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 21% from 2020 to 2025. For single filers, it went from $12,400 to $15,000 — a $2,600 increase driven entirely by inflation indexing. For married couples, the increase is $5,200.
- Married filing jointly gets exactly double the single amount. In 2025, $15,000 for single vs $30,000 for MFJ. This has been consistent since the TCJA standardized the relationship in 2018.
- Head of household sits between single and married. In 2025, HOH filers get $22,500 — 50% more than single. This reflects the higher cost of maintaining a household for a dependent.
- Additional standard deduction for age/blindness. Taxpayers who are 65+ or blind receive an extra $1,600 (single) or $1,300 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $12,400 | $24,800 | $18,650 | $1,300 |
| 2021 | $12,550 | $25,100 | $18,800 | $1,350 |
| 2022 | $12,950 | $25,900 | $19,400 | $1,400 |
| 2023 | $13,850 | $27,700 | $20,800 | $1,500 |
| 2024 | $14,600 | $29,200 | $21,900 | $1,550 |
| 2025 | $15,000 | $30,000 | $22,500 | $1,600 |
| 2026 (proj.) | $15,350 | $30,700 | $23,050 | $1,650 |
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). The 2026 figures are projections based on the trailing 12-month C-CPI-U average through August 2025, rounded to the nearest $50 as required by the TCJA. Actual amounts will be published in Rev. Proc. 2025-xx (expected October 2025). Use the Federal Tax Calculator to see the impact on your specific situation.