am going to need some one to help prepare my 2025 taxes are there any discounts for seniors

[greatcrazy88]

l usually have someone to do my taxes but the only thing they don't know how to give me my deduction for my charitable donation so I been losing out on these deductions how can I include them for 2025 for the pass 2023 and 2024 I been missing out on these things

[xmasbaby0]

Sorry---there are no fee discounts for seniors.   If you need help then you will want to use one of the "Live" versions of the online software or perhaps desktop download for which you can pay an extra fee to get "expert" help.

Not sure why you think you have not been getting deductions for charity donations.  Charity donations are itemized deductions that go on Schedule A along with other itemized deductions like mortgage interest, property tax, medical expenses....and if you do not have enough itemized deductions to exceed your standard deduction, the charity donations have no effect on your tax due or refund.   Did you itemize other deductions for the years in which you think you missed out?

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/live/how-it-works.htm

A charitable donation almost never changes your tax due or refund all by itself.  First, your donation does not count "dollar for dollar"--it is calculated by a percentage based on your tax bracket.  You need a LOT of other itemized deductions like mortgage interest or property taxes, medical expense, etc. to itemize and exceed 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. 

The standard deduction makes some of your income “tax free.”  It is not a refund.  

2025 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind +1600)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $31,500  (65 or older/legally blind + $1600)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $23,625 (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

For 2025 through 2028 there is an extra  deduction amount of up to $6000 per individual 65 or older filing Single, MFJ, or HOH which is phased out above certain incomes.

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

Charitable donations are an itemized deduction.  You can only deduct charitable contribution on the tax return of the year the donations were made.

The total of all your itemized deductions on Schedule A must be greater than the standard deduction for your filing status to have any tax benefit.

Standard deductions for 2025

Single - $15.750 add $2.000 if age 65 or older
Married Filing Separately - $15,750 add $1,600 if age 65 or older
Married Filing Jointly - $31,500 add $1,600 for each spouse age 65 or older
Head of Household - $23,625 add $2,000 if age 65 or older

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry you can't include them on your 2025 return.   You would have to amend each  year to add them.   Did you take the Standard Deduction those years?  Would you have enough deductions over the Standard Deduction  to itemize?

For 2024 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 14,600 + 1,950 for 65 and over or blind (16,550)

HOH 21,900 + 1,950 for 65 and over or blind (23,850)

Joint 29,200 + 1,550 for each 65 and over or blind (30,750/32,300)

Married filing Separate 14,600 + 1,550 for 65 and over or blind (16,150)

For 2023 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 13,850 + 1,850 for 65 and over or blind (15,700)

HOH 20,800 + 1,850 for 65 and over or blind (22,650)

Joint 27,700 + 1,500 for each 65 and over or blind (29,200/30,700)

Married filing Separate 13,850 + 1,500 for 65 and over or blind (15,350)

[blstanger]

what is the extra amount of up to $6000 (above the $15750, filing single over 65?

[xmasbaby0]

@blstanger

2025 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind +1600)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $31,500  (65 or older/legally blind + $1600)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $23,625 (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

For 2025 through 2028 there is an extra  deduction amount of up to $6000 per individual 65 or older filing Single, MFJ, or HOH which is phased out above certain incomes.

The $6,000 senior deduction will be calculated on 1040 Schedule 1-A page 2 Part V Enhanced Deduction for Seniors which goes to 1040 line 13b. It is separate and in addition to the Standard Deduction or your Itemized Deductions on 1040 line 12e.  Turbol Tax automatically includes it.

IRS Schedule 1-A
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/f1040s1a--dft.pdf