes, $3,000 in charity and $2,000 of medical bills itemizes to about $22,000 once the SALT cap and medical floor are applied. That beats the $14,600 standard deduction, so itemizing saves roughly the difference times their marginal rate.
Things to keep in mind
This estimate uses 2024 standard deduction amounts and the common itemized categories, so it skips less frequent items and any phase-outs. The tax saved depends on the marginal rate you enter. For the full list of allowable deductions, see IRS Schedule A. To confirm the bracket to use here, run our tax bracket calculator first.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take the standard deduction or itemize?
Take whichever is larger. If your itemized deductions add up to more than the standard deduction for your filing status, itemizing lowers your taxable income further. If not, the standard deduction is simpler and gives you the bigger break.
What counts as an itemized deduction?
The most common items are mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable donations, and medical expenses above a floor. This calculator totals those four categories, applies the relevant caps, and compares the result with the standard deduction.
Why are my state and local taxes capped?
Federal law limits the state and local tax, or SALT, deduction to 10,000 dollars per return. Even if you paid more in property and state income tax, only the first 10,000 dollars counts toward your itemized total, which this tool applies automatically.
How does a deduction translate into tax saved?
A deduction reduces the income you are taxed on, so its value is the deduction amount times your marginal tax rate. For example, a 1,000 dollar deduction for someone in the 22 percent bracket saves about 220 dollars, not the full 1,000 dollars.
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