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The Daily Insight

What is the single exemption for 2020?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Feb 24, 2026

The personal and senior exemption amount for single, married/RDP filing separately, and head of household taxpayers will increase from $122 to $124 for the 2020 tax year 2020. For joint or surviving spouse taxpayers, the personal and senior exemption credit will increase from $244 to $248 for the tax year 2020.

What is the single exemption for 2019?

The personal exemption for tax year 2019 remains at 0, as it was for 2018, this elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

What is the federal personal exemption for 2020?

For 2020, the standard deduction is $12,400 for single filers and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly. It was nearly doubled by Congress in 2017. The personal exemption is the subtraction from income for each person included on a tax return—typically the members of a family. It was repealed in 2017.

Why is the personal exemption been eliminated?

Taxpayers, their spouses, and qualifying dependents were able to claim a personal exemption. The personal exemption was eliminated in 2017 as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Is the standard deduction the same as a personal exemption?

Not to be confused with Standard deduction. Under United States tax law, a personal exemption is an amount that a resident taxpayer is entitled to claim as a tax deduction against personal income in calculating taxable income and consequently federal income tax.

How does the personal exemption work for Married Filing Separately?

The personal exemption phases out by 2 percent for each $1,250 of adjusted gross income over the threshold for people who use the married filing separately status, Here’s an example of how this works. Let’s say Darla had adjusted gross income of $300,000 in 2017.

How much income is exempt from federal taxes?

Married taxpayers filing jointly are exempt if their combined income does not exceed $22,699. The income figures don’t include Social Security benefits and retirement income, which are treated differently. The source of their income determines if retirees are exempt.

Are there any personal exemptions for the 2019 tax year?

Note that for the 2019 tax year, there are no longer personal exemptions. Prior to 2018, taxpayers could claim a personal exemption ($4,050 in 2017), which lowered taxable income. The new tax plan signed by President Trump in late 2017 eliminated the personal exemption. Deductions are somewhat more complicated.