Deductibles are essential components of your tax return, as they can help reduce how much taxable income you have in a given year and therefore reduce what you owe in taxes. Deductibles allow you to reduce your adjusted gross income (AGI) for the year, and the amount you eventually need to pay in taxes.

To use a deductible, a person or business must be eligible to itemize deductions, meaning they must have a certain level of larger deductible income and expenses. This is different than the standard deduction, which everyone is granted but is usually lower and gives a smaller tax break.

Most people use the standard deduction, as it’s easier, faster and often gives nearly the same tax breaks as itemized tax deductions. However, if an individual or business has significant deductible expenses, they can choose to itemize instead and often end up paying less in taxes.

Tax deductibles for individuals can include student loan interest, self-employment expenses, charitable donations and mortgage interest. For businesses, deductibles include payroll, utilities, rent, leases and other operational costs.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides detailed lists, requirements and maximum amounts for all available deductibles. Most of these will give only small amounts, so using several can add up in terms of tax savings.

It’s important to keep track of any expenses you incur throughout the year, in case you can use them for a deduction. You should also research tax laws and regulations for any updates or changes that may affect the deductibles available. This way, you can save the most on your taxes.