For the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026), the standard deduction is $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married filing jointly, and $23,625 for head of household. For the 2026 tax year (filed in 2027), these amounts rise to $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household.
The standard deduction reduces your adjusted gross income before taxes apply. If you earn $50,000 and are single in 2026, you subtract the $16,100 standard deduction, leaving $33,900 as your taxable income.
Taxpayers age 65 or older receive an additional standard deduction on top of the base amount. For 2026, this additional amount is $2,050 for single filers and $1,650 for each spouse filing jointly.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, adds a new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers age 65 and older for tax years 2025 through 2028. This stacks on top of the regular and age-based standard deductions. A 70-year-old single filer with $70,000 of income could claim $16,100 (standard) plus $2,050 (age 65+) plus $6,000 (seniors deduction) for a total of $24,150 in deductions for 2026. This deduction phases out for higher-income taxpayers.
You must choose between taking the standard deduction or itemizing deductions on Schedule A. Take whichever results in a larger deduction. Itemizing typically benefits you if you have large mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable contributions, or medical expenses. If you are claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, your standard deduction is limited.