Comprender la deducción fiscal estándar

Reclame la deducción estándar en su declaración 1040 para reducir su cuota del impuesto sobre la renta

Are you going to take the standard tax deduction, or will you claim itemized deductions? To better answer this question, you may need to learn more about the standard deduction and the benefits that it offers. One thing is for sure: you need to take full advantage of as many deducciones fiscales como sea posible. Esta es una de las mejores maneras de reducir su deuda tributaria.

What Is the Standard Tax Deduction?

La deducción estándar es una cantidad fija en dólares basada en su estatus de declaraciónlo que reduce su ingresos sujetos a impuestos. Es importante tener en cuenta que no puede acogerse a la deducción estándar si está detallando sus deducciones. Tiene que elegir una u otra, idealmente la que más le beneficie en términos de ahorro fiscal.

Como se ha indicado anteriormente, la deducción fiscal estándar se basa en su estado civil (soltero, casado que presenta una declaración por separado, casado que presenta una declaración conjunta, cabeza de familia o viudo que reúne los requisitos).

¿Cuánto vale la deducción estándar?

For tax year 2024, the standard deduction amounts are as follows:

• $14,600 for taxpayers filing as single or married filing separately.
• $21,900 for taxpayers filing as head of household.
• $29,200 for married taxpayers filing jointly (or qualifying surviving spo

Los importes de la deducción estándar tienden a cambiar de año en año, ya que se ajustan a la inflación.

It is important to note that the amount of your standard deduction may be reduced if you are claimed as a dependent on another person’s income tax return.

Deducción estándar vs. deducciones desglosadas

So far we’ve explained what the standard deduction is and how it works, but you might have a few questions about how its counterpart—the itemized deduction—works. In a nutshell, while the standard deduction lowers your taxable income by a set number of dollars, the itemized deduction allows you to choose all deductible expenses from a list. The idea is that you get to choose whichever option reduces your tax bill the most.

 

Another question people ask a lot is “is it better to itemize deductions or take the standard deduction?”, but the truth is the answer depends entirely on your financial situation. Some people can reduce their tax bill more if they had many unreimbursed medical expenses throughout the year, while others might not have enough relevant deductions to pick from the list and fare better taking the standard deduction.

 

In the end, you should be familiar enough with your yearly expenses to estimate which option will be more convenient for you come Tax Day. Be warned, however, that taking itemized deductions takes quite a lot of effort and time, and requires you to be able to back up each expense with the proper documentation; otherwise, the IRS might come knocking.

Pros And Cons Of The Standard Deduction

If you need some more help thinking about which type of deduction to take for the 2024 tax year, here are a few advantages that the standard deduction offers over itemization.

Pros Of Standard Deductions

1. Easier and Faster: Perhaps the main benefit of taking the standard deduction is that it makes filing your tax return a lot easier than the alternative. Instead of having to hold on to and organize all sorts of documentation, you need only the most basic of financial records for the standard deduction.
2. Greater Availability: Not only is the standard tax deduction generous by tax standards, it has almost zero restrictions (with only a couple exceptions) on who can claim it. This makes it a very welcome respite for people who have sporadic income or that have steady employment but low income.
3. The Deduction Is Bigger For Certain People: Taxpayers who meet certain criteria (such as being blind or over the age of 65) qualify for a bigger standard deduction, which might exceed even that of the itemized deduction depending on their financial situation.

Cons Of Standard Deductions

1. You Might Save More With Itemized Deductions: A standard deduction is substantial, as we have mentioned, but taxpayers who choose it might be leaving money on the table, so to speak, if they’re able to save more by going with itemized deductions. The allure of a simplified tax filing process might be too much for some, but they’d be letting a good opportunity to save go to waste.
2. It Might Not Be Available To You: The restrictions on the standard deduction are very few, but they do exist. You might not be eligible for the standard deduction if your spouse is filing separately from you and is itemizing on their return. Also, if someone else has claimed you as a dependent on their taxes, that disqualifies you from taking the standard deduction (since you are, technically, a deduction yourself).

Deducción adicional estándar

¿Sabía que existe una deducción fiscal estándar adicional para las personas mayores de 65 años y/o ciegas? La deducción para invidentes está permitida si se confirma médicamente que usted (o su cónyuge en caso de declaración conjunta) es total o parcialmente ciego el último día del ejercicio fiscal.

La deducción normal adicional de 2021 para las personas mayores (de 65 años o más) o invidentes es de $1.350. Esta cantidad aumenta a $1.700 si utiliza el estado civil de soltero o cabeza de familia. Este importe se eleva a $1.700 si tiene la condición de soltero o cabeza de familia. Si es a la vez anciano e invidente, el importe de su deducción normal adicional se duplica.

Other additions to the standard deduction may also exist for loss from a Federally-declared disaster area, as well as for state/local real estate taxes.

¿Quién no tiene derecho a la deducción estándar?

Tenga en cuenta que hay varios grupos de personas que no cumplen los requisitos para solicitar la deducción estándar. Según el IRS, se trata de los siguientes contribuyentes:

• Una persona casada que presenta la declaración por separado y cuyo cónyuge detalla las deducciones
• Extranjero no residente o extranjero con doble estatuto durante el año (aunque existen algunas excepciones)
• Una persona física que presenta una declaración por un período inferior a 12 meses debido a un cambio en su período contable anual
• Un patrimonio o un fideicomiso, un fondo fiduciario común o una sociedad colectiva

Comprender la deducción fiscal estándar es muy importante para poder prepare su declaración de la renta. Debe hacer los cálculos para ver si la deducción estándar o la deducción detallada le ayudan más a reducir sus obligaciones fiscales. Así le resultará más fácil decidir entre la deducción estándar y la deducción detallada.

Para más información, consulte Publicación 501 del IRS (Exenciones, deducción estándar e información sobre la declaración).

Understanding The Standard Deduction: FAQ

 

1. What is the standard tax deduction?

The standard tax deduction is a fixed amount in dollars that is reduced (i.e. deducted) from your taxable income. It’s a practical and time-efficient alternative to the itemized deduction, which can lead to bigger deductions but can be unnecessarily complex. The standard deduction simplifies the tax process and lowers your income tax by a generous amount.

2. How much is the standard time deduction?

The standard tax deduction increases annually to keep up with inflation, and it’s also determined by your filing status plus a couple other factors. For the 2025 tax year, the standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers (and married people filing separately), $22,500 for heads of household, and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly (and qualifying widows).

3. Can everyone take the standard deductions?

Yes and no. Technically, yes, all taxpayers are eligible for the standard tax deduction, but it can be restricted by your filing status or if someone else has claimed you as a dependent on your tax return. Also, some non-resident aliens might not be eligible for the standard deduction even if they are obligated to pay taxes.

4. Can I choose both the standard deduction and also itemize deductions?

No, it must be one or the other. This doesn’t mean you’re bound to a single type of deduction for the rest of your life, but you can only choose one per year on your tax return. That’s why it’s important to know if itemizing deductions will be more beneficial for you than taking the standard one.

5. Is the standard deduction the same for everyone?

No, the standard deduction varies depending on your filing status. Single taxpayers have the lowest standard deduction, married couples filing jointly get a higher one, and heads of household get the highest standard deduction. Also, the deduction is also bigger for taxpayers 65 years or older, and those who are legally blind.

6. Do I have to provide any extra information to the IRS to take the standard deduction?

No, the standard deduction is automatically available to all taxpayers who choose not to itemize their deductions, making it a good option for those who want their tax return to be as straightforward as possible.

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