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                 Congressional
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The 2/37ths Limitation on Itemized

Deductions



April  30, 2026

In July 2025, as part of the FY2025 reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21), Congress enacted a new limitation
on itemized tax deductions for high-income taxpayers. This Insight describes itemized tax deductions,
explains how the new limitation works, and analyzes the limitation's effects.


Itemized Deductions: Background and Distributional

Impact

When Americans file their income tax returns, they may use deductions to exempt certain amounts of
income from taxation. For example, a taxpayer with $100,000 of income who claims deductions totaling
$20,000 will have a taxable income of $80,000.
There are four broad types of deductions: (1) above-the-line deductions; (2) the standard deduction; (3)
itemized deductions; and (4) other deductions. Above-the-line deductions and other deductions may
be claimed by all taxpayers, though taxpayers must claim either the standard deduction or itemized
deductions. The standard deduction allows taxpayers to reduce their taxable incomes by certain
amounts-$16,100  for single filers, $24,150 for head-of-household filers, and $32,200 for married
couples in 2026 (amounts are adjusted annually for inflation). Itemized deductions are claimed for certain
expenses paid by the taxpayer. As shown in Table 1, three particular expenses-charitable contributions,
mortgage interest, and state and local tax (SALT) payments-constitute about three-quarters of all
itemized deduction amounts.










                                                             Congressional Research Service
                                                               https://crsreports.congress.gov
                                                                                  IN12686


CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress -