Donations

• Cash and non-cash donations are both tax deductible. If you give regularly to your church, you can deduct that money. Also, if you give to other charities, that amount is tax deductible. You can also donate clothing or other household items to charity. Ask the charity for a receipt and the estimated monetary value of your donation, and that amount is tax deductible. Some charities make it easy to donate; you just set up an appointment, and the charity will pick up your donation from your home and write you a receipt.
  
  

Work Expenses

• Work expenses are also tax deductible. If you are a teacher and purchase materials for your students or classroom, save the receipts as those purchases are tax deductible. You can also deduct work expenses such as phone and Internet expenses if you pay for those yourself and use them for work purposes. If you are out of work, then expenses you pay in job search efforts are also tax deductible.
  
  

Mortgage Interest

• The interest you pay on your mortgage is also tax deductible. This is one of the primary benefits of home ownership. Renters cannot deduct this amount on their taxes. Home interest is typically several thousands of dollars each year, sometimes much more, so this is one item you do not want to overlook. You can also deduct interest points on refinanced mortgages.
  
  

Tax Payments

• If you owed and paid money to the IRS last year when you filed your taxes, then that amount you paid is also tax deductible. Income tax withheld from your paychecks is also tax deductible. In other words, the government does not tax you on money you spend on taxes. This is another common oversight when filing taxes, and if you miss it, you end up paying taxes on the money you are using to pay your taxes.