Itemized vs Standard Deduction Calculator 2026
Should you itemize in 2026? Compares the $16,100 / $32,200 standard deduction (plus age additions) with SALT under the new $40,400 cap, mortgage interest, charity and medical above 7.5% of AGI, and shows the tax saved.
| Standard deduction | — |
|---|---|
| SALT after the cap | — |
| Medical above 7.5% of AGI | — |
| Total itemised deductions | — |
| Difference | — |
| Federal tax saved by the better choice | — |
| Bunching idea | — |
| Charity needed to make itemising win | — |
In short
Itemize in 2026 only if SALT (capped at $40,400, or $20,200 separately, phasing down above $505,000 of income), mortgage interest on up to $750,000 of debt, charitable gifts and medical costs above 7.5% of AGI together beat the standard deduction of $16,100 single, $32,200 joint or $24,150 head of household (plus $1,650–2,050 per person 65 or older). The higher SALT cap makes itemizing worthwhile again for many homeowners in high-tax states.
Who this is for: US homeowners and givers checking whether itemising beats the 2026 standard deduction.
Standard vs itemised in 2026
| 2026 standard deduction | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | $16,100 | $32,200 | $24,150 |
| Each 65+/blind condition | +$2,050 | +$1,650 | +$2,050 |
- SALT: state and local income (or sales) tax plus property tax, capped at $40,400 in 2026 ($20,200 MFS), reduced by 30% of MAGI above $505,000 down to a $10,000 floor.
- Mortgage interest on up to $750,000 of home-acquisition debt (plus home-equity debt used for the home); points on a purchase.
- Charity: cash to public charities up to 60% of AGI; appreciated stock at fair value up to 30%; keep receipts, and acknowledgement letters above $250.
- Medical: only the part above 7.5% of AGI — premiums, long-term care, dental, travel for care.
- Bunching: alternate years — pile two years of gifts (often via a donor-advised fund) and property-tax payments into one year to clear the standard deduction, then take the standard deduction the next.
See also: US Federal Income Tax Calculator 2026, AMT Calculator 2026.
Assumptions
- SALT capped at $40,400 ($20,200 separate), reduced by 30% of MAGI above $505,000 to a floor of $10,000.
- Medical counted only above 7.5% of AGI; mortgage interest and charity entered as deductible amounts (limits not checked).
- Tax saved = difference × marginal rate from the 2026 brackets.
Worked example
Standard deduction $32,200. Itemised: SALT $22,000 (under the $40,400 cap) + $14,000 + $3,000 = $39,000 — itemising wins by $6,800, saving about $1,496 of federal tax at 22%. Under the old $10,000 cap the same household would have had $27,000 of itemised deductions and taken the standard deduction.
Frequently asked questions
Should I itemize or take the standard deduction in 2026?
Itemise only if SALT (capped at $40,400), mortgage interest, charity and medical above 7.5% of AGI add up to more than $16,100 single / $32,200 joint / $24,150 head of household.
What is the SALT cap for 2026?
$40,400 ($20,200 married filing separately), phasing down by 30% of MAGI above $505,000 to a $10,000 floor; it rises 1% a year to 2029 and reverts to $10,000 in 2030.
Can I deduct charity without itemizing?
From 2026, up to $1,000 ($2,000 joint) of cash gifts to public charities is deductible above the line for non-itemisers.
Is mortgage interest still deductible?
Yes, on up to $750,000 of acquisition debt for loans after 15 December 2017 ($1 million for older loans), but only if you itemise.
Can I deduct charity without itemising?
From 2026, yes — up to $1,000 ($2,000 joint) of cash gifts as a below-the-line deduction for non-itemisers, while itemisers face a 0.5%-of-AGI floor.
Is mortgage interest limited?
Interest on up to $750,000 of acquisition debt ($375,000 separate); home-equity interest counts only if the loan bought or improved the home.
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