Schedule A Itemized Deduction Calculator 2026
Calculate your Schedule A itemized deductions line-by-line: medical, SALT ($40K cap), mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and casualty losses. Compare with standard deduction.
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$16,100
Line 1 β Medical and Dental Expenses
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Only amounts above 7.5% of AGI are deductible $0
Deductible Medical
Lines 5β6 β State and Local Taxes (SALT)
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Use the larger of income tax or sales tax $
OBBBA 2026: SALT cap raised to $40,000 (phaseout starts at $500,000 AGI)
$0
Raw SALT
$0
Allowable (after cap)
Lines 8β9 β Mortgage Interest
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On first $750K of acquisition debt $
On first $100K of home equity debt $
Used to calculate deductible portion if above $750K limit $0
Deductible Interest
Lines 11β14 β Charitable Contributions
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60% of AGI limit $
30% of AGI limit $
$0
Deductible Charity
Line 15 β Casualty and Theft Losses
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Only losses in a federally declared disaster area qualify. $100 floor per event + 10% AGI floor. $0
Deductible Casualty Loss
$0
Total Itemized Deductions
$0
Standard Deduction
$0
Extra Benefit of Itemizing
β
Recommendation
Schedule A Line-by-Line Breakdown
| Schedule A Line | Gross Amount | Floors / Caps Applied | Deductible Amount |
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How to Use the Schedule A Calculator
Enter your AGI and fill in amounts for each Schedule A deduction category. The calculator applies IRS limits, floors, and the OBBBA's updated $40,000 SALT cap to determine your total allowable itemized deductions. It then compares this total to your standard deduction and recommends the better option.
Key Limits for 2026
Medical: deductible = max(0, total_medical - AGI Γ 7.5%)
SALT: min(state_income + property_tax, $40,000) β phaseout above $500K AGI
Mortgage: interest Γ min(1, $750,000 / balance) + HELOC interest Γ min(1, $100,000 / HELOC_balance)
Charity Cash: min(cash_donations, AGI Γ 60%) + carryover
Charity Property: min(property_donations, AGI Γ 30%)
Casualty: max(0, (loss - $100) - AGI Γ 10%)
Extended
3-Year Bunching Optimizer
Should you bunch deductions? See your optimal strategy over a 3-year window
Bunching means concentrating deductible expenses into one year to exceed the standard deduction, then using the standard deduction the next year. Enter your typical annual amounts below.
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| Strategy | Year 1 Deduction | Year 2 Deduction | Year 3 Deduction | 3-Year Total |
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should I itemize deductions instead of taking the standard deduction?
You should itemize when your total allowable Schedule A deductions exceed the standard deduction for your filing status: $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household in 2026. This calculator compares both options and recommends the higher deduction automatically.
What is the SALT deduction cap in 2026?
Under the OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) for 2026, the SALT (state and local taxes) cap was raised to $40,000 β up from the $10,000 cap that applied from 2018 through 2025. There is a phaseout for higher incomes: the $40,000 cap begins to phase out at $500,000 AGI. The cap covers state income or sales tax (whichever is greater) PLUS property taxes combined.
What is the AGI threshold for medical expense deductions?
In 2026, you can deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Only the amount above that 7.5% floor is deductible. For example, with a $100,000 AGI, the first $7,500 of medical expenses is not deductible. If you paid $12,000 in medical expenses, only $4,500 ($12,000 - $7,500) is deductible on Schedule A.
What mortgage debt qualifies for the interest deduction?
You can deduct interest on acquisition debt (mortgages used to buy, build, or substantially improve your primary or secondary home) up to $750,000 of principal. Additionally, you can deduct interest on up to $100,000 of home equity debt (HELOC or second mortgage). The home equity must be secured by your qualified residence. Interest on debt above these limits is not deductible.
What is the deduction bunching strategy?
Deduction bunching means intentionally concentrating deductible expenses into one tax year to push your total above the standard deduction, then taking the standard deduction the following year. Common examples: prepaying property taxes, making two years of charitable contributions in one year, or timing large medical procedures. The Extended section shows a 3-year analysis of whether bunching makes sense for your situation.