The goal of every taxpayer is to pay exactly what they owe and not a penny more. However, the U.S. tax code is thousands of pages long, and valuable deductions often get buried in the fine print. In 2026, several credits have been expanded or adjusted for inflation, yet millions of filers will skip right past them. Software is helpful, but it only answers the questions you know to ask.
If you rush through your filing, you are likely leaving “free money” with the Treasury. These deductions are not “loopholes” for the rich; they are legitimate breaks designed for everyday expenses like healthcare, energy, and even volunteering. Before you hit “Submit” on your 2025 return this spring, review this checklist of the ten most commonly overlooked tax breaks.
1. The State Sales Tax Deduction
You have a choice: deduct state income taxes OR state sales taxes. Most people automatically choose income tax, but if you live in a no-income-tax state (like Florida, Texas, or Washington) or made a huge purchase in 2025, the sales tax deduction wins. If you bought a car, boat, or RV last year, the sales tax alone could be thousands of dollars. The IRS Sales Tax Calculator allows you to add these big-ticket items to the standard table amount for your state.
2. Reinvested Dividends Adjustment
This is not a deduction, but a subtraction that saves you from paying double tax. If your mutual funds automatically reinvest dividends, that money buys more shares at the current price. When you eventually sell those shares, you must add the reinvested amount to your “cost basis.” If you forget this step, you will be taxed twice on the same money—once when you received the dividend, and again when you sold the share.
3. Student Loan Interest (Even if Mom Paid It)
You can deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest paid, and you don’t even need to itemize to claim it. Crucially, if a parent pays back a student loan for a child who is no longer a dependent, the IRS treats it as if the money was given to the child, who then paid the debt. This means the child can claim the deduction even though the check came from Mom’s bank account.
4. Jury Duty Pay Paid to Employer
If your employer continued to pay your full salary while you were on jury duty, they often require you to hand over your jury stipend checks to the company. However, the IRS still reports that jury money as taxable income on your W-2. You are allowed to deduct the amount you handed over to your employer on Schedule 1, effectively neutralizing the tax so you aren’t taxed on money you didn’t keep.
5. The “Other Dependent” Credit
Many families care for aging parents or adult relatives who don’t qualify for the Child Tax Credit. The Credit for Other Dependents is worth up to $500 per person. It applies to parents, grandparents, or other qualifying relatives you support financially, helping to offset the rising cost of caregiving for non-children.
6. Last-Minute HSA Contributions
Unlike most tax moves that end on December 31st, you have until the tax filing deadline (April 15, 2026) to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) for the 2025 tax year. The limits for 2025 were $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families. If you haven’t maxed this out, you can make a deposit now and deduct it from your 2025 income immediately.
7. Military Reserve Travel Expenses
If you are a member of the National Guard or Reserves and you travel more than 100 miles from home for service, you can deduct your unreimbursed travel expenses. This includes mileage, lodging, and meals. This is an “above-the-line” deduction, meaning you do not need to itemize to take it, unlike most employee business expenses, which were eliminated.
8. Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
The Inflation Reduction Act significantly expanded the Section 25C credit, allowing up to $3,200 annually for energy upgrades. This includes up to $2,000 specifically for heat pumps and $1,200 for windows and insulation. Many taxpayers miss this because they think it’s a one-time lifetime credit, but it now resets every year.
9. Volunteer Charity Expenses
While you cannot deduct the value of your time, you can deduct the out-of-pocket costs of volunteering. This includes the cost of uniforms, supplies, and crucially, mileage driven for charitable purposes (at 14 cents per mile). If you drove thousands of miles for Meals on Wheels or church events, those miles add up to a real deduction.
10. Refinancing Points (Amortized)
If you refinanced your mortgage in 2025, you generally cannot deduct the “points” paid all at once. However, you can deduct them gradually over the life of the loan. Additionally, if you refinanced again or sold the house, you can deduct all the remaining undeducted points from the previous refinance in one lump sum this year.
Stop the Leakage Before You File
These deductions are the difference between a refund and a bill. The IRS relies on your fatigue to keep these funds. Take one final pass through your records this weekend. If you spent money to earn money, keep your family healthy, or improve your home, there is likely a line on the 1040 form waiting for that number. Claim what is rightfully yours.
Did you find a deduction on this list you almost missed? Leave a comment below—share your savings win!
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