Why can I no longer itemize deductions?

Asked by: Hortense Weimann  |  Last update: June 29, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (33 votes)

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction and eliminated or restricted many itemized deductions in 2018 through 2025. It also eliminated the “Pease” limitation on itemized deductions for those years.

Why can I not itemize deductions?

If you choose the standard deduction, you will not be able to claim itemized deductions. These cover many key areas, such as medical costs, charitable donations, state taxes, and various expenses related to owning a home. However, most people take the standard deduction.

Are itemized deductions being phased out?

There is no limitation on itemized deductions for tax year 2025, as in tax year 2024 and preceding, to tax year 2018. The limitation on itemized deductions was eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Is it worth itemizing deductions anymore?

If your standard deduction is less than your itemized deductions, you should consider itemizing to save money. If your standard deduction is more than your itemized deductions, it might be worth it to take the standard and save some time.

Are miscellaneous itemized deductions allowed in 2024?

Specifically, the TCJA suspended for 2018 through 2025 a large group of deductions lumped together in a category called "miscellaneous itemized deductions" that were deductible to the extent they exceeded 2% of a taxpayer's adjusted gross income.

Itemized Deduction vs. Standard Deduction, Explained.

45 related questions found

Are all miscellaneous itemized deductions gone?

The TCJA eliminated deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, tax preparation fees, and other miscellaneous deductions. It also eliminated the deduction for theft and personal casualty losses, although taxpayers can still claim a deduction for certain casualty losses occurring in federally declared disaster areas.

What are the new IRS rules for 2024?

Key takeaways for 2024 tax changes
  • Tax bracket thresholds increased.
  • Standard deduction increased.
  • Contribution limits for retirement accounts increased.
  • 1099-K reporting threshold dropped to $5,000.
  • The EITC and Adoption Credit were updated.
  • The refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit increased.

What are three itemized deductions I could claim now?

Home mortgage interest. Income, sales, real estate and personal property taxes. Losses from disasters and theft. Medical and dental expenses over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

Why is my mortgage interest no longer tax deductible?

No matter when the indebtedness was incurred, you can no longer deduct the interest from a loan secured by your home to the extent the loan proceeds weren't used to buy, build, or substantially improve your home.

Is standard deduction going away?

Key Takeaways: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated or limited many deductions, credits, and limits, including the standard deduction, until Dec. 31, 2025.

What is the 2 rule on itemized deductions?

You can claim part of your total job expenses and certain miscellaneous expenses. These expenses must be more than 2% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

What are the largest itemized deductions?

To better understand the trend pre-TCJA, a closer look at the three largest deductions—state and local taxes, home mortgage interest, and charitable contributions—helps (figure 5). State and local taxes: Nearly all itemizers deduct state and local taxes, up to 99 percent both pre-TCJA and post-TCJA.

Do itemized deductions get audited more?

Certain returns run a greater risk of audit

People who run their own businesses and do their own bookkeeping—such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants—are also more likely to be audited. Taking more than the average amount of itemized deductions in some areas can also do it.

What can I deduct on my taxes without itemizing?

To reap the benefits of deductions without the hassle of itemization, Backman notes you'll need line items that fall into these categories — contributions to your IRA, contributions to your HSA (health savings account), expenses you incur as a teacher like purchasing classroom supplies, and interest on student loans.

What is the maximum you can claim without receipts?

To be clear, you can claim work expenses up to $300 without receipts IN TOTAL (not each item), with basic substantiation. This means that if you have no receipts for work-related purchases, you can still claim up to $300 worth on your tax return.

What is one disadvantage of itemizing your deductions?

Unlike standard deductions, itemizing is a manual process that requires gathering documentation and tallying expenses. Depending on how good your records are and the amount of your deductions, this time-consuming process might not reduce your taxable income enough to make it worth the effort.

Can you deduct 100% of your mortgage interest?

In most cases, you can deduct all of your home mortgage interest. How much you can deduct depends on the date of the mortgage, the amount of the mortgage, and how you use the mortgage proceeds.

Is homeowners insurance tax-deductible?

You may look for ways to reduce costs including turning to your tax return. Some taxpayers have asked if homeowner's insurance is tax deductible. Here's the skinny: You can only deduct homeowner's insurance premiums paid on rental properties. Homeowner's insurance is never tax deductible your main home.

Are medical expenses tax-deductible?

Key Takeaways. The IRS allows all taxpayers to deduct their qualified unreimbursed medical care expenses that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income. You must itemize your deductions on IRS Schedule A in order to deduct your medical expenses instead of taking the Standard Deduction.

Is it worth itemizing deductions?

If the total is larger than your Standard Deduction, there's a good chance you would benefit from itemizing. All of the rest of your itemized deductions, including state and local taxes, medical expenses, and charitable donations, are just icing on the cake.

Are health insurance premiums tax deductible?

You can include health insurance premiums in your medical expense calculations. However, certain premiums are not eligible for medical expense deductions. You cannot include the following premiums in your tax deductions: Life insurance policies.

Is there a pet deduction for the IRS?

The IRS doesn't offer a pet tax credit, but that doesn't mean you can't lower your tax liability as a pet owner. You may be able to claim certain pet-related expenses to reduce your tax liability even though there's no pet tax credit in 2023.

What is the new IRS $600 rule?

Reporting threshold

There are no changes to what counts as income or how tax is calculated. The reporting threshold for third party settlement organizations, which include payment apps and online marketplaces, was changed to $600 by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

At what age is social security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

What is the minimum income to not file taxes in 2024?

About filing your tax return

If you have income below the standard deduction threshold for 2024, which is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for those married filing jointly, you may not be required to file a return. However, you may want to file anyway.