Definition

An expense that you can subtract from your total income before calculating your tax, reducing your taxable income.

What to consider

  • Gather all necessary documents ahead of time to streamline filing.
  • Consider filing electronically for faster processing and fewer errors.
  • Double-check your return before submitting to avoid mistakes.

Real world scenarios

  • Deducting charitable donations helps Emily lower her taxable income. She saves receipts all year to support each claim.
  • Gianni itemizes mortgage interest and property taxes, reducing his tax bill compared to taking the standard deduction.
  • Nessa, a freelancer, writes off home office expenses as deductions, accurately recording square footage used for business.

Related terms

Taxes