12 Tax Deductions You Can Claim Without Itemizing

Steve Cummings

Published:

credit: depositphotos

Taxes can be a headache as they drain away a lot of your hard-earned money. You can't hide or avoid it, but what you can do is make sure that you are taking all the tax deductions you are legally allowed to.

Believe it or not, there are actually many tax deductions out there that you might not be aware of. If you can identify those deductions, you can save money and use it for other purposes.

Here is a list of 12 tax deductions you can claim to maximize your savings without itemizing.

1. Student Loan Interest

credit: depositphotos

The student loan interest deduction is a valuable tax benefit for those who have taken out student loans to pay for their education. This deduction allows you to reduce your taxable income by up to $2,500, which can result in significant savings on your tax bill.

Importantly, this deduction is available even if you don't itemize deductions on your tax return, making it accessible to more taxpayers. 

To claim this deduction, you must have paid interest on a qualifying student loan during the tax year, and there are income limits that determine the amount of the deduction you can claim.

2. HSA Contributions

credit: depositphotos

HSA means Health Savings Account. Contributions to your HSA are tax-deductible, and you can use the money in the account for qualified medical expenses such as doctor visits, prescriptions, and more.

Best of all, you don't need to itemize deductions on your tax return to take advantage of this deduction. It's a very common deduction, so take advantage of it if you have an HSA.

3. Employer Retirement Contributions

credit: depositphotos

If your employer offers a retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b), you may be able to deduct a portion of the contributions you make to that plan. 

The amount you can deduct will depend on the type of contribution and your income level, but any deduction is better than none. This deduction is available even if you don't itemize your taxes, so take advantage of it.

4. Self-Employed Retirement Contributions

Benefits of an emergency fund

Like traditional IRA contributions, self-employed retirement contributions can reduce your taxable income by up to $6,000 per year ($7,000 if you're over 50). 

The main difference is that these contributions come from your business or other self-employment sources. These contributions are also available even if you don't itemize deductions on your tax return. 

However, a few additional rules apply to self-employed retirement contributions, so consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions.

5. Early Withdrawal Penalties

How to Stop Spending Money
credit: Shutterstock

Early withdrawal penalties are fees charged by financial institutions for withdrawing money from certain accounts before a specific period. Early withdrawal penalties generally apply to retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs.

These penalties discourage individuals from accessing their retirement savings before retirement age. 

Regarding taxes, early withdrawal penalties are treated as tax deductions. This means you can claim the penalty as a deduction on your taxes without having to itemize deductions.

6. Alimony Payments

Alimony
credit: depositphotos

Alimony payments are tax-deductible payments to an ex-spouse as part of a divorce settlement. The individual who pays the alimony can claim these payments as deductions, while the ex-spouse who receives them must report them as income on their tax return.

It's important to note that not all payments made as part of a divorce settlement qualify as alimony for tax purposes, and specific requirements must be met to claim this deduction.

7. Charitable Donations

Charitable donations
credit: depositphotos

Charitable donations are a popular tax deduction allowing individuals to deduct charitable contributions' value from their taxable income. 

To claim this deduction, the donations must be made to qualified charitable organizations, and taxpayers must itemize their deductions on their tax returns.

It's essential to keep records of all charitable donations, including receipts or acknowledgments from the charity, to support these deductions. Charitable donations can be a great way to support worthy causes while reducing your tax bill.

8. Medical Expenses

credit: deposiphotos

Medical expenses can be tax-deductible if they meet specific requirements. To claim this deduction, you must itemize your deductions on your tax return and have medical expenses that exceed a certain percentage of your adjusted gross income.

Deductible medical expenses include doctor's visits, hospital stays, medications, and medical equipment.

9. Educator Expenses

Cheerful professor communicate with pupils over video call.Professor holding online class for e-learning school kids and students. Smart professor at home, explaining math to students over video call
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Educator expenses are tax deductions available to eligible teachers and other educators. These expenses include books, supplies, and computer equipment used for educational purposes.

To claim this deduction, the educator must work in a qualified educational setting and have incurred these expenses. 

To support this deduction, it's essential to keep accurate records of all educator expenses throughout the year, including receipts and invoices.

10. Moving Expense

Moving House
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Moving expenses can be tax-deductible if you meet specific criteria – to claim this deduction, the move must be work-related, and your new workplace must be at least 50 miles farther from your old home than your previous workplace.

Deductible moving expenses can include things like transportation costs, storage fees, and lodging expenses. To support this deduction, it's essential to keep accurate records of all moving expenses, including receipts and invoices.

11. Job Search Expenses

credit: depositphotos

If you are unemployed and looking for a new job, you can deduct certain job search expenses from your taxes. 

Deductible expenses include resume preparation services, fees for employment agencies, and travel costs related to job interviews.

To claim this deduction, the taxpayer must itemize deductions on their tax return and have spent the money searching for a job in the same field as their previous employment.

12. State and Local Taxes

taxes
credit: depositphotos

And lastly, state and local taxes are standard tax deductions available to taxpayers who itemize deductions on their tax returns. This includes both income taxes and sales taxes paid throughout the year.

In most cases, you can only deduct state and local taxes up to a certain amount each year, so check with your tax advisor for more information.

Saving Money on Taxes

money moves
credit: depositphotos

These are just a few of the many deductions and credits available to taxpayers at tax time. It's important to review your options carefully and consult with a qualified tax advisor before deciding which deductions to take advantage of. Careful planning can maximize your tax savings and reduce your overall tax burden.

10 Tax Breaks That People Over 50 Are Missing Out On: Don’t Make This Mistake!

credit: depositphotos

If you're over 50 and don't know much about taxes, you may miss out on big chances to save money. Taxes are necessary and can put a hole in your pocket. But if you know how to take advantage of the many tax breaks available, you can save a lot of money. Don't worry – these are not any illegal tax avoidance schemes. They are 100% legal and even encouraged by the government.

10 Tax Breaks That People Over 50 Are Missing Out On: Don’t Make This Mistake!

These 12 Things Are Taxed, Even If You Don’t Think They Are

credit: Shutterstock

Taxes can be complicated, and it can be challenging to know what exactly is considered taxable income. While most people are aware that wages and salaries are subject to taxes, several other sources of income may need to be clarified.

These 12 Things Are Taxed, Even If You Don’t Think They Are

The Secret to Making Money Without Trying: Follow These 8 Unconventional Passive Income Methods!

unconventional passive income methods
credit: Shutterstock

Are you looking for ways to make extra money without doing a lot of work? Passive income is an attractive option for many people, as it can provide additional sources of revenue with relatively little effort.

Follow These 8 Unconventional Passive Income Methods!

Low income? No Problem! Check out these 12 Money-saving Hacks to Stretch Your Budget!

credit: depositphotos

Are you someone who is living on a tight budget? Is saving money an uphill battle? Worry no more! Whether you're a student, a single parent, or just someone looking to save some extra cash, these 11 money-saving hacks will do wonders to stretch your budget.

Low income? No Problem! Check out these 12 Money-saving Hacks to Stretch Your Budget!

Leave a Comment

Flipboard