You should also keep in mind the effect your adjusted gross income has on your ability to itemize. Your adjusted gross income works against you, for purposes of itemizing deductions, when it is higher, because the limitations will be higher. But your adjusted gross income will work in your favor, for itemizing, when it is lower. There may be years when your level of income is lower and you have the same level, or more expenses. In these years, itemizing may worthwhile.
In any case, if you are in doubt about whether to take the standard deduction or to itemize (provided you have the choice), you should calculate your taxes both ways, to see which way results in the lower overall tax cost.
Special Cases
Electing to Itemize for State Income Tax Purposes
You may find that it is to your advantage to itemize deductions for federal income tax purposes, even if your total itemized deductions are less than your standard deduction. You might want to do this, for example, if you can gain an overall tax savings by itemizing deductions on your state tax return, but in order to do so, you must also itemize for federal income tax purposes.
Amended Return if You Change Your Mind
If you use one method (either take the standard deduction or itemize) and after you file your return you find that you should have used the other method, you can file an amended return using Form 1040X.
Married Filing Separately
Married persons filing separately can make a change only if they both agree to make the same change. And both must file a consent to assessment of any additional tax either spouse may owe as a result of the change.
You and your spouse can use whichever method results in the lower overall tax, even though one of you may pay more tax than you would have if you had used the other method. But you should generally use the same method, because if one spouse itemizes, the other cannot take the standard deduction.