What Are Tax Exemptions? (2024)

Tax exemptions come in many forms, but one thing they all have in common is they either reduce or entirely eliminate your obligation to pay tax. Most taxpayers are entitled to an exemption on their tax return that reduces your tax bill in the same way a deduction does. Federal and state governments frequently exempt organizations from income tax entirely when it serves the public, such as with charities and religious organizations.

What Are Tax Exemptions? (1)

Key Takeaways

  • Personal and dependent exemptions are no longer used on your federal tax return. They were suspended beginning in tax year 2018.
  • A tax exemption reduces taxable income just like a deduction does, but typically has fewer restrictions to claiming it.
  • Before tax year 2018, you can claim one personal tax exemption for yourself (and one for your spouse if you are married and file a joint tax return) and additional exemptions for each dependent you claim.
  • Organizations that don't operate for profit and provide valuable services to the community, such as a charity, can receive tax-exempt status if they satisfy all of the necessary IRS requirements.

Tax exemptions

There are a several different types of tax exemptions that allow for certain amounts or types of income to be exempt from taxation. The most popular exemptions for individual taxpayers has traditionally been the personal and dependent exemptions.

For tax years prior to 2018, personal and dependent tax exemptions play an important role in determining your federal taxable income. However, beginning with the 2018 tax year, personal and dependent exemptions are no longer used on your federal tax return.

Personal exemptions

For tax years prior to 2018, if you are not claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's return, then you can claim one personal tax exemption for yourself. This is a fixed amount that generally increases each year. The exemption reduces your taxable income just like a deduction does, but typically has fewer restrictions to claiming it. If you are married and file a joint tax return, both you and your spouse each get to claim an exemption.

TurboTax Tip:

A business may be exempt from paying state, county, and municipal taxes if it is located in an area where governments provide tax exemptions to businesses to stimulate the local economy.

Dependent exemptions

For tax years prior to 2018, the IRS allows you to take additional exemptions for each dependent you claim. Frequently, the source of these exemptions are the children who live with you for more than half the year, are under 19 years old (or under 24 if a full-time student) and who don't provide more than half of their own financial support during the tax year. Some of your relatives can also qualify to be your dependents if they live with you and even your parents who don't. Claiming these dependents on your tax return typically allows you to claim a dependent exemption for each of them.

Tax-exempt organizations

For an organization to receive tax-exempt status, it has to satisfy all of the necessary IRS requirements. Generally, these are organizations that don't operate for profit and provide valuable services to the community such as a charity.

If an organization receives tax-exempt status it's not required to pay federal income tax, but is required to maintain accurate records to keep its status. Donations you make to these organizations usually entitle you to claim a charitable contribution deduction on your tax return if you itemize your deductions.

State and local exemptions

State, county and municipal governments also provide tax exemptions to businesses to stimulate the local economy. For example, a business may be exempt from paying local property taxes if it moves its operations to a particular geographic area. In Massachusetts, the state provides many telecommunication companies that provide cable television, Internet access and public broadcasts of radio and television an exemption from sales tax. Many cities and states also offer sales tax holidays where consumers can purchase goods without paying state or local sales taxes.

With TurboTax Live Full Service, a local expert matched to your unique situation will do your taxes for you start to finish. Or, get unlimited help and advice from tax experts while you do your taxes with TurboTax Live Assisted.

And if you want to file your own taxes, you can still feel confident you'll do them right with TurboTax as we guide you step by step. No matter which way you file, we guarantee 100% accuracy and your maximum refund.

What Are Tax Exemptions? (2024)

FAQs

What Are Tax Exemptions? ›

An exemption is a dollar amount that can be deducted from an individual's total income, thereby reducing the taxable income. Taxpayers may be able to claim two kinds of exemptions: Personal exemptions

Personal exemptions
What are exemptions? An exemption is a dollar amount that can be deducted from an individual's total income, thereby reducing. the taxable income. Taxpayers may be able to claim two kinds of exemptions: • Personal exemptions generally allow taxpayers to claim themselves (and possibly their spouse)
https://apps.irs.gov › globalmedia › 4491_personal_exemptions
generally allow taxpayers to claim themselves (and possibly their spouse)

What is an example of a tax exemption? ›

Certain types of income, such as portions of retirement income and some academic scholarships, are tax exempt, meaning that they are not included as part of a filer's taxable income.

