[Kevin]

Hello everyone:

As my understand. itemized deduction is only benefit for those who with qualified tax deductible expense amount more than the standard deduction amount, such as the business owner or self employed individuals.

For the individual, if he/she has aggregated amount education tuition expense, medical expense, or other qualify expense that less than the standard deduction, the individual might still use standard deduction is more beneficial than using itemized deduction, is it correct?

Kevin

[Recked]

Itemized deductions are only for personal expenses (besides the reimbursed employee expenses).
Any business or self employed expenses go on Schedule C.
Tuition goes on 1040 page 1, below gross income and above AGI.
Itemized includes items on Schedule A. Mortgage interest, state and local taxes including real property and income taxes, medical, Misc expenses subject to 2%, reimbursed employee expenses from Form 2106.

I strongly suggest you take a look at the actual forms and trace how they flow.
2106 to schedule A, to page 2 of 1040
Schedule C to page 1 of 1040.

Back to your original question. Yes, the standard deduction is a freebie, a predetermined amount to reduce taxable income on Form 1040 page 2.
If your itemized deductions are LESS than your standard deduction, you would pay MORE tax if you took the itemized deduction, so in that case if you itemized is less than standard, you take standard.

Be familiar with the forms and how they flow. If they are not in your review course you can find them via google, available free on irs.gov. The instructions can walk you through the flow of the forms.

Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

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[Adam]

Tuition is a Tax Credit on the 1098-T either AOC or LLC credit. Not an itemized deduction.

It reduces tax owed 20% up to 10k per year.

2106 is being elimnated this year so dont bother learning it.

med expenses have a 10% floor but 7.5% for the upcoming year for 2 years. then reverts back unless extended.

[Author]

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