Standard Deduction
A flat amount you can subtract from gross income before tax is computed, without itemizing.
In the US, the 2025 standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married filing jointly. You can either take this flat amount or itemize specific deductions (mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable gifts, etc.) — whichever produces the larger total.
Most filers take the standard deduction. Itemizing pays off when your itemizable deductions exceed the standard deduction — typically homeowners with a mortgage in a high-tax state.