Is it better to claim 1 or 0 on your taxes? ›

By placing a “0” on line 5, you are indicating that you want the most amount of tax taken out of your pay each pay period. If you wish to claim 1 for yourself instead, then less tax is taken out of your pay each pay period.

How many tax exemptions should I claim? ›

An individual can claim two allowances if they are single and have more than one job, or are married and are filing taxes separately. Usually, those who are married and have either one child or more claim three allowances.

What qualifies as exemptions on taxes? ›

Most taxpayers are entitled to an exemption on their tax return that reduces your tax bill in the same way a deduction does. Federal and state governments frequently exempt organizations from income tax entirely when it serves the public, such as with charities and religious organizations.

Is it good to go exempt on taxes? ›

Exemptions refer to income that is not subject to taxation. For each exemption you claim, a certain amount of your income is excluded from being taxed. If you're eligible to claim exemptions, this can reduce your overall tax liability and increase your take-home pay.

How do I know if I'm tax-exempt? ›

To be exempt from withholding, both of the following must be true: You owed no federal income tax in the prior tax year, and. You expect to owe no federal income tax in the current tax year.

Why do I owe if I claimed 0? ›

When you claim 0 in allowances, it seems as if you are the only one who earns and that your spouse does not. Then, when both of you earn, and the amount reaches the 25% tax bracket, the amount of tax sent is not enough. You will hence need to pay the IRS some money.

Do I claim myself as a dependent? ›

You cannot claim yourself as a dependent on taxes. Dependency exemptions are applicable to your qualifying dependent children and qualifying dependent relatives only.

Should I claim a personal exemption for myself? ›

The deduction for personal exemptions is suspended (reduced to $0) for tax years 2018 through 2025 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Although the exemption amount is zero, the ability to claim an exemption may make taxpayers eligible for other tax benefits.

Will I owe money if I claim 1? ›

Claiming 1 on Your Taxes

Claiming 1 reduces the amount of taxes that are withheld, which means you will get more money each paycheck instead of waiting until your tax refund. You could also still get a small refund while having a larger paycheck if you claim 1. It just depends on your situation.

Is it better to claim 2 exemption or 0? ›

Claiming more allowances will lower the amount of income tax that's taken out of your check. Conversely, if the total number of allowances you're claiming is zero, that means you'll have the most income tax withheld from your take-home pay.

What does the number of exemptions mean? ›

Each exemption reduces the income subject to tax. The exemption amount is a set amount that generally changes annually. exemption amount. The amount by which the income subject to tax is reduced for the taxpayer, spouse, and each dependent.

What do you put for exemptions? ›

To claim exempt, write EXEMPT under line 4c. You may claim EXEMPT from withholding if: o Last year you had a right to a full refund of All federal tax income and o This year you expect a full refund of ALL federal income tax. NOTE: if you claim EXEMPT you must complete a new W-4 annually in February.

Should I claim 1 or 0? ›

Claiming 1 reduces the amount of taxes that are withheld from weekly paychecks, so you get more money now with a smaller refund. Claiming 0 allowances may be a better option if you'd rather receive a larger lump sum of money in the form of your tax refund.

How to not owe taxes? ›

Having enough tax withheld or making quarterly estimated tax payments during the year can help you avoid problems at tax time. Taxes are pay-as-you-go. This means that you need to pay most of your tax during the year, as you receive income, rather than paying at the end of the year.

What is exemption with example? ›

Children are exemptions, or deductions, on tax forms; the more children you have the less taxes you pay. Some non-profits are tax-exempt; their exemption means they pay no taxes at all. Exemptions also spare people from fighting in wars and doing some jobs. An exemption gets you off the hook.

What are tax exemptions for dummies? ›

A tax exemption reduces or eliminates a portion of your income from taxation. Federal, state, and local governments create tax exemptions to benefit people, businesses, and other entities in special situations. Those who are entitled save on taxes by reducing their top-line income.

What is an example of a personal exemption? ›

For instance, a single taxpayer in the 12 percent tax bracket would save $498 of taxes with a personal exemption of $4,150, whereas a single taxpayer in the 32 percent tax bracket would save $1,328. Thus, under a progressive income tax, exemptions are worth more to high-income taxpayers than to low-income taxpayers.

Are dependents considered exemptions? ›

The dependent exemption definition refers to the amount you can take away from your taxable income, while the dependent is the child or relative who depends on you financially. The IRS allows you to take an exemption for every dependent in your family.

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