Here’s What the Standard Deduction on Your Taxes Will Be in 2026

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Benjamin Franklin famously quipped that there’s nothing certain in life other than death and taxes. Any changes to the latter pique the interest of most Americans. As it does annually, the IRS recently announced changes to the standard deduction for 2026, for returns filed in 2027. Some Americans may breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to file taxes next year.

What Is the Standard Deduction?

Americans commonly have two ways to reduce their taxable income: the standard deduction or itemized deductions. Itemizing deductions can be more profitable for some, but it does require extensive work.

If that’s not your preference, or you don’t have enough to substantiate itemizing, you can easily take the standard deduction to lower your taxable income. How much you receive depends on your filing status. Some individuals, such as seniors 65 and older, may be able to claim more than the standard deduction.

What Is the Standard Deduction in 2026?

There is a slight increase in the standard deduction for taxpayers for 2026, for returns filed in 2027. Here are the 2026 standard deductions, according to the IRS:

• Single or Married Filing Separately: $16,100 or an increase of $350 from 2025
• Heads of Households: $24,150 or an increase of $525 from 2025
• Married Filing Jointly or Surviving Spouses: $32,200 or an increase of $700 from 2025

Taking the standard deduction is more attractive, as it was increased by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which extended the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), according to the Tax Policy Center.

2026 Tax Brackets

The standard deduction is the only item of note to increase, as the IRS slightly adjusted the 2026 marginal rates. Here are the 2026 tax brackets, according to the IRS:

• 10%: for incomes $12,400 or less for single filers or $24,800 for married couples filing jointly
• 12%: for incomes over $12,400 for single filers or $24,800 for married couples filing jointly
• 22%: for incomes over $50,400 for single filers or $100,800 for married couples filing jointly
• 24%: for incomes over $105,700 for single filers or $211,400 for married couples filing jointly
• 32%: for incomes over $201,775 for single filers or $403,550 for married couples filing jointly
• 35%: for incomes over $256,225 for single filers or $512,450 for married couples filing jointly
• 37%: for incomes over $640,600 for single filers or $768,700 for married couples filing jointly

An Additional Deduction For Seniors

Thanks to the OBBBA, seniors ages 65 and older qualify for an additional tax deduction. Seniors can deduct up to $6,000 from their taxes. If you’re married and both of you are over 65, you can deduct up to $12,000.

However, the deduction is not guaranteed because of an income phaseout. For single filers, the income cap is $75,000, and for married filing jointly filers, it’s $150,000, with the benefit phasing out at a 6% rate, according to Thomson Reuters. The extra deduction phases out completely at $175,000 for single filers and $250,000 for joint filers. Additionally, the special deduction is temporary as it’s only available through 2028.

The updated standard deduction may provide savings for some Americans. Speak with a tax advisor to learn how you might be able to manage your tax situation best to maximize your return.

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