One of the biggest tax decisions that a couple can make is whether to take the standard deduction or itemize. The standard deduction offers a straightforward way to reduce your taxable income. In 2025 ...

Each spring, millions of taxpayers face a deceptively simple question — take the standard deduction or itemize? For those not versed in the lingo of taxes, the distinction can be confusing. But ...

Two types of tax breaks stand out among all the lingo: credits and deductions. Each lowers your tax liability, which is the total annual tax owed on your income. (That figure can be found on line 24 ...

Tax deductions reduce your taxable income, potentially lowering what you owe. Itemizing deductions can outweigh the standard deduction if summed deductions exceed it. Tax credits directly decrease ...