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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 63. Taxable income defined

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).

Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 63

Cited in one of our articles

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status
In force
Enacted
May 23, 1977 by Pub. L. 95–30
Last amended
September 11, 2026 by Pub. L. 119–108
Amendments
20 dated changes in the source credit
Length
7 subsections · 1,673 words · about 7 min to read
Defines
4 terms
Cross-references
cites 12; cited by 13 Code sections and 34 other regulations
Regulations
2 issued under this section
(a) In general

Except as provided in subsection (b), for purposes of this subtitle, the term “taxable income” means gross income minus the deductions allowed by this chapter (other than the standard deduction).

(b) Individuals who do not itemize their deductions In the case of an individual who does not elect to itemize his deductions for the taxable year, for purposes of this subtitle, the term “taxable income” means adjusted gross income, minus—
(1) the standard deduction,
(2) the deduction for personal exemptions provided in section 151,
(3) any deduction provided in section 199A,
(4) the deduction provided in section 170(p),
(5) the deduction provided in section 224,
(6) the deduction provided in section 225,
(7) so much of the deduction allowed by section 163(a) as is attributable to the exception under section 163(h)(4)(A), and
(8) so much of the deduction allowed by section 165(a) as is attributable to the qualified net disaster loss (as defined in section 165(h)(6)(B)).
(c) Standard deduction For purposes of this subtitle—
(1) In general Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the term “standard deduction” means the sum of—
(A) the basic standard deduction, and
(B) the additional standard deduction.
(2) Basic standard deduction For purposes of paragraph (1), the basic standard deduction is—
(A) 200 percent of the dollar amount in effect under subparagraph (C) for the taxable year in the case of—
(i) a joint return, or
(ii) a surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a)),
(B) $4,400 in the case of a head of household (as defined in section 2(b)), or
(C) $3,000 in any other case.
(3) Additional standard deduction for aged and blind

For purposes of paragraph (1), the additional standard deduction is the sum of each additional amount to which the taxpayer is entitled under subsection (f).

(4) Adjustments for inflation In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 1988, each dollar amount contained in paragraph (2)(B), (2)(C), or (5) or subsection (f) shall be increased by an amount equal to—
(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, by substituting for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof—
(i) “calendar year 1987” in the case of the dollar amounts contained in paragraph (2)(B), (2)(C), or (5)(A) or subsection (f), and
(ii) “calendar year 1997” in the case of the dollar amount contained in paragraph (5)(B).
(5) Limitation on basic standard deduction in the case of certain dependents In the case of an individual with respect to whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the individual’s taxable year begins, the basic standard deduction applicable to such individual for such individual’s taxable year shall not exceed the greater of—
(A) $500, or
(B) the sum of $250 and such individual’s earned income.
(6) Certain individuals, etc., not eligible for standard deduction In the case of—
(A) a married individual filing a separate return where either spouse itemizes deductions,
(B) a nonresident alien individual,
(C) an individual making a return under section 443(a)(1) for a period of less than 12 months on account of a change in his annual accounting period, or
(D) an estate or trust, common trust fund, or partnership,
the standard deduction shall be zero.
(7) Special rules for taxable years beginning after 2017 In the case of a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017—
(A) Increase in standard deduction Paragraph (2) shall be applied—
(i) by substituting “$23,625” for “$4,400” in subparagraph (B), and
(ii) by substituting “$15,750” for “$3,000” in subparagraph (C).
(B) Adjustment for inflation
(i) In general

Paragraph (4) shall not apply to the dollar amounts contained in paragraphs (2)(B) and (2)(C).

(ii) Adjustment of increased amounts In the case of a taxable year beginning after 2025, the $23,625 and $15,750 amounts in subparagraph (A) shall each be increased by an amount equal to—
(I) such dollar amount, multiplied by
(II) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting “2024” for “2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
If any increase under this clause is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
(d) Itemized deductions For purposes of this subtitle, the term “itemized deductions” means the deductions allowable under this chapter other than—
(1) the deductions allowable in arriving at adjusted gross income, and
(2) any deduction referred to in any paragraph of subsection (b).
(e) Election to itemize
(1) In general

Unless an individual makes an election under this subsection for the taxable year, no itemized deduction shall be allowed for the taxable year. For purposes of this subtitle, the determination of whether a deduction is allowable under this chapter shall be made without regard to the preceding sentence.

(2) Time and manner of election

Any election under this subsection shall be made on the taxpayer’s return, and the Secretary shall prescribe the manner of signifying such election on the return.

