I'd be getting less than $1k if I do standard deduction, but over $2,500 itemized. I'm irrationally anxious over being audited. Should I go with standard to be safe?

[DoninGA]

If you are filing as Single you would need more than $12,950 of itemized deductions to have any tax benefit.  Have you entered that much of itemized deductions?

After you complete the Deductions & Credits section of the program it shows you the dollar amount of Standard and Itemized for your tax return.

[ramza360]

@DoninGA 

Married filing jointly. The only deductions I have is

Car registration - $47

EIC - $671

Child and Other Dependent Tax Credits - $2,000

[DoninGA]

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@ramza360 wrote:

Married filing jointly. The only deductions I have is

Car registration - $47

EIC - $671

Child and Other Dependent Tax Credits - $2,000

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Only the car registration is an itemized deduction.  EIC is a credit and the Other Dependents is a credit, neither are itemized deductions.

Your standard deduction for Married Filing Jointly is $25,900.  The standard deduction reduces your Adjusted Gross income so that you are then only taxed on the Taxable Income shown on the Form 1040 Line 15. 

[ramza360]

@DoninGA would my best bet be to file for an itemized deduction then? Thank you for being patient and explaining clearly

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

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@ramza360 wrote:

 would my best bet be to file for an itemized deduction then? Thank you for being patient and explaining clearly

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Unless you want to have your Taxable Income increase by over $25,000 I would suggest Absolutely Not.

[ramza360]

@DoninGA thank you!

[Mike9241]

safe and you make a gift to the gov't of $1500     if you have support for the itemized deductions, you should take it.  if your audited just produce whatever documentation the IRS asks for.   it might ask for other documentation to see if all income was reported.  

see this link IRS tax return audits.

https://www.litaxattorney.com/what-percentage-of-tax-returns-are-audited-each-year/ 

the decision is yours.

[xmasbaby0]

@Mike9241 Read the users post.  He has no itemized deductions except car registration.  He just did not understand what itemizing meant.  He will not be giving up a refund by using his standard deduction.