Introduction

Use Schedule A (Form 1040) to figure your itemized deductions. In most cases, your federal income tax will be less if you take the larger of your itemized deductions or your standard deduction.

If you itemize, you can deduct a part of your medical and dental expenses and unreimbursed employee business expenses, and amounts you paid for certain taxes, interest, contributions, and miscellaneous expenses. You can also deduct certain casualty and theft losses.

If you and your spouse paid expenses jointly and are filing separate returns for 2007, see Pub. 504 to figure the portion of joint expenses that you can claim as itemized deductions.

Do not include on Schedule A items deducted elsewhere, such as on Form 1040 or Schedule C, C-EZ, E, or F.

What's New

Standard mileage rates.   

The 2007 rate for use of your vehicle to get medical care is 20 cents a mile. The special rate for charitable use of your vehicle to provide relief related to Hurricane Katrina has expired.

State and local general sales taxes.   

The option to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes was extended through 2007. See the instructions for line 5 that begin on page A-2.

Mortgage insurance premiums.   

Mortgage insurance premiums for mortgage insurance contracts issued after December 31, 2006, may be deductible on new line 13. See the instructions for line 13 on page A-7.

New recordkeeping requirements for contributions of money.   

For charitable contributions made in cash, regardless of the amount, you must maintain as a record of the contribution a bank record (such as a canceled check) or a written record from the charity. The written record must include the name of the charity, date, and amount of the contribution. See Gifts to Charity that begins on page A-7.