How do I decide if its better for me to use the actual or take the standard amount?
You can use whichever method gives you the larger refund. The standard amount is based on actual telephone usage data and the amount applicable to a family or other household reflects the long-distance phone tax paid by similarly sized families or households. Using this amount is the easiest way for taxpayers to get their refund and avoid gathering 41 months of old phone records. (Click here to return to top of page.
You can use whichever method gives you the larger refund. The standard amount is based on actual telephone usage data and the amount applicable to a family or other household reflects the long-distance phone tax paid by similarly sized families or households. Using this amount is the easiest way for taxpayers to get their refund and avoid gathering 41 months of old phone records.
