The standard deduction is a fixed dollar amount that reduces the amount of income you get taxed on. Think of it as tax-free income that you get to keep before taxes are applied to the rest.
Select your filing status below to get your 2023 standard deduction amount. Please note that if someone else claims you (or your spouse, if you're filing jointly) as their dependent, your standard deduction will be less than the amounts shown below.
Single
Your standard deduction starts at $13,850.
- Add $1,850 if you were born before January 2, 1959
- Add $1,850 if you were blind as of December 31, 2023
Example: Single filer Joe, who was born in 1972 and has been blind since birth, gets a standard deduction of $13,850 + $1,850 = $15,700.
Married Filing Jointly or Qualified Widow(er) with Dependent Child
Your standard deduction starts at $27,700
- Add $1,500 if you were born before January 2, 1959
- Add $1,500 if your jointly-filing spouse was born before January 2, 1959
- Add $1,500 if you were blind as of December 31, 2023
- Add $1,500 if your jointly-filing spouse was blind as of December 31, 2023
Example: Joint filers Pat and Tracy, who were both born in 1941 and are not blind, get a standard deduction of $27,700 + $1,500 + $1,500 = $30,700.
Head of Household
Your standard deduction starts at $20,800.
- Add $1,850 if you were born before January 2, 1959
- Add $1,850 if you were blind as of December 31, 2023
Example: Head of Household filer Mary, who was born in 1963 and is not blind, gets a standard deduction of $20,800.
Married Filing Separately
Your standard deduction starts at $13,850.
- Add $1,500 if you were born before January 2, 1959
- Add $1,500 if you were blind as of December 31, 2023
Example: Marguerite and Phillip, a married couple who are filing separate returns, were both born in 1952. Neither one is blind. They each get a standard deduction of $13,850 + $1,500 = $15,350.
