Standard Deduction by Year
How the federal standard deduction has grown from 2020 to 2026, adjusted annually for inflation by the IRS.
Key findings
- The standard deduction rose 30% from 2020 to 2026. For single filers, it went from $12,400 to $16,100, a $3,700 increase, reflecting annual inflation adjustments and the 2025 statutory increase. For married couples, the increase is $7,400.
- Married filing jointly gets exactly double the single amount. In 2026, $16,100 for single filers versus $32,200 for MFJ. This has been consistent since the TCJA standardized the relationship in 2018.
- Head of household sits between single and married. In 2026, HOH filers get $24,150, 50% more than the single amount. This reflects the higher cost of maintaining a household for a dependent.
- Additional standard deduction for age/blindness. In 2026, taxpayers who are 65+ or blind receive an extra $2,000 (single) or $1,600 per qualifying condition (MFJ) on top of the base amount. This also rises with inflation.
| Year | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Head of Household | Additional (65+/Blind, Single) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $12,400 | $24,800 | $18,650 | $1,650 |
| 2021 | $12,550 | $25,100 | $18,800 | $1,700 |
| 2022 | $12,950 | $25,900 | $19,400 | $1,750 |
| 2023 | $13,850 | $27,700 | $20,800 | $1,850 |
| 2024 | $14,600 | $29,200 | $21,900 | $1,950 |
| 2025 | $15,750 | $31,500 | $23,625 | $2,000 |
| 2026 | $16,100 | $32,200 | $24,150 | $2,000 |
Methodology
Standard deduction amounts are set by the IRS each year via Revenue Procedures, adjusting prior-year amounts by the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U), rounded to the nearest $50 as required by the TCJA. The 2025 amount also reflects the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's one-time increase on top of the ordinary inflation adjustment; 2026 is the published IRS figure. Use the Federal Tax Calculator to see the impact on your specific situation.