Why Standard Deductions Will Fit Most Clients

What You Need to Know

Clients may ask unexpected questions.
You should tell them to talk to their tax advisors.
For a typical client, the standard deduction is likely to be a good fit.

As we approach tax time, one issue many of your clients will want to know about is what deductions they can take.

It may be helpful to first explain to them that deductions can be a moving target as both the federal government and various states tinker with what is allowable.

When filing personal income taxes, clients can choose between reducing their income via a standard deduction or itemizing eligible deductions.

The standard deduction is a specific dollar amount that reduces the level of income on which clients are taxed.

The standard deduction was doubled as part of the 2017 tax act, while the state and local tax deduction, or SALT deduction, was limited to $10,000.

For most if not all clients, the standard deduction is the best choice. Moreover, it is being bulked up further to account for inflation.

Standard Deduction Amounts, by Filing Status
…2022
..2023

..Single; Married Filing Separately..
..$12,950..
..$13,850..

..Married Filing Jointly & Surviving Spouses..
..$25,900..
..$27,700..

..Head of Household..
..$19,400..
..$20,800..

..Source: IRS Provides Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2023...

..

Clients who hit 65 in the tax year can take an additional deduction, and there is an additional deduction for blindness even if that is on last day of the tax year.

If a client is claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, the standard deduction for 2021 is limited to the greater of $1,100, or earned income plus $350 (but the total can’t be more than the basic standard deduction for one’s filing status).

Itemizing deductions will make the client ineligible for the standard deduction. There are also certain taxpayers who are not eligible:

A married individual filing as married filing separately whose spouse itemizes deductions.
An individual who was a nonresident alien or dual status alien during the year (see below for certain exceptions).
An individual who files a return for a period of less than 12 months due to a change in his or her annual accounting period.
An estate or trust, common trust fund, or partnership.

However, certain individuals who were nonresident aliens or dual status aliens during the year may take the standard deduction in the following cases: