How Your Filing Status Determines Your 2023 Standard Deduction: Single Filers and Beyond

Understanding the Core Choice: Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing

Every tax season brings a fundamental decision that impacts your final tax bill: should you take the standard deduction or itemize your deductions? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. While the majority of taxpayers opt for the standard deduction, those with substantial deductible expenses—such as significant medical costs, high state and local taxes, or substantial charitable donations—often find that itemizing produces greater tax savings.

The challenge is that most people don’t know their standard deduction amount until they begin preparing their return. Your standard deduction varies based on several factors: your filing status, your age, dependent status, and certain life circumstances. Understanding these variables helps you make an informed decision about which path saves you the most money.

Breaking Down Your Standard Deduction by Filing Status

The IRS adjusts standard deduction amounts annually for inflation. Due to recent inflationary pressures, the leap from 2022 to 2023 was steeper than typical years. Here’s what applies for the 2023 tax year (returns due April 15, 2024):

2023 Standard Deduction Amounts:

For a single filer in 2023, the standard deduction is $13,850—representing a $900 increase from the previous year.

2022 Standard Deduction Amounts for Comparison:

This year-over-year increase reflects the IRS’s inflation adjustments—a practice that has been consistent for decades.

Special Circumstances That Boost Your Standard Deduction

Age-Based Enhancements

Taxpayers who reach 65 or older by year-end 2023, or those determined to be legally blind, qualify for additional deduction amounts. The boost depends on your filing status:

• Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, or Surviving Spouses: $1,500 additional
• Single and Head of Household: $1,850 additional

For a single filer aged 65 or older, your 2023 standard deduction becomes $15,700 ($13,850 + $1,850). If you qualify for both age and blindness benefits, the additional amount doubles to $3,700, bringing your total to $17,550.

Dependent Status Considerations

If you can be claimed as a dependent on another person’s return, your 2023 standard deduction is capped at the greater of:

• $1,250, or
• Your earned income plus $400 (not exceeding the applicable basic standard deduction)

Natural Disaster Relief

The IRS permits a higher standard deduction for those experiencing net qualified disaster losses from specific presidentially-declared disasters dating back to 2016. These include Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, and California wildfires, among others. Use Form 4684 to calculate losses and report on Schedule A.

How the Standard Deduction Reduces Your Tax Bill

The mechanism is straightforward: start with your adjusted gross income (AGI)—calculated by taking total income and subtracting “above-the-line” deductions. Then subtract either your standard deduction or itemized deductions (whichever you choose) to arrive at your taxable income. Lower taxable income means lower taxes owed.

The impact magnifies if your deduction amount reduces your income enough to push you into a lower tax bracket. For example, a substantial standard deduction could mean the difference between paying 22% and 24% on portions of your income.

Standard Deduction vs. Itemized Deductions: Making Your Choice

You can’t claim both—select whichever produces the greater benefit. Itemize if you have:

• Large medical expenses uninsured
• High state and local taxes (SALT cap of $10,000 applies federally)
• Significant uninsured casualty or theft losses
• Major charitable contributions
• Substantial mortgage interest payments

If your itemized total exceeds your standard deduction, itemizing typically saves more money. However, some states require you to use the state standard deduction if you claimed the federal standard deduction, so coordinate both filings strategically.

Who Cannot Claim the Standard Deduction?

Certain taxpayers must itemize:

• Married individuals filing separately when their spouse itemizes
• Those filing for a partial tax year due to accounting period changes
• Nonresident or dual-status aliens (with limited exceptions)

Additional Deductions Available When Claiming Standard

Taking the standard deduction doesn’t eliminate all other deductions. “Above-the-line” deductions remain available and reduce your AGI before calculating taxable income. These include:

• Educator classroom expenses
• Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
• Self-employed health insurance premiums
• Traditional IRA contributions
• Student loan interest
• Military moving expenses
• Alimony (pre-2019 agreements)
• SEP and SIMPLE plan contributions
• Jury duty payments returned to employers

Looking Ahead: The Future of Standard Deductions

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 nearly doubled standard deductions beginning in 2018, a change slated to expire January 1, 2026. Congress could extend these higher amounts, but political divisions make this uncertain. Some Republicans have proposed legislation creating an additional $2,000 deduction for single filers through 2025, while Democrats have focused on expanding child tax credits.

For now, the current amounts apply to the 2023 tax year and beyond—unless legislative action changes the landscape.

Historical Reference: Standard Deductions 2016-2022

For those filing amended returns or catching up on prior years, standard deductions ranged from:

• 2016: Single filers received $6,300 (basic) plus $1,550 (age/blindness)
• 2021: Single filers received $12,550 (basic) plus $1,700 (age/blindness)
• 2022: Single filers received $12,950 (basic) plus $1,750 (age/blindness)

The steady increases reflect decades of inflation adjustments, with the 2018-2023 period showing particularly accelerated growth due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions.

Bottom line: Knowing your precise standard deduction as a single filer—$13,850 for 2023—is the first step toward deciding whether to itemize. Compare this figure against your projected itemized deductions, and let the higher amount guide your filing strategy.