Many people do not itemize their tax deductions. If you don't check to see whether your possible itemized deductions on Schedule A (PDF available for free download on the IRS web site) of your Form 1040 exceed the standard deduction, you could be missing out. Add up deductions for charitable donations, mortgage interest and other items on Schedule A to see where you stand. It doesn't take that long, and if you have paid more in those things than $11,400 (for married filing jointly), you might find that it's worth it to forgo the standard deduction and itemize instead.

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