How to See Whether You Qualify for Tax Deductions
Determine your eligibility for the standard deduction.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Determine your eligibility for the standard deduction.
Even if you would derive a greater benefit from taking the standard deduction, you must first determine if you are allowed to take it.
You cannot use the standard deduction if you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions:
Are you married and filing separately? If so, is your spouse itemizing deductions? (If you file separately, you both must use the same deduction method.) Are you filing your tax return for a period of less than 12 months because you are changing your annual accounting method? Were you a nonresident alien or a dual-status alien during the tax year? The exception to this rule is for nonresident aliens married to U.S. citizens; if that is the case, then you are allowed to take the standard deduction.
Are you filing as an estate, trust, common trust fund or a partnership?;
Detailed Guide
Even if you would derive a greater benefit from taking the standard deduction, you must first determine if you are allowed to take it.
You cannot use the standard deduction if you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions:
Are you married and filing separately? If so, is your spouse itemizing deductions? (If you file separately, you both must use the same deduction method.) Are you filing your tax return for a period of less than 12 months because you are changing your annual accounting method? Were you a nonresident alien or a dual-status alien during the tax year? The exception to this rule is for nonresident aliens married to U.S. citizens; if that is the case, then you are allowed to take the standard deduction.
Are you filing as an estate, trust, common trust fund or a partnership?;
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Jerry Reynolds
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