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Unlike the standard deduction, the dollar amount of itemized deductions differs from taxpayer to taxpayer. While standard deductions are ?as the name implies ? a standard (or fixed) amount, itemized deductions are calculated by adding up all applicable deductions, then subtracting that number from your taxable income.

Itemized deductions are subtractions from a taxpayer's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) that reduce the amount of income that is taxed. Most taxpayers have a choice of taking a standard deduction or itemizing deductions. Taxpayers should use the type of deduction that results in the lowest tax.

Itemizing requirements Enter your expenses on the appropriate lines of Schedule A. Add them up. Copy the total amount to the second page of your Form 1040. This amount is then subtracted from your income to arrive at the final taxable income number.

If you choose the standard deduction, you will not be able to claim itemized deductions. These cover many key areas, such as medical costs, charitable donations, state taxes, and various expenses related to owning a home. However, most people take the standard deduction.

If your expenses throughout the year were more than the value of the standard deduction, itemizing is a useful strategy to maximize your tax benefits. Keep in mind that not all expenses qualify when you itemize. Itemized deductions include products, services, or contributions that have been approved by the IRS.

Types of itemized deductions include mortgage interest, state or local income taxes, property taxes, medical or dental expenses in excess of AGI limits, or charitable donations.

Itemized deductions, subject to certain dollar limitations, include amounts you paid, during the taxable year, for state and local income or sales taxes, real property taxes, personal property taxes, mortgage interest, disaster losses, gifts to charities, and part of the amount you paid for medical and dental expenses.