The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) made major changes that affect how individual taxpayers can claim deductions. For individual taxpayers, the biggest changes were (1) the increase in the standard deduction, which significantly raised the threshold for claiming itemized deductions; (2) the elimination of some itemized deductions (e.g., moving expenses) and the higher cap on others (e.g., the jump to a 10 percent threshold for medical expenses to be deductible); (3) the $10,000 cap for state and local taxes; and (4) the much higher estate tax exemption.

The result is that only about 10 percent of American households can itemize their deductions. This may change in 2025 when some of the changes made by the TCJA are scheduled to sunset, if they aren’t made permanent before then.

Despite these changes, good tax planning may make it possible to itemize deductions in some areas. There is a caveat: it may be possible to itemize only in alternate years or in the case of an exceptional life event.

The following four deductions may make it possible for taxpayers to exceed the standard deduction and itemize:

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are deductible to the extent they exceed 10 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI). For most people, health insurance covers most of the expense, and their out-of-pocket expenses won’t meet the threshold. Some exceptions, however, may make it possible to exceed it:

• Long-term care is expensive, and it usually isn’t covered by insurance.
• Dental and orthodontic costs are allowed. Many people either don’t have dental insurance or the insurance doesn’t cover the entire expense.
• Major health events with noncovered expenses: noncovered drugs and other unforeseen expenses can be deducted.

Depending on your particular situation, expenses like these may put you over the threshold, either annually or in intermittent years. Keep in mind that, even with this, you must still exceed the standard deduction ($12,200 for individuals and $24,400 for married individuals filing jointly in 2019) to be able to itemize.

State and Local Taxes (SALT)

The $10,000 cap on the SALT deduction applies to both individual and joint filers. Consequently, all taxpayers who reach that cap are $10,000 closer to the standard deduction—which means that, for 2019, single taxpayers are nearly to their $12,200 standard deduction and joint filers are almost halfway to their $24,400 standard deduction threshold. These taxpayers should pay close attention to their other deductions; when they are all “bundled” together, the threshold may be met.

Charitable Giving

Depending on income and level of giving, it may be possible to take this deduction annually. Donors who don’t give enough to meet the standard deduction threshold still have options: they can make their donations every second or third year (depending on their budget), or they can contribute to a donor-advised fund, which allows donors to take a deduction in the year of the gift and designate charities as recipients later. Contact R&A if you would like more information on setting up a donor-advised fund.

Other Deductions

It may be possible to itemize other deductions as well, including miscellaneous deductions not subject to the 2 percent AGI floor (e.g., gambling losses), interest paid for investment purposes, and Ponzi scheme losses.

Most taxpayers don’t have enough in itemized deductions to claim them annually. With good tax planning, however, it may be possible to claim them in intermittent years. R&A's tax professionals can advise and assist with your tax-planning strategies.