topic Should I do standard deductions or itemized? I paid $2808 for my sons braces & bought/finance a used car. Can I claim the braces and deduct the MA sales tax of $1,124.69 in Deductions & credits

Should I do standard deductions or itemized? I paid $2808 for my sons braces & bought/finance a used car. Can I claim the braces and deduct the MA sales tax of $1,124.69

kellyeverett613 — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:42:58 GMT

Re: Should I do standard deductions or itemized? I paid $2808 for my sons braces & bought/finance a used car. Can I claim the braces and deduct the MA sales tax of $1,124.69

VolvoGirl — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 01:33:44 GMT

That’s probably not enough.

You can only deduct the amount of unreimbursed Medical Expenses you actually paid over 7.5% of your AGI. And then all your itemized deductions have to be more than the standard deduction to get any benefit (so you would only be getting the benefit of the amount that puts you over the standard deduction). And since the Standard Deduction is increased more people will not need to Itemize.

For 2024 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 14,600+1,950 for 65 and over or blind

HOH 21,900 + 1,950 for 65 and over or blind

Joint 29,200 + 1,550 for each 65 and over or blind (both 32,300)

Married filing Separate 14,600 + 1,550 for 65 and over or blind

Re: Should I do standard deductions or itemized? I paid $2808 for my sons braces & bought/finance a used car. Can I claim the braces and deduct the MA sales tax of $1,124.69

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 01:35:25 GMT

Unless you have enough other itemized deductions like mortgage interest or property tax, sorry, but the expense of braces will not have any effect. The sales tax on the car will not be enough either. You are better off using your standard deduction.

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. (Only the amount that is MORE than 7.5% of your AGI counts) 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 tax laws that have been in effect since 2018, 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. The standard deduction makes some of your income “tax free.” It is not a refund. You will see your standard or itemized deduction amount on line 12 of your 2024 Form 1040.

2024 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $14,600 (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $14,600 (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $29,200 (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $21,900 (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

Re: Should I do standard deductions or itemized? I paid $2808 for my sons braces & bought/finance a used car. Can I claim the braces and deduct the MA sales tax of $1,124.69

kellyeverett613 — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:06:33 GMT

Thank you for your help, will stick with standard deductions!