Exemptions

Resident aliens can claim personal exemptions and exemptions for dependents in the same way as U.S. citizens. However, nonresident aliens generally can claim only a personal exemption for themselves on their U.S. tax return.

Resident Aliens

You can claim personal exemptions and exemptions for dependents according to the dependency rules for U.S. citizens. You can claim an exemption for your spouse on a separate return if your spouse had no gross income for U.S. tax purposes and was not the dependent of another taxpayer. You can claim this exemption even if your spouse has not been a resident alien for a full tax year or is an alien who has not come to the United States.

You can claim an exemption for each person who qualifies as a dependent according to the rules for U.S. citizens. The dependent must be a citizen or national (defined earlier) of the United States or be a resident of the United States, Canada, or Mexico for some part of the calendar year in which your tax year begins. Get Publication 501 for more information.

Your spouse and each dependent must have either an SSN or an ITIN. See Identification Number, earlier.

Phase-out of exemptions. If the adjusted gross income shown on your tax return is more than the amount shown below for your filing status, your deduction for exemptions may be reduced or eliminated. Use the worksheet in your income tax return instructions to figure the amount, if any, you can deduct.

• $96,700 if married filing separately
• $128,950 if single
• $161,150 if head of household
• $193,400 if married filing jointly or a qualifying widow(er) with dependent child

Nonresident Aliens

Generally, if you are a nonresident alien engaged in a trade or business in the United States, you can claim only one personal exemption ($2,800 for 2000). You may be able to claim an exemption for a spouse and a dependent if you are described in any of the following discussions.

Your spouse and each dependent must have either an SSN or an ITIN. See Identification Number, earlier.

Residents of Mexico or Canada or U.S. nationals. If you are a resident of Mexico or Canada or a national of the United States (defined earlier), you can also claim a personal exemption for your spouse if your spouse had no gross income for U.S. tax purposes and was not the dependent of another taxpayer. In addition, you can claim exemptions for your dependents who meet certain tests. Residents of Mexico, Canada, or nationals of the United States must use the same rules as U.S. citizens to determine who is a dependent and for which dependents exemptions can be claimed. See Publication 501 for these rules. For purposes of these rules, dependents who are U.S. nationals meet the citizenship test discussed in Publication 501.

Residents of Japan or South Korea. Nonresident aliens who are residents of Japan or South Korea may be able to claim exemptions for a spouse and children. The tax treaties with Japan and Korea impose two additional requirements on Japanese or Korean residents:

1. The spouse and all children claimed must live with the alien in the United States at some time during the tax year, and
2. The additional deduction for the exemptions must be prorated based on the ratio of the alien's U.S. source gross income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business for the tax year to the alien's entire income from all sources during the tax year.

Example. Mr. Sato, a nonresident alien who is a resident of Japan, lives temporarily in the United States with his wife and two children. During the tax year he receives U.S. compensation of $9,000. He also receives $3,000 of income from sources outside the United States that is not effectively connected with his U.S. trade or business. Thus, his total income for the year is $12,000. Mr. Sato meets all requirements for claiming exemptions for his spouse and two children. The additional deduction is $6,300 figured as follows:

$9,000
------- x $8,400(*)  = $6,300
$12,000 

(*) 3 x $2,800

Students and business apprentices from India. Students and business apprentices who are eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the United States-India Income Tax Treaty may be able to claim exemptions for their spouse and dependents.

You can claim an exemption for your spouse if he or she had no gross income during the year and is not the dependent of another taxpayer.

You can claim exemptions for each of your dependents not admitted to the United States on "F-2," "J-2," or "M-2" visas if they meet the same rules that apply to U.S. citizens. See Publication 501 for these rules.

List your spouse and dependents on line 7c of Form 1040NR. Enter the total on the appropriate line to the right of line 7c.

Phase-out of exemptions. If the adjusted gross income shown on line 33 of Form 1040NR is more than the amount shown below for your filing status, your deduction for exemptions may be reduced or eliminated. Use the worksheet in the Form 1040NR instructions to figure the amount, if any, you can deduct.

• $96,700 if married filing separately
• $128,950 if single
• $193,400 if a qualifying widow(er) with dependent child

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