How Much Is the Standard Tax Deduction in 2024-2025?

Each year, the IRS adjusts the standard deduction to account for inflation. For 2024-2025, these updates could affect how much tax you owe or the amount of income that remains after deductions.

The standard deduction is a preset amount that reduces your taxable income without requiring receipts or extra calculations. It’s generally the simpler option, though some taxpayers might save more by itemizing their deductions instead.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Understanding your deduction options helps you make informed decisions and potentially reduce your tax burden. Keep reading to see how these changes apply to you.

What Is a Standard Deduction?

The standard deduction is a fixed amount you can subtract from your taxable income. Most taxpayers are eligible to take the standard deduction without needing to provide documentation. You don’t need to track expenses or provide proof to lower your tax bill.

However, certain individuals are not eligible for a standard deduction and must itemize their deductions instead:

The exact amount you qualify for depends on your filing status — such as single, married, or head of household — and whether you’re age 65 or older or blind.

✏️ Hypothetical Example: If you earn $50,000 and your standard deduction is $12,550, you subtract that amount from your income. This leaves you with a taxable income of $37,450, meaning you only pay taxes on that reduced amount.

How Is It Different From Itemized Deductions?

An itemized deduction is an expense that you can subtract from your taxable income to lower your tax bill. These expenses must be considered eligible by the government, like medical bills, mortgage interest, or charitable donations. You can only claim them if you choose to itemize your deductions instead of taking the standard deduction.

However, if your eligible expenses total less than the standard deduction, itemizing may not provide additional savings.

✅ Standard deduction – Quick and simple, no paperwork required
✅ Itemized deduction – More work, but potentially higher savings if your deductible expenses are high enough

Knowing which option applies more favorably to your situation could help reduce your tax bill and make filing easier. In the next section, we’ll go over the standard deduction amounts for 2024-2025.

📌 Also read: Common tax deductions & credits for individuals

2024 Standard Deduction Amount

For the 2024 tax year, the standard deduction — the fixed amount you can subtract from your taxable income — varies based on your filing status:

Filing Status	Standard Deduction Amount for 2024
Single	$14,600
Married, filing separately	$14,600
Married, filing jointlyQualifying surviving spouse	$29,200
Head of household	$21,900

📝 Note: These amounts have changed from the 2023 year to account for inflation. ​

Additional Standard Deduction for Age or Blindness

If you’re 65 or older or blind, you’re eligible for an additional standard deduction:​

✏️ Example: A single filer aged 65 or older would have a total standard deduction of $16,550 ($14,600 + $1,950). ​

These additional amounts can potentially reduce your taxable income and overall tax liability, but be sure to work with a tax professional to make sure you account properly

2025 Standard Deduction Amount

For the 2025 tax year, the standard deduction has increased again to account for inflation. Here’s what you currently can deduct based on your filing status. 

Filing Status	Standard Deduction Amount for 2025
Single	$15,000
Married, filing separately	$15,000
Married, filing jointlyQualifying surviving spouse	$30,000
Head of household	$22,500

These amounts are set by the IRS and may change slightly each year based on inflation adjustments.

Additional Standard Deduction for Age or Blindness

If you’re 65 or older or blind, you qualify for an extra deduction, which can further reduce your taxable income:

✅ Single or Head of Household – Add $2,000
✅ Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, or Qualifying Surviving Spouse – Add $1,600

✏️ Example: A single filer over 65 would have a total standard deduction of $17,000 ($15,000 + $2,000).

Choosing the appropriate deduction method could help reduce your taxable income, so it’s important to know which tax year applies to you.

Who Is Eligible for the Standard Deduction?

Those who file a tax return can typically claim either a standard deduction or an itemized deduction. You can choose one, but you can’t use both. But as mentioned earlier, certain individuals cannot claim a standard deduction.

Most taxpayers opt for the standard deduction since it’s simpler and doesn’t require tracking expenses.

Here are the key factors that determine who qualifies and how much they can deduct:

✅ Filing Status – Your standard deduction amount depends on whether you file as single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, or qualifying widow(er).

✅ Age or Blindness – If you’re 65 or older or blind, you may qualify for a higher standard deduction (see 2024 and 2025 tables).

✅ Dependency Status – If someone else claims you as a dependent, your standard deduction may be limited or eliminated, depending on your income.

✅ Income Level – In some cases, high-income earners may see reductions in their standard deduction, depending on tax laws for that year.

📝 Remember: You must choose either the standard deduction or itemized deductions, whichever lowers your taxable income the most. Understanding your eligibility could help you maximize your tax savings.

📌 Also read: Standard vs Itemized Deductions