Which of the following is NOT considered an itemized deduction?

The standard deduction is not considered an itemized deduction because it is a fixed dollar amount that taxpayers can subtract from their income before income tax is applied. Unlike itemized deductions, which require taxpayers to track and document specific expenses in various categories—such as medical expenses, mortgage interest, and charitable contributions—the standard deduction provides a simpler option for reducing taxable income without the need for detailed record-keeping.

This distinction is important for taxpayers to understand because when filing their taxes, they often have to choose between taking the standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. The standard deduction streamlines the process and can be of significant benefit to those whose total eligible itemized expenses fall below the set standard amount, allowing for a lower tax burden with less effort.