CrunchBase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Aras. Aras is a suite of open source Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) software solutions that run on a model-based SOA application framework.
What is a 'Tax Deduction'. A tax deduction is a reduction in tax obligation from a taxpayer's gross income. Tax deductions can be the result of a variety of events that the taxpayer experiences over the course of the year. Tax deductions are removed from taxable income, also known as the adjusted gross income, and thus lowers the taxpayer's overall tax liability.
Tweet. The standard deduction is a fixed amount, based on your filing status, that reduces your taxable income. You can use either the standard deduction or your actual itemized deductions on Form 1040, but not both. The standard deduction for a single person or a married person filing separately is $6,200 (2014). Married couples filing jointly have a standard deduction of exactly twice as much as a single person's, at $12,400. If you file as a head of household, your standard deduction is $9,100.