2006 Exemptions
Personal Exemptions
Exemption	$3050/person
Personal Exemption Phase out
Single (Phase out)	$139,500
Married Filing Joint returns (Phase out)	$209,250
Head of Household (Phase out)	$174,400
Married, filing separate return (Phase out)	$104,625

Each personal exemption you claim on your 2003 return is the equivalent of a $3050 deduction. Exemptions for children, parents, and other dependents are also allowed.

Yourself: You can claim an exemption for yourself unless you are the dependent of another taxpayer. In other words, if someone else can claim you as a dependent for 2003, you many not claim a personal exemption for yourself on your own return; this is the rule regardless if the other person does not actually claim you as a dependent.

Your Spouse: You can claim your spouse as an exemption when you file a joint return. If you file a separate return, you can still claim your spouse as an exemption given that he or she has no income and is not a dependent of another person.

Your Children, parents, and other dependents: An individual qualifies as your dependent for 2003 if all of the following requirements are meet:

1. The person you claim as your dependent is your relative or is a member of your household.

2. You dependent must have gross income for 2003 under $3050 unless he or she is your child who at the end of 2003 was under 19 years of age or was a full-time student under age 24.

3. You contributed over half of the dependent's support for 2003 or more than 10% of his or her support.

4. Your dependent is a U.S. citizen or national, or a resident of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

5. If your dependent is married, he or she does not file a joint return unless the following circumstances are meet: You may claim an exemption even if your dependent files a joint return given that the income of each spouse is under the income limit required for filing a return and the couple files a joint return merely to obtain a refund of withheld taxes.