Did I itemize last year?

[Anonymous_]

Did I itemize last year?

Do you have access to your return? Look for Schedule A.

[Mira D]

I have read two different help topics that were available through turbo tax and I am still not sure. On line 12A it says 27,800.  We are both over 65 so it should say $27,900 if I took the standard deduction. But it is unlikely that $27,800 is an itemized deduction amount.

[Mira D]

I do have schedule A but the amount showing on 1040 line 12 a is a higher number than the total on line 17 of my schedule A. But is NOT the standard deduction amount.

[HelenC12]

Here's how you can tell which deduction you took on last year's (2021) federal tax return:

• If the amount on Line 12a of last year's Form 1040 ends with a number other than 0, you itemized
  • If this amount ends with 0, it's likely you took the Standard Deduction
  • If this amount ends with 00 or 50, you probably took the Standard Deduction
• If your return included Schedule A, you itemized

[Mira D]

I read thaat in the help. It ends in 00. But I also found this in the help:

If you're not sure whether or not you itemized deductions last year, take a look at Form 1040, line 12 on your last year's tax return.

The standard deduction amounts are:
- $12,550 for Single or Married Filing Separately
- $25,100 for Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Surviving Spouse
- $18,800 for Head of Household

Note that for taxpayers who are over age 65 or blind, there is an additional standard deduction amount to add to the amounts above. If your filing status on last year's return was Single or Head of Household, add $1,700 to the amount above if you were over age 65 or blind. If both apply, then add the additional $1,700 twice. For all other filing statuses (Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separate, or Qualifying Surviving Spouse), add $1,400 to the amount above if blind or over age 65 (adding double the amount if both apply). If last year's filing status was Married Filing Joint, also apply the additional amount if either situation applies to your spouse. The additional $1,400 could be added to the standard deduction up to four times for a Married Filing Jointly return.

If you have an amount on line 12 that is different than the standard deduction amount for your filing status, then select I itemized my deductions.

Since we are both over 65 but neither of us is blind, if we took the standard deduction the amount should have been $27,900. It was not. The amount on line 12A is $27,800.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

No on a joint return the extra for over 65 is 1350.   Which adds up to 27,800.  You took the Standard Deduction.

For 2021 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 12,550 + 1,700 for 65 and over or blind (14,250)

HOH 18,800 + 1,700 for 65 and over or blind

Joint 25,100 + 1,350 for each 65 and over or blind

Married filing Separate 12,550 + 1,350 for 65 and over or blind

[Mira D]

The help article I found says $1400. Maybe that is this year's help. I have them both open. Anyway. Thank you @VolvoGirl 

[VolvoGirl]

Yes it changes each year.  Last year could mean either 2021 or 2022.

For 2022 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 12,950 + 1,750 or 65 and over or blind (14,700)

HOH 19,400 + 1,750 for 65 and over or blind

Joint 25,900 + 1,400 for each 65 and over or blind (28,700)

Married filing Separate 12,950 + 1,400 for 65 and over or blind