Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§68 Overall limitation on itemized deductions

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - Income Taxes › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter Subchapter B— - Computation of Taxable Income › Part PART I— - DEFINITION OF GROSS INCOME, ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, TAXABLE INCOME, ETC. › § 68

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Reduce your itemized deductions by 2/37 of the smaller of two amounts: (1) your total itemized deductions, or (2) how much your taxable income—calculated before this reduction and after adding back those deductions—exceeds the income where the 37% tax rate starts for you. Do this after any other limits on itemized deductions.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §68

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In the case of an individual, the amount of the itemized deductions otherwise allowable for the taxable year (determined without regard to this section) shall be reduced by 2⁄37 of the lesser of—
(1)such amount of itemized deductions, or
(2)so much of the taxable income of the taxpayer for the taxable year (determined without regard to this section and increased by such amount of itemized deductions) as exceeds the dollar amount at which the 37 percent rate bracket under section 1 begins with respect to the taxpayer.
(b)This section shall be applied after the application of any other limitation on the allowance of any itemized deduction.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Inflation Adjusted Items for Certain YearsFor inflation adjustment of certain items in this section, see Revenue Procedures listed in a table under section 1 of this title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–21 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (f) relating, respectively, to general rule, applicable amount, exception for certain itemized deductions, coordination with other limitations, exception for estates and trusts, and this section not applying to any taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2026. 2018—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–141 substituted “shall be” for “shall be shall be” in introductory provisions. 2017—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115–97, § 11002(d)(2), substituted “1(f)(3)(A)(ii)” for “1(f)(3)(B)” and “2016” for “1992”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–97, § 11046(a), added subsec. (f). 2013—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–240, § 101(b)(2)(A)(i), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(1) In general.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘applicable amount’ means $100,000 ($50,000 in the case of a separate return by a married individual within the meaning of section 7703). “(2) Inflation adjustments.—In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 1991, each dollar amount contained in paragraph (1) 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 ‘calendar year 1990’ for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) thereof.” Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 112–240, § 101(b)(2)(A)(ii), struck out subsecs. (f) and (g), which related to phaseout of limitation and termination of applicability of section, respectively. 2001—Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 107—16 added subsecs. (f) and (g). 1998—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–277 substituted “for casualty or theft losses described in paragraph (2) or (3) of section 165(c) or for losses described in section 165(d)” for “for losses described in subsection (c)(3) or (d) of section 165”. 1993—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13201(b)(3)(E), substituted “1992” for “1989”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13204, struck out heading and text of subsec. (f). Text read as follows: “This section shall not apply to any taxable year beginning after December 31, 1995.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2025 Amendment Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70111(c), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 165, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 199A of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.”

Effective Date

of 2017 AmendmentAmendment by section 11002(d)(2) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 11002(e) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 1 of this title. Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11046(b), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2088, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.”

Effective Date

of 2013 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–240 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2012, see section 101(b)(3) of Pub. L. 112–240, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2001 Amendment Pub. L. 107–16, title I, § 103(b),
June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 45, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2005.”

Effective Date

of 1998 Amendment Pub. L. 105–277, div. J, title IV, § 4004(c)(3), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–911, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (b)(2) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1990.”

Effective Date

of 1993 AmendmentAmendment by section 13201(b)(3)(E) of Pub. L. 103–66 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1992, see section 13201(c) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1990, see section 11103(e) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1990 Amendment note under section 1 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 68

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73