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Every federal return takes one of two deductions, whichever is bigger: the standard deduction, a flat amount set by law, or your itemized deductions, the total of specific expenses you list on Schedule A. You cannot take both. The decision matters now, not in April, because several of the expenses that count, such as charitable gifts and some tax payments, can still be timed before the year ends.

The 2026 standard deduction, from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, is $16,100 for single filers and married people filing separately, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses, and $24,150 for heads of household. If you are 65 or older or blind, add $1,650 per qualifying person if married, or $2,050 if unmarried. Separately, from 2025 through 2028 anyone 65 or older can deduct an extra $6,000, or $12,000 for a married couple who both qualify, whether they itemize or not; it phases out above $75,000 of modified adjusted gross income, or $150,000 for joint filers, and requires a valid Social Security number on the return, the IRS says.

Itemizing only pays if your listed expenses beat those amounts. The main ones are mortgage interest on your home, state and local taxes, charitable gifts, and medical expenses above 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. The state and local tax category is where 2026 differs from recent years: the cap on income, sales and property taxes rose to $40,400, or $20,200 if married filing separately, the IRS says. It shrinks once modified adjusted gross income passes $505,000, or $252,500 if married filing separately, but never below $10,000.

A quick test: add your 2026 mortgage interest, the state and local taxes you will pay up to the cap, the gifts you expect to make and any qualifying medical costs. Two charitable changes from the 2025 law start this year: if you itemize, only gifts above 0.5 percent of your adjusted gross income count, and if you take the standard deduction, you can still deduct up to $1,000 of cash gifts to qualifying charities, or $2,000 for joint filers. If your total is near the standard deduction, one common approach is bunching: concentrating two years of deductible gifts or payments into one year so you itemize that year and take the standard deduction the next. A tax professional can tell you whether that fits your situation; our November 24 guide covers charitable giving in more detail.

Where people go wrong: counting expenses that do not qualify, such as homeowners association fees or most personal costs; forgetting that a married couple filing separately must both itemize if one does; and assuming the higher tax cap applies at any income. Keep records of anything you plan to deduct, and check the figures against the IRS's own pages before you file.

If you owe the IRS and cannot pay in full, the agency offers two kinds of payment plans, and the cheapest way in is usually online.

A short-term payment plan gives you up to 180 days to pay. There is no setup fee whether you apply online, by phone, by mail or in person, though penalties and interest keep running until the balance is paid. Individuals can apply online if they owe less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.

A long-term plan, which the IRS calls an installment agreement, lets you pay monthly. Individuals can apply online if they owe $50,000 or less and have filed all required returns. Setup fees depend on how you apply and how you pay: $29 online with automatic payments from a bank account, known as a direct debit installment agreement, or $107 by phone, mail or in person; $69 online if you pay each month by other means, or $178 by phone, mail or in person. Low-income taxpayers can have fees reduced or waived.

Paying by debit or credit card adds a processor fee on top of anything the IRS charges. Business taxpayers apply by calling the number on their notice or 800-829-4933.