Standard Deduction

The standard deduction is the simplest tax break: a flat amount the IRS lets you subtract from your income, so you are taxed only on what is left. Most filers take it rather than itemizing, because it is larger than their deductible expenses and needs no record-keeping. It lowers your taxable income, which reduces the tax you owe at your marginal rate.

For 2026 the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household. The IRS adjusts these amounts for inflation each year, so they rise over time. Because the figures change annually, the federal income tax calculator and the paycheck calculator subtract the right amount for your filing status automatically, giving a reader in a later year a path to the current number. Our paycheck playbook shows how the deduction shapes your taxable income.