If your itemized deductions are subject to the limit, the total of all your itemized deductions is reduced by the smaller of:
- 3% of the amount by which your AGI exceeds $128,950 ($64,475 if married filing separately), or
- 80% of your itemized deductions that are affected by the limit. See Which Deductions Are Limited?, earlier.
Before you figure the overall limit on itemized deductions, you must first complete lines 1 through 27 of Schedule A (Form 1040), including any appropriate forms (such as Form 2106, Form 4684, etc.).
The overall limit on itemized deductions is figured after you have applied any other limit on the allowance of any itemized deduction. These other limits include charitable contribution limits (chapter 26), the limit on certain meals and entertainment (chapter 28), and the 2%-of-adjusted-gross-income limit on certain miscellaneous deductions (chapter 30).
Itemized Deductions Worksheet.
After you have completed Schedule A (Form 1040) through line 27, you can use the Itemized Deductions Worksheet in the Instructions for Form 1040 to figure your limit. Enter the result on line 28 of Schedule A (Form 1040). Keep the worksheet for your records.
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You should compare the amount of your standard deduction to the amount of your itemized deductions after applying the limit. Use the greater amount when completing line 36 of your Form 1040. See chapter 21 for information on how to figure your standard deduction.
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Example
For tax year 2000, Bill and Terry Willow are filing a joint return on Form 1040. Their adjusted gross income is $255,250. Their Schedule A itemized deductions are as follows:
State income and real estate taxes
| $17,900 |
| Home mortgage interest |
45,000 |
| Investment interest expense |
41,000 |
| Charitable contributions |
21,000 |
| Miscellaneous deductions |
17,240 |
| Total |
$142,140 |
The Willows’ investment interest expense ($41,000 from line 13 of Schedule A) is not subject to the overall limit on itemized deductions. Their deduction for miscellaneous deductions is the total after applying the 2%-of-adjusted-gross-income limit and does not include any gambling and casualty or theft losses.
The Willows figure their overall limit as follows:
Itemized Deductions Worksheet Line 28 (Schedule A) (Keep for your records)
| 1. |
Add the amounts on Schedule A, lines 4, 9, 14, 18, 19, 26, and 27 |
$142,140 |
| 2. |
Add the amounts on Schedule A, lines 4, 13, and 19, plus any gambling and casualty or theft losses included on line 27 |
41,000 |
| 3. |
Is the amount on line 2 less than the amount on line 1? |
| No. Stop. Enter the amount from line 1 above on Schedule A. |
| Yes. Subtract line 2 from line 1. |
101,140 |
| 4. |
Multiply the amount on line 3 by 80% (.80) |
80,912 |
| 5. |
Enter the amount from Form 1040, line 34 |
255,250 |
| 6. |
Enter $128,950 ($64,475 if married filing separately) |
128,950 |
| 7. |
Is the amount on line 6 less than the amount on line 5? |
| No. Stop. Enter the amount from line 1 above on Schedule A, line 28. |
| Yes. Subtract line 6 from line 5 |
$126,300 |
| 8. |
Multiply the amount on line 7 by 3% (.03) |
3,789 |
| 9. |
Enter the smaller of line 4 or line 8 |
3,789 |
| 10. |
Total itemized deductions. Subtract line 9 from line 1. Enter the result here and on Schedule A, line 28 |
$138,351 |
Of their $142,140 total itemized deductions, the Willows can deduct only $138,351 ($142,140 − $3,789). They enter $138,351 on Schedule A, line 28.
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