For most U.S. taxpayers, the standard deduction is the simplest way to reduce taxable income without itemizing expenses. In fact, it has become the default choice for the vast majority of filers, with the IRS estimating that nearly 90% claim the standard deduction.
That shift accelerated after the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which significantly increased the standard deduction and made itemizing less common for many households.
