The standard deduction for single filers was changed to 12,000; why do I have taxable income if I only made 11,000? The deduction would reduce my tax liability to 0.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

The standard deduction changes next year for the 2018 tax return that you will prepare in 2019.

2017 Standard Deductions

Single    $6350  (65 or older + $1550)

Married Filing Separately   $6350  (65 or older +  $1250)

Married Filing Jointly           $12,700  (65 or older + $1250@)

Head of Household $9350  (65 or older + $1550)

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/irs-tax-return/2017-tax-reform-legislation-what-you-should-know...

[lisaleespear]

Explain this NOW...  this answer doesn't help at all.  The same question applies in 2018?    Another example someone makes 48,000, paid in over $5,000 standard deduction is $6,350?   Why don't they get their $5000.00 back?

[Zbucklyo]

You are confusing a deduction from taxes (the standard deduction, which for a single filer in 2018 is $12,000) with taxes withheld from a paycheck.  All that does is reduce the amount of income on which you are taxed.  So, let's say a single filer made $48,000 and takes the standard deduction.  Their taxable income is $36,000.  Their tax is $4,133 on that income.  If they had $5,000 withheld from their paycheck, they would get a refund of $867.  They do not get a refund of either $5000 or $12,000.

[SweetieJean]

The standard deductions above are for 2017.  This thread is a year old.