2010 CCH Whole Ball of Tax
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2010 CCH Whole Ball of Tax

Contact:
Leslie Bonacum
, 847-267-7153, mediahelp@cch.com
Neil Allen, 847-267-2179, neil.allen@wolterskluwer.com

Average Itemized Deductions (Data Based on Preliminary 2007 IRS Statistics)

Based on the latest IRS statistics (for tax year 2007), itemized deductions were claimed on 34.9 percent of all tax returns filed and represented 65.4 percent of the total deductions amount. The average for total itemized deductions (after limitation) was $25,136, up 4.2 percent from the average of $24,122 for 2006.

The following are preliminary figures released by the IRS (their reports lag behind the current tax year because of the time needed to compile figures). These are averages only. The IRS takes a dim view of taxpayers who base their claimed deductions on these figures.

The numbers are useful, however, for two purposes: (1) to see if your actual deduction is out of line (so you can take extra care to document your claim) and (2) to see if the deductions meet the expectations of policymakers.

Also, note that these averages take into account only those individuals who claimed an itemized deduction for that type of expense. Zero deductions are not factored in. Thus, the “average” taxpayer with adjusted gross income between $50,000 and $100,000 did not take an “average” medical expense deduction of $6,690, only the “average” taxpayer who itemized did.

Adjusted Gross Income

Medical Expenses

Taxes

Interest

Charitable
Contributions

$15,000 to $30,000

$6,849

$2,959

$9,102

$1,931

$30,000 to $50,000

$6,040

$3,623

$9,262

$2,127

$50,000 to $100,000

$6,690

$5,822

$10,557

$2,612

$100,000 to $200,000

$9,922

$10,370

$13,766

$3,790

$200,000 to $250,000

$22,810

$17,013

$18,030

$5,733

$250,000 or more

$3,281

$49,370

$28,110

$23,817

SOURCE: CCH, 2010

Permission for use granted

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nb-10-28