Who Gets the $40,400 SALT Deduction? (2026)
Anyone who itemizes deductions on Schedule A, pays at least $40,400 in combined state and local taxes, and has MAGI at or below $505,000 receives the full $40,400 SALT deduction for 2026. Above that income threshold, the cap gradually shrinks. Below that threshold, the cap is the lesser of $40,400 or the amount you actually paid in state and local taxes.
Who qualifies for the full cap?
The full $40,400 SALT cap is available to single, head of household, and married filing jointly filers. MFS filers have a separate cap of $20,200. The $40,400 amount was set by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for tax year 2026, up from the prior $10,000 cap that had been in place since 2018.
Getting the full deduction does not mean the IRS sends you $40,400. The SALT deduction reduces your taxable income by up to $40,400. The actual tax savings depends on your marginal tax rate. A taxpayer in the 24% bracket who deducts $40,400 saves approximately $9,696 in federal tax.
Three requirements to claim the full amount
All three must be met simultaneously:
- You must itemize. The SALT deduction appears on Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction ($16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for MFJ), you cannot claim SALT. You should itemize only when your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction.
- You must pay at least $40,400 in qualifying state and local taxes. The cap is a ceiling, not a guaranteed amount. SALT includes state/local income taxes (or sales tax if elected) plus property taxes. If you pay $25,000 total, your deduction is $25,000, not $40,400.
- Your MAGI must be at or below $505,000. Above this threshold, the cap phases down by 30% of each excess dollar. At approximately $606,333 MAGI, the cap reaches its $10,000floor.
What happens above the threshold?
Taxpayers with MAGI above $505,000 do not lose the SALT deduction entirely. Instead, their cap is reduced gradually:
Effective cap = max($10,000, $40,400 - 30% x (MAGI - $505,000))
This means the cap shrinks by $300 for every $1,000 of MAGI above the threshold. Even at very high incomes, the cap never drops below $10,000 (or $5,000 for MFS filers).
| MAGI | Effective SALT cap |
|---|---|
| $505,000 or below | $40,400 (full) |
| $555,000 | $25,400 |
| $580,000 | $17,900 |
| ~$606,333 or above | $10,000 (floor) |
Itemizing vs. the standard deduction
The SALT deduction only has value if you itemize. Many taxpayers, particularly those in low-tax states or those who rent rather than own, find that the standard deduction exceeds their total itemized deductions. In that case, the SALT cap is irrelevant because the standard deduction produces a larger tax benefit.
To benefit from the $40,400 SALT cap, your total itemized deductions (SALT plus mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and any other Schedule A items) must exceed:
- $16,100 for single filers
- $32,200 for married filing jointly
- $24,150 for head of household
- $16,100 for MFS
Homeowners in high-tax states (California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) are the most likely to exceed these thresholds. Their combined state income tax and property tax often reaches $40,400 or more, and adding mortgage interest pushes total itemized deductions well above the standard deduction.
Two quick examples
Single filer, $470,000 MAGI, $38,000 SALT paid
MAGI: $470,000 (below $505,000 threshold)
SALT cap: $40,400 (full, no phase-down)
SALT paid: $38,000
Deductible: $38,000 (actual amount, below cap)
This filer's MAGI is below the threshold, so the full $40,400 cap is available. However, their actual SALT of $38,000 is less than the cap, so they deduct what they paid.
MFJ couple, $540,000 MAGI, $55,000 SALT paid
MAGI: $540,000 (above $505,000 threshold)
Excess: $540,000 - $505,000 = $35,000
Reduction: 30% x $35,000 = $10,500
Effective cap: $40,400 - $10,500 = $29,900
SALT paid: $55,000
Deductible: $29,900 (capped)
This couple's MAGI exceeds the threshold by $35,000, reducing the cap to $29,900. Despite paying $55,000 in state and local taxes, the deduction is limited.
Who does not benefit?
Several groups of taxpayers get little or no value from the $40,400 SALT cap:
- Standard deduction filers. If your itemized deductions do not exceed the standard deduction, you will not itemize and the SALT cap is irrelevant.
- Residents of no-income-tax states who rent. Without state income tax or property tax, the SALT total is limited to sales tax, which is usually small.
- Very high earners (above ~$606,333 MAGI). The cap phases down to the $10,000 floor, which is the same as the pre-OBBBA cap. These taxpayers receive no benefit from the increase.
- Taxpayers in low-tax states. If your total SALT is only $5,000, the cap is irrelevant because your taxes are far below $40,400.
To check whether you qualify for the full cap at your income level, use the SALT cap calculator. For help deciding between itemizing and the standard deduction, see the standard vs. itemized deduction comparison.