TL;DR
Get business pricing on office and shipping supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
The IRS has set standard deduction amounts for tax year 2027, with increases from the prior tax year for each filing-status category listed in the report. Returns for 2027 are normally filed in 2028; eligible older or blind taxpayers, some seniors covered by a temporary bonus deduction, and dependents may have different calculations.
The IRS has released 2027 standard deduction amounts, setting the federal income-tax deductions taxpayers can use for returns normally filed in 2028. The amounts rise from the prior tax year across the filing-status categories reported by Kiplinger, affecting the calculation taxpayers use when deciding whether to claim the standard deduction or itemize.
For 2027, the standard deduction is $33,200 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses, a $1,000 increase from the prior tax year. The amount is $16,600 for single taxpayers and married people filing separately, up $500, and $24,925 for heads of household, up $775, according to Kiplinger’s report on the IRS figures.
Taxpayers who are 65 or older, or blind, can claim an additional standard deduction. Kiplinger reports that the extra amount for 2027 is $1,700, or $2,100 for an unmarried taxpayer who is not a surviving spouse. An eligible single taxpayer age 65 or older, or blind, could claim a total of $18,700 using the figures in the report: the $16,600 single deduction plus the $2,100 additional amount for an unmarried person.
The report also describes a separate $6,000 bonus deduction for eligible people age 65 and older, created by the 2025 tax law. Kiplinger says it can be added for each eligible individual and claimed by taxpayers who itemize as well as those taking the standard deduction. The bonus is temporary and phases out above specified income thresholds, so eligibility and the amount available can depend on a taxpayer’s circumstances.
How the New Amounts Affect Tax Planning
The deduction reduces the amount of income subject to federal income tax for taxpayers who claim it; it is not itself a tax credit or a payment. The new figures give households an early reference point for 2027 tax planning, including whether their eligible deductions might make itemizing more beneficial than taking the standard deduction.
The answer depends on individual circumstances. Taxpayers generally compare the standard deduction available to them with the itemized deductions they can claim, while also accounting for rules tied to filing status, age, blindness, dependency, and income. The temporary senior bonus deduction adds another variable for some older taxpayers, but its phaseout means that the headline amount will not apply to everyone who is 65 or older.
For couples, the reported $33,200 joint-filing amount is the base standard deduction; it should not be confused with a household’s possible total after other qualifying additions. Kiplinger estimates that the highest possible 2027 standard deduction is $48,600 for a married couple filing jointly when both spouses are 65 or older, qualify for the bonus deduction, and can claim the additional deduction for age. That figure is conditional, not a universal amount available to all joint filers.
Products Worth Considering
LG PuriCare AeroHit Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms up to 1000 sq ft, True HEPA Filter with 360° Airflow, PM1.0 Sensor & LED Air Quality
HP Sprocket Portable 2×3 Instant Photo Printer, Lilac, with ZINK Paper Bundle
Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro), 128GB, Wi-Fi 6E, Space Gray
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Annual Inflation Adjustments and Filing Status
The federal standard deduction is adjusted each year for inflation, according to the report. The 2027 amounts therefore replace the figures for the prior tax year and differ according to filing status. The figures apply to tax year 2027, not to the return most taxpayers file during 2027: those returns are normally filed in 2028.
Additional rules can change the amount a taxpayer uses. A person who can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s federal return generally has a limited standard deduction. For 2027, Kiplinger reports that a dependent’s deduction is the greater of $1,400 or $500 plus earned income, capped at the regular standard deduction for the person’s filing status. The limit means a dependent cannot claim more than that regular amount even if earned income is higher.
The age- or blindness-related additional deduction is separate from the base amount. Kiplinger also distinguishes it from the $6,000 bonus deduction associated with the 2025 tax law. Taxpayers should not assume that one addition replaces the other: eligibility for each, the bonus’s income phaseout, and the interaction with a person’s circumstances affect the final calculation.
“The federal tax agency adjusts these amounts for each filing status every year.”
— Kiplinger
Who Qualifies for Additional Deductions
The published base amounts are clear, but a taxpayer’s final deduction cannot be determined from filing status alone. Eligibility for additional deductions depends on factors such as age, blindness, dependent status, and, for the temporary senior bonus, income. The source material does not provide the exact income thresholds or a full phaseout calculation for that bonus.
The figures also do not establish whether itemizing would produce a larger deduction for any particular household. That comparison requires individual information about eligible itemized expenses and applicable tax rules. Taxpayers should check current IRS instructions for the relevant return year before filing; details could be clarified or updated before 2027 returns are prepared.
Preparing for 2027 Returns
Taxpayers can use the announced figures as a starting point for estimating 2027 taxable income, while keeping records of expenses that may qualify for itemized deductions. Older taxpayers and people who can be claimed as dependents may need to check the additional rules rather than rely only on the base amount for their filing status.
The returns covered by these figures are normally filed in 2028. As that filing period approaches, taxpayers can consult IRS guidance for the relevant forms, eligibility rules, and any updates to the temporary senior bonus deduction or its income phaseout. The source report does not identify another upcoming announcement date.
Key Questions
What is the standard deduction for 2027?
According to the figures reported by Kiplinger, it is $33,200 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses, $16,600 for single taxpayers and married people filing separately, and $24,925 for heads of household.
When will taxpayers file returns using these amounts?
These figures apply to tax year 2027. Returns for that tax year are normally filed in 2028.
How much extra can taxpayers age 65 or older claim?
Kiplinger reports an additional standard deduction of $1,700, or $2,100 for an unmarried taxpayer who is not a surviving spouse. Separate rules also provide a temporary $6,000 bonus deduction for eligible older taxpayers, subject to income phaseouts.
What is the standard deduction for a dependent in 2027?
The report says a dependent’s deduction is limited to the greater of $1,400 or $500 plus the dependent’s earned income, but it cannot exceed the regular standard deduction for the dependent’s filing status.
Should I itemize or take the standard deduction?
That depends on your circumstances. Compare the standard deduction available to you with the itemized deductions you can claim, and check the rules that apply to your filing status and any additional deductions.
Source: kiplinger.com
