What can you use to itemize on your tax return?

Schedule A is Itemized Deductions. You file Schedule A when you're itemizing instead of taking the standard deduction. There are seven sections on Schedule A.

One, the first section is Medical and Dental Expenses. Total those expenses. Any amount of that total that exceeds 7.5 percent (.075) of your adjusted gross income (AGI) is deductible.

Two, Taxes You Paid includes real estate taxes and state and local income taxes.

Three, Interest You Paid includes home mortgage interest and points as well as investment interest.

Four, Gifts To Charity include cash and noncash contributions.

Five, Casualty and Theft Losses are figured first on Form 4684 (Casualties and Thefts).

Six, Job Expenses and Certain Miscellaneous Deductionsinclude unreimbursed employee expenses, tax preparation fees, and investment expenses. Total those expenses. Any amount of that total that exceeds 2 percent (.02) of your adjusted gross income (AGI) is deductible.

Seven, Other Miscellaneous Deductions includes specified expenses such as gambling losses (to the extent of winnings), federal estate tax on a deceased person's income, and unrecovered pension investment.

For more information, go to www.irs.gov/taxtopics for Topic 501 (Should I Itemize?). Also go to www.irs.gov/formspubs for Publication 529 (Miscellaneous Deductions).