What does did you have to itemize your deduction mean?

[rotkarkiran]

What does "Did you have to itemize your deductions in 2015" mean? I am not clear. I did itemize my deductions but what confuses me is if I "had to" itemize. I believe I had an option to not itemize but it would have resulted in lower deduction.

Please help

[rjs]

It does mean "had to," not "chose to." The text below that question explains the question and lists the reasons that you might have been required to itemize deductions.

• You itemized deductions for your state or local return
• Your spouse itemized deductions for his or her separately filed return
• You are a dual status alien