(3) Change of election Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a change of election with respect to itemized deductions for any taxable year may be made after the filing of the return for such year. If the spouse of the taxpayer filed a separate return for any taxable year corresponding to the taxable year of the taxpayer, the change shall not be allowed unless, in accordance with such regulations—
(A) the spouse makes a change of election with respect to itemized deductions, for the taxable year covered in such separate return, consistent with the change of treatment sought by the taxpayer, and
(B) the taxpayer and his spouse consent in writing to the assessment (within such period as may be agreed on with the Secretary) of any deficiency, to the extent attributable to such change of election, even though at the time of the filing of such consent the assessment of such deficiency would otherwise be prevented by the operation of any law or rule of law.
This paragraph shall not apply if the tax liability of the taxpayer’s spouse for the taxable year corresponding to the taxable year of the taxpayer has been compromised under section 7122.
(f) Aged or blind additional amounts
(1) Additional amounts for the aged The taxpayer shall be entitled to an additional amount of $600—
(A) for himself if he has attained age 65 before the close of his taxable year, and
(B) for the spouse of the taxpayer if the spouse has attained age 65 before the close of the taxable year and an additional exemption is allowable to the taxpayer for such spouse under section 151(b).
(2) Additional amount for blind The taxpayer shall be entitled to an additional amount of $600—
(A) for himself if he is blind at the close of the taxable year, and
(B) for the spouse of the taxpayer if the spouse is blind as of the close of the taxable year and an additional exemption is allowable to the taxpayer for such spouse under section 151(b).
For purposes of subparagraph (B), if the spouse dies during the taxable year the determination of whether such spouse is blind shall be made as of the time of such death.
(3) Higher amount for certain unmarried individuals

In the case of an individual who is not married and is not a surviving spouse, paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be applied by substituting “$750” for “$600”.

(4) Blindness defined

For purposes of this subsection, an individual is blind only if his central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses, or if his visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.

(g) Marital status

For purposes of this section, marital status shall be determined under section 7703.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 18; Pub. L. 95–30, title I, § 102(a), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 135; Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 101(b), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2769; Pub. L. 97–34, title I, §§ 104(b), 111(b)(4), 121(b), (c)(2), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 189, 194, 196, 197; Pub. L. 99–514, title I, § 102(a), title XII, § 1272(d)(6), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2099, 2594; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1001(b)(1), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3349; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§ 11101(d)(1)(D), 11801(a)(4), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–405, 1388–520; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13201(b)(3)(D), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 459; Pub. L. 105–34, title XII, § 1201(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 993; Pub. L. 107–16, title III, § 301(a), (b), (c)(2), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 53, 54; Pub. L. 107–147, title IV, § 411(e), Mar. 9, 2002, 116 Stat. 46; Pub. L. 108–27, title I, § 103(a), May 28, 2003, 117 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 108–311, title I, § 101(b), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1167; Pub. L. 110–289, div. C, title I, § 3012(a), (b), July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2891, 2892; Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title II, § 204(a), title VII, § 706(b)(1), (2), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3865, 3922; Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1008(c), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 318; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(13), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4039; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §§ 11002(d)(1)(K), 11011(b)(2), (3), 11021(a), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2060, 2070, 2072; Pub. L. 115–141, div. T, § 101(a)(2)(A), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1155; Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3067; Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, §§ 70102(a), (b), 70201(b), 70202(b), 70203(b), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 158, 171, 174, 177; Pub. L. 119–108, § 2(c), Sept. 11, 2026, 140 Stat. 1020.)

Terms defined here

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Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 63

From our articles, not part of the law

Articles that cite this section

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Calculators

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 12 other sections

Cited by 13 Code sections

Cited in 34 regulations not issued under it

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Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 119–108Parts changed in 2026: (b)(8)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 119–21Parts changed in 2025: (b)(5) (b)(6) (b)(7) (c)(7) (c)(7)(A)(i) (c)(7)(A)(ii) (c)(7)(B)(ii) (c)(7)(B)(ii)(II)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 116–260Parts changed in 2020: (b)(4) (d)(2)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 115–141Parts changed in 2018: (b)(3)
  5. Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (b)(3) (c)(4)(B) (c)(7) (d)(3)
  6. Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (c)(1) (c)(7)
  7. Amended by Pub. L. 111–5Parts changed in 2009: (c)(1)(E) (c)(9)
  8. Amended by Pub. L. 110–343Parts changed in 2008: (c)(1)(C) (c)(1)(D) (c)(7) (c)(8)
  9. Amended by Pub. L. 110–289
  10. Amended by Pub. L. 108–311Parts changed in 2004: (c)(2) (c)(4) (c)(7)
  11. Amended by Pub. L. 108–27Parts changed in 2003: (c)(7)
  12. Amended by Pub. L. 107–147Parts changed in 2002: (c)(2) (c)(2)(A) (c)(2)(B) (c)(2)(C) (c)(4) (c)(4)(B)(i)
  13. Amended by Pub. L. 107–16Parts changed in 2001: (c)(2)(A) (c)(2)(B) (c)(2)(C) (c)(2)(D) (c)(4) (c)(7)
  14. Amended by Pub. L. 105–34Parts changed in 1997: (c)(4) (c)(5)(B)
  15. Amended by Pub. L. 103–66Parts changed in 1993: (c)(4)(B)
  16. Amended by Pub. L. 101–508Parts changed in 1990: (c)(4)(B) (h)
  17. Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (c)(5)
  18. Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (a) (b) (c) (c)(6)(C) (d) (e) (e)(1) (e)(2) (e)(3) (f) (g) (h) (i)
  19. Amended by Pub. L. 97–34Parts changed in 1981: (b)(1)(C) (d) (e)(2) (f)(3) (i)
  20. Amended by Pub. L. 95–600
  21. Enacted by Pub. L. 95–30

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle A Income Taxes
  2. Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
  3. Subchapter B Computation of Taxable Income
  4. Part I DEFINITION OF GROSS INCOME, ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, TAXABLE INCOME, ETC.

Nearby sections

Official notes

The Law Revision Counsel's notes for this section (amendments, effective dates and related laws) are long, so they have their own page.