You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.
No. Sales tax is an itemized deduction. You have to have enough itemized deductions to exceed your standard deduction in order for sales tax or your other itemized deductions to have any effect.
Many taxpayers are surprised this year because their itemized deductions are not having the same effect as they did on past tax returns. The new higher standard deduction and the elimination of certain deductions, as well as the cap on state and local taxes have had a major impact.
Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund. The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach. The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you. Under the new tax laws, some deductions have been capped—there is a $10,000 limit to the itemized deductions for state, local, property and sales taxes.
Your standard deduction lowers your taxable income. It is not a refund
2018 Standard Deductions:
Single $12,000 (+ $1600 65 or older)
Married Filing Separately $12,000 (+ $1300 65 or older)
Married Filing Jointly $24,000 (+ $1300 each spouse 65 or older)
Head of Household $18,000 (+ $1600 65 or older
Look at line 8 of your Form 1040 to see your standard or itemized deductions.
Still have questions?
Make a postAsk questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.
brian_smith_iamt
New Member
7f1ad5b8cb30
New Member
lighter
Level 1
stephentower4208
New Member
Anel
Returning Member
Did the information on this page answer your question?
You have clicked a link to a site outside of the TurboTax Community. By clicking "Continue", you will leave the Community and be taken to that site instead.