Standard deduction vs. itemized: How to decide which tax filing approach is right

One of the biggest decisions you have to make at tax time is whether to take the standard deduction or itemize. More than 90% of taxpayers opt for the standard deduction, according to IRS data. But itemizing might make sense in a few situations, like if you paid a lot in mortgage interest or had high unreimbursed medical expenses in 2025. Let’s look closer at the difference between the standard deduction versus itemized returns. We’ll also cover some important changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ...