Waukesha Accountant | Edith Christian CPA | Itemize

Should I itemize?

You should itemize deductions if your total deductions are more than the standard deduction amount. Also, if your standard deduction is zero, you should itemize any deductions you have if:

• You are married and filing a separate return, and your spouse itemizes deductions,
• You are filing a tax return for a short tax year because of a change in your annual accounting period, or
• You are a nonresident or dual-status alien during the year. You are considered a dual-status alien if you were both a nonresident and resident alien during the year.

NOTE: If you are a nonresident alien who is married to a U.S. citizen or resident at the end of the year, you can choose to be treated as a U.S. resident. (See Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens.) If you make this choice, you can take the standard deduction.
When to itemize
You may benefit from itemizing your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) if you:

• Do not qualify for the standard deduction, or the amount you can claim is limited,
• Had large uninsured medical and dental expenses during the year,
• Paid interest and taxes on your home,
• Had large unreimbursed employee business expenses or other miscellaneous deductions,
• Had large uninsured casualty or theft losses,
• Made large contributions to qualified charities, or
• Have total itemized deductions that are more than the standard deduction to which you otherwise are entitled.

Helpful Publications

• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax
• Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses
• Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information
• Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses
• Pub 526, Charitable Contributions
• Pub 529, Miscellaneous Deductions
• Publication 530, Tax Information for First-Time Homeowners
• Pub 535, Business Expenses
• Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets
• Publication 547,Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts
• Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property
• Pub 584, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook
• Pub 2194 Disaster Losses Kit for Individuals
• Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction
• Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education
• Form 2106, Employee Business Expenses
• Form 2106-EZ, Unreimbursed Employee Business Expenses
• Instructions for Form 2106
• Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions
• Inst 8283, Instructions
  

Tax Tips