And you may not be able to directly replace items of clothing, as most insurers make a substantial deduction for wear and tear.

But senators of both parties have objected to the proposal because the government already allows a substantial total standard deduction for non-itemizers of $4,550 for singles and $7,600 for married couples.

The stepped-up interest payments on that primary residence mortgage would then provide a substantial deduction against ordinary income.

But now, the explosion of art prices and the changes in tax law that do not allow substantial deductions for giving until death have put off their giving them.

The industry has been hit hard by the alternative minimum tax, which assures that corporations and individuals with substantial deductions have to calculate their taxes in a manner that assures some payment.

But common sense suggests that it's not going to be popular in a building with an affluent shareholder population seeking substantial deductions as taxes rise.

It forces taxpayers with substantial deductions to compute their tax bill twice.

For some of these people, however, who can no longer take substantial deductions for interest, the changes will mean taking a smaller overall deduction than in the past.

A substantial deduction, perhaps $5,000 or more, should be given to everyone.

Investors who rid their portfolios of old securities by giving them away reduce their tax bills by avoiding capital-gains taxes on their profits and by taking a substantial charitable deduction.