What is an itemized deduction?

An itemized deduction is an expense that taxpayers can deduct from their total income to reduce their taxable income, thereby lowering their overall tax liability. Common examples include mortgage interest, property taxes, medical expenses, and charitable contributions. Taxpayers must choose between taking the standard deduction and itemizing their deductions, and itemizing is generally beneficial when those expenses exceed the standard deduction amount. To claim itemized deductions, taxpayers must provide detailed documentation of their expenses.