what is the standard deduction for 2025 taxes

For the 2025 tax year (returns filed in 2026), the standard deduction is higher than in 2024 due to inflation and later legislative changes that bumped it up further.

Quick Scoop

• Single or Married Filing Separately: $15,750.

• Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Surviving Spouse: $31,500.

• Head of Household: $23,625.

Extra amounts for 65+ or blind

• Traditional additional standard deduction for 2025:
  • $2,000 extra for Single and Head of Household filers who are 65+ and/or blind.

* $1,600 extra **per qualifying person** for Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, and Qualifying Surviving Spouse.

• New senior deduction (2025–2028):
  • Additional $6,000 per qualified individual age 65+ each year, phased out for higher incomes (starts reducing above $75,000 single and $150,000 joint, at 6% per dollar over the limit).

Simple example

If you are:

• Married Filing Jointly, both spouses age 65+, not blind, and under the income phase‑out:
  • Base standard deduction: $31,500.

* Traditional age‑65 additions: $1,600 + $1,600 = $3,200.

* New senior deduction: $6,000 + $6,000 = $12,000.

* Potential total: $31,500 + $3,200 + $12,000 = $46,700, assuming you qualify for all three layers with no phase‑out.

Always confirm your exact situation (filing status, age, blindness, income level, and whether you’re claimed as a dependent) with the latest IRS instructions or a tax pro, since eligibility rules and phase‑outs can change and special cases (like dependents) have their own formulas.

TL;DR:
For 2025 taxes, the base standard deduction is $15,750 (Single/MFS), $23,625 (Head of Household), and $31,500 (MFJ/Surviving Spouse), with extra amounts if you’re 65+ or blind and a new, separate senior deduction that can significantly boost your total write‑off if you qualify.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.