How much is the additional standard deduction for taxpayers 65 or older in 2025 by filing status?

1. What changed in 2025 — two separate increases, not one

Congress and the IRS produced two distinct boosts that affect older taxpayers in 2025: the routine inflation adjustment to the traditional additional standard deduction — which rose to $2,000 for unmarried filers and $1,600 per spouse for married filers — and a separate, temporary senior deduction created by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill that allows up to $6,000 more per qualifying individual for 2025–2028 ^{[1] [4] [2]}.

2. How the numbers stack up by filing status

Under the conventional “extra” standard‑deduction rules for age/blindness, the 2025 additional amounts are $2,000 for a single filer or head of household who is 65+, and $1,600 per qualifying spouse for married filers; these are added to whatever base standard deduction applies for each filing status ^{[4] [6]}. Separately, the OBBB senior deduction can add up to $6,000 more per qualifying individual (so up to $12,000 for two spouses) but is a distinct, newly created line‑item and subject to income phaseouts ^{[5] [3]}.

3. Who can claim the $6,000 “senior” deduction and limits

The new $6,000 deduction created by the OBBB applies for tax years 2025 through 2028 for individuals age 65 or older; it is available whether a taxpayer itemizes or claims the standard deduction, but it phases out for higher earners (phaseout starts at $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for married joint filers and reduces at 6% over those thresholds in many explanations) ^{[2] [3] [5]}.

4. Practical examples reported by tax shops and nonprofits

Tax preparer and financial sites illustrate the stacking effect: a single 65+ filer could combine the 2025 base standard deduction, the $2,000 age addition, and the $6,000 senior bonus to reach the headline totals some outlets cite (for example, a single filer total deduction examples such as $23,750 are shown in reporting that aggregates the three pieces), and a married couple where both are 65+ could similarly combine base plus $3,200 (two × $1,600) plus up to $12,000 (two × $6,000) ^{[7] [8] [5]}.

5. Where the sources disagree or require nuance

Tax outlets and advocacy groups emphasize different facets: IRS materials present the $6,000 new deduction as separate from the long‑standing additional standard deduction ^[2], while some newsrooms and planners package the changes as a single “bonus” figure or highlight aggregate totals ^{[3] [7]}. Available sources do not mention every procedural detail (for example, the exact form lines or new schedules taxpayers will use beyond IRS guidance summaries), so consult the IRS for filing mechanics ^{[2] [9]}.

6. Hidden agendas and policy context to note

Analysts point out policy tradeoffs: the OBBB senior deduction is portrayed by supporters as targeted relief for older Americans, while critics note it is temporary, costs federal revenue (projected cost estimates appear in reporting), and can provide benefits to higher‑income seniors up to the phaseout thresholds — raising distributional questions about fairness and budget impact ^{[3] [2]}.

7. What taxpayers should do now

Because the 2025 picture involves both the modest inflation bump to the longstanding age/blind additional standard deduction and a separate, temporary $6,000 senior deduction with income limits, taxpayers who are 65+ should check their filing status to confirm whether they get the $2,000 or $1,600 additional amount, determine whether they qualify for the OBBB $6,000 senior deduction and whether their income triggers phaseout, and consult IRS guidance or a tax preparer for how those amounts will be reported when filing 2026 returns for tax year 2025 ^{[1] [2] [5]}.

Limitations: This summary uses the reporting and IRS explanations provided in the cited sources; available sources do not mention every line‑by‑line form change or step‑by‑step filing example for the 2025 returns ^{[2] [9]}.