The Difference Between a Tax Credit and a Tax Deduction

“Just write it off.”

“Go ahead and deduct it.”

“I think there’s a tax credit for that.”

Although you might have heard or even uttered one of the sentences above, have you ever wondered what it actually means? While both deductions and credits can save you a significant amount of money on your taxes, they work in significantly different ways. 

For answers to this question and anything else related to your tax situation, TurboTax Live tax experts are available in English and Spanish, year round, and can even review, sign, and file your tax return.

See below for more about tax deductions and credits.

What is a Tax Deduction?

A tax deduction is a result of a tax-deductible expense or exemption which reduces your taxable income. A common deduction on your federal income tax return is the standard deduction. An example of how this works: If your income was $50,000, your standard deduction (if single or married filing separately) would reduce your taxable income by the 2023 standard deduction of $13,850, so your taxable income would now be $36,150.

What is a Tax Credit?

Unlike tax deductions, tax credits are subtracted from the taxes you owe (not taxable income). A common tax credit for parents is the Child Tax Credit, which is up to $2,000 for each dependent child under the age of 17.

Is a Tax Deduction Better Than a Tax Credit? Is a Tax Credit Better Than a Tax Deduction?

If you were ever faced with a hypothetical choice between a $100 deduction and a $100 credit, you would most likely prefer to receive the credit. Unlike a deduction, a $100 credit reduces your tax dollar-for-dollar ($100). On the other hand, a deduction reduces your taxable income by $100. The resulting amount of tax you save depends on your marginal tax bracket (in everyday language: your tax bracket). If you were in the 24% tax bracket for tax year 2023, a $100 deduction reduces your taxes by $24. On the other hand, a $100 credit would reduce your taxes by $100.

Itemized vs. Standard Deductions

Just about everyone qualifies for the standard deduction. Although the amount varies depending on your filing status (e.g., single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household), all people with the same filing status receive the same standard amount (the only exceptions are for the elderly, disabled, or blind – they receive a somewhat higher standard deduction).

By contrast, itemized deductions are numerous and their amounts vary by individual and the deductions they are eligible for. People commonly itemize:

• Certain medical and dental expenses above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income
• State income taxes
• State sales and local tax
• Property taxes
• Charitable contributions
• Mortgage interest

There’s a bit of a hitch with being eligible for itemized deductions, however. You can only benefit to the extent that they exceed your standard deduction ($13,850 if you are single and $27,700 if married filing jointly for tax year 2023). Said another way, each taxpayer is permitted to take the higher of their standard or itemized deductions – but not both.

Say you are married and filing jointly. In such a case, your standard deduction is $27,700. Let’s further say the total of your itemized deductions is $29,100. Since your itemized deductions exceed your standard deduction by $1,400, you would most likely prefer to take the itemized deduction. That’s why it pays to keep track of additional tax-deductible expenses that may bump you up over the standard deduction and leave you open to additional deductions, like charitable contributions.

On the other hand, if your itemized deductions totaled any amount less than the standard deduction you qualify for, you likely wouldn’t bother itemizing – you’d just take the standard deduction. Under tax reform, TurboTax estimated and the IRS confirmed that about 90% of taxpayers now take the standard deduction since it has almost doubled for taxpayers and because some itemized deductions were either reduced or eliminated. Prior to tax reform, about 70% of taxpayers claimed the standard deduction.

We’ve Got You Covered

Don’t worry about trying to figure out which credits or deductions you should take, or if you should itemize or take the standard deduction. Meet with a TurboTax Full Service expert who can prepare, sign and file your taxes, so you can be 100% confident your taxes are done right. Start TurboTax Live Full Service today, in English or Spanish, and get your taxes done and off your mind.

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