Standard vs Itemized Deduction 2026 Calculator

2026: single $15,750, MFJ $31,500, HoH $23,625. Post-sunset 2027 (estimated): single ~$7,750, MFJ ~$15,500. The standard deduction roughly halves, making itemizing attractive for millions of filers who took standard under TCJA. Personal exemptions return at ~$5,300 per filer + dependent, partially offsetting.

Depends. If you expect TCJA to fully sunset (lower std deduction + uncapped SALT in 2027), DEFER itemizable deductions to 2027 - they have more leverage there. If you expect QBI deduction or any other 2026 advantage to disappear, accelerate income to 2026 and itemize less. The "bunching" strategy (combine 2 years of charitable giving into one) is most powerful in years when itemizing wins and standard deduction is low.

Massively. A NY/CA filer with $40K of SALT under TCJA can only deduct $10K - pushing them to standard deduction often. Post-sunset, the full $40K becomes deductible (subject to AMT add-back). Combined with halved std deduction, ~30M households flip from standard to itemized in 2027.

TCJA capped mortgage interest at the first $750K of acquisition debt (was $1M pre-TCJA, returns to $1M post-sunset). Home equity loan interest is only deductible if used to buy/build/improve the home (TCJA rule). Post-sunset, HELOC interest is broadly deductible again for any purpose. For homes purchased pre-Dec 15, 2017, the $1M cap was always grandfathered - TCJA didn't change anything.