IRS tax refunds: This strategic change in filing income tax to bring more refunds. Details here

IRS Tax filing season is underway and tax payers can consider a possible strategic changes to filing this year. As the filing deadline, April 15, approaches, tax payers must take note that there have been changes with the tax breaks for charitable deductions.

The standard deduction has risen slightly for tax year 2025 to $15,750 for singles, $31,500 for married joint filers and $23,625 for heads of household. Taking the standard deduction will make sense for many taxpayers, since they won't have enough individual deductions to make it worth itemizing them.

That said, more filers may want to contemplate itemizing because of other changes, namely, a more generous deduction on state and local taxes (known as SALT).

Tax Breaks for Charitable Deductions?

Two main things are happening here, and they take effect in the 2026 tax year. First, if you take the standard deduction you'll still be able to deduct some charitable contributions.

Single people will be able to deduct up to $1,000 in cash contributions and couples who are married and filing jointly will get $2,000. You can't use this particular deduction, however, if you donate to a donor-advised fund and certain other entities.

Second, for the more affluent filers who itemize their deductions: Starting in the 2026 tax year, people in the 37% tax bracket won't get the full benefit of the deduction for their charitable contributions. Instead, they'll get a deduction as if they were in the 35% bracket.

And some more bad news that applies to everyone who itemizes: The only contributions that will be deductible are ones that are above 0.5% of your adjusted gross income.