Does the Standard Deduction Make Sense for High Income Earners?
Each year, tax season brings with it a flurry of decisions and calculations, particularly regarding how to reduce one's overall taxable income. Among these decisions is whether to itemize or take the standard deduction. This can be a critical choice for many taxpayers, but especially high-income earners as they tend to have more complex financial situations that create a larger tax liability.
Whether high-income earners should take the standard deduction depends on their specific financial circumstances, including the amount and type of deductions available to them. And while this group of taxpayers is generally more likely to benefit from itemizing deductions, this is not always the case.
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Itemized deductions are eligible expenses that taxpayers can declare on their tax returns, reducing their taxable income. These deductions include a wide range of expenses such as mortgage interest, state and local taxes (SALT), medical expenses, charitable donations, and student loan interest, among others. Itemizing deductions can be beneficial if the total amount of these expenses exceeds the standard deduction amount set by the IRS for the tax year.
Contrarily, the standard deduction functions as a flat reduction in taxable income—an option available to all taxpayers who do not itemize—and is intended to make sure that not all of a person’s income is subject to taxation. It is designed to ensure a level of fairness in the tax system by providing a baseline amount that can be deducted from income, irrespective of a taxpayer's ability to itemize. This helps ensure that taxpayers with similar incomes pay a similar amount in taxes, even if their individual circumstances differ.
The standard deduction also simplifies the tax filing process, which is particularly beneficial for those who may not have many deductible expenses or who prefer a straightforward tax filing approach. By choosing the standard deduction, taxpayers can bypass the need to track and document a variety of expenses throughout the year, reducing both the paperwork and the time required to prepare their tax return. This simplicity is especially appealing to those who value time efficiency and want to avoid the complexity of, and potential errors associated with itemizing deductions.
The choice between the standard deduction and itemizing deductions is not solely based on income level, but rather on the various tax-related factors unique to each taxpayer. Taxpayers are permitted to choose between itemizing deductions or taking the standard deduction each year, based on which option offers the greater tax benefit, thereby forming a strategic approach to deductions that can yield significant tax savings in the long run.
For some high-income earners, it may be beneficial to itemize deductions in one year and take the standard deduction in another. This strategy, often referred to as bunching, involves timing expenses to maximize deductions in a particular year. The idea is to concentrate deductible expenses into specific tax years, preventing a scenario where you miss out on tax-saving opportunities because your itemizable deductions fall just below the standard deduction threshold.
In years when itemizable deductions are bunched, they are more likely to exceed the standard deduction, thus offering greater tax savings. And in the alternate years, when fewer expenses are incurred because they were accelerated into the previous year, you can take advantage of the standard deduction.
You might, for example, choose to make two years' worth of charitable donations in a single year to surpass the standard deduction threshold, itemize that year, and then opt for the standard deduction the next year when your itemized deductions are lower.
Similarly, since there is currently a cap on the amount of state and local taxes you may deduct in one year, taxpayers close to the standard deduction threshold might choose to prepay next year’s property tax bill before the end of the current calendar year to increase the total amount of eligible itemized deductions.
The IRS also allows taxpayers to itemize unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed a certain percentage of their adjusted gross income (AGI). By planning significant medical procedures or treatments in a single year, you can surpass this threshold, making these expenses deductible. This is particularly beneficial for elective procedures.
As far as investment planning is concerned, taxpayers might consider timing the realization of capital gains or losses. By strategically realizing losses, you can offset capital gains and up to $3,000 of ordinary income annually, which can be significant in years with high investment activity.
Additionally, for self-employed individuals or those with qualified business expenses, bunching deductions can involve prepaying certain expenses like business equipment, supplies, travel, license renewals, or professional development courses in high income years where maximizing deductions is beneficial.
Ultimately, deciding between standard and itemized deductions requires a careful evaluation of your financial situation and expenses each year. By understanding the types of expenses that qualify for itemization and strategically planning your deductions, you can effectively reduce your taxable income and optimize your tax savings. A well-defined tax strategy that involves alternating between itemizing and taking the standard deduction can make a significant difference in your tax outcomes long-term.
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Malcolm Ethridge, CFP® is the Managing Partner of Capital Area Planning Group based in Washington, DC. He is also the Managing Partner of Capital Area Tax Consultants.
Malcolm’s areas of expertise include retirement planning, investment portfolio development, tax planning, insurance, equity compensation and other executive benefits.
Disclosures:
The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only, does not constitute investment advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Be sure to consult with your legal advisors before taking any action that could have tax and legal consequences.
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