Phaseout of Exemptions

The amount you can claim as a deduction for exemptions is phased out once your adjusted gross income (AGI) goes above a certain level for your filing status. These levels are as follows:

	AGI Level
Which Reduces
Filing Status	Exemption Amount
Married filing separately	$103,000
Single	137,300
Head of household	171,650
Married filing jointly	206,000
Qualifying widow(er)	206,000

You must reduce the dollar amount of your exemptions by 2% for each $2,500, or part of $2,500 ($1,250 if you are married filing separately), that your AGI exceeds the amount shown above for your filing status. If your AGI exceeds the amount shown above by more than $122,500 ($61,250 if married filing separately), the amount of your deduction for exemptions is reduced to zero.

If your AGI exceeds the level for your filing status, use Table 6 to figure the amount of your deduction for exemptions.

Social Security Numbers for Dependents

You must list the social security number (SSN) of any person for whom you claim an exemption in column (2) of line 6c of your Form 1040 or Form 1040A.

If you do not list the dependent's SSN when required or if you list an incorrect SSN, the exemption may be disallowed.

Note.   If your dependent does not have and cannot get an SSN, you must list the individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) or adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN) instead of an SSN. See Taxpayer identification numbers for aliens or Taxpayer identification number for adoptees, later.

No social security number.   If a person for whom you expect to claim an exemption on your return does not have an SSN, either you or that person should apply for an SSN as soon as possible by filing Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Information about applying for an SSN and Form SS-5 is available at your local SSA office.

It usually takes about 2 weeks to get an SSN. If you do not have a required SSN by the filing due date, you can file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for an extension of time to file.

Born and died in 2002.   If your child was born and died in 2002, and you do not have an SSN for the child, you may attach a copy of the child's birth certificate instead. If you do, enter DIED in column (2) of line 6c of your Form 1040 or Form 1040A.

Taxpayer identification numbers for aliens.   If your dependent is a resident or nonresident alien who does not have and is not eligible to get an SSN, the IRS will issue your dependent an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) instead of an SSN. Write the number in column (2) of line 6c of your Form 1040 or Form 1040A. To apply for an ITIN, use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

It usually takes about 30 days to get an ITIN.

Taxpayer identification number for adoptees.   If you have a child who was placed with you by an authorized placement agency, you may be able to claim an exemption for the child. However, if you cannot get an SSN or an ITIN for the child, you must get an adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN) for the child from the IRS. See Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions, for details.

2002 Standard Deduction Tables

Standard Deduction

Most taxpayers have a choice of either taking a standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. The standard deduction is a dollar amount that reduces the amount of income on which you are taxed. It is a benefit that eliminates the need for many taxpayers to itemize actual deductions, such as medical expenses, charitable contributions, and taxes, on Schedule A of Form 1040. The standard deduction is higher for taxpayers who are 65 or older or blind. If you have a choice, you should use the method that gives you the lower tax.

You benefit from the standard deduction if your standard deduction is more than the total of your allowable itemized deductions.

Persons not eligible for the standard deduction.   Your standard deduction is zero and you should itemize any deductions you have if:

1. You are married and filing a separate return, and your spouse itemizes deductions,
2. You are filing a tax return for a short tax year because of a change in your annual accounting period, or
3. You are a nonresident or dual-status alien during the year. You are considered a dual-status alien if you were both a nonresident and resident alien during the year.

   If you are a nonresident alien who is married to a U.S. citizen or resident at the end of the year, you can choose to be treated as a U.S. resident. (See Publication 519.) If you make this choice, you can take the standard deduction.

If an exemption for you can be claimed on another person's return (such as your parents' return), your standard deduction may be limited. See Standard Deduction for Dependents, later.

Standard Deduction Amount

The standard deduction amount depends on your filing status, whether you are 65 or older or blind, and whether an exemption can be claimed for you by another taxpayer. Generally, the standard deduction amounts are adjusted each year for inflation. The standard deduction amounts for most taxpayers for 2002 are shown in Table 7.

The amount of the standard deduction for a decedent's final tax return is the same as it would have been had the decedent continued to live. However, if the decedent was not 65 or older at the time of death, the higher standard deduction for age cannot be claimed.

Higher Standard Deduction for Age (65 or Older)

If you do not itemize deductions, you are entitled to a higher standard deduction if you are age 65 or older at the end of the year. You are considered 65 on the day before your 65th birthday. Therefore, you can take a higher standard deduction for 2002 if your 65th birthday was on or before January 1, 2003.

Use Table 8 to figure the standard deduction amount.

Higher Standard Deduction for Blindness

If you are blind on the last day of the year and you do not itemize deductions, you are entitled to a higher standard deduction. Use Table 8. You qualify for this benefit if you are totally or partly blind.

Partly blind.   If you are partly blind, you must get a certified statement from an eye doctor or registered optometrist that:

1. You cannot see better than 20/200 in the better eye with glasses or contact lenses, or
2. Your field of vision is not more than 20 degrees.

If your eye condition will never improve beyond these limits, the statement should include this fact. You must keep the statement in your records.

If your vision can be corrected beyond these limits only by contact lenses that you can wear only briefly because of pain, infection, or ulcers, you can take the higher standard deduction for blindness if you otherwise qualify.

Spouse 65 or Older or Blind

You can take the higher standard deduction if your spouse is age 65 or older or blind and:

1. You file a joint return, or
2. You file a separate return and can claim an exemption for your spouse because your spouse had no gross income and an exemption for your spouse could not be claimed by another taxpayer.

You cannot claim the higher standard deduction for an individual other than yourself and your spouse.

Examples

The following examples illustrate how to determine your standard deduction using Tables 7 and 8.

Example 1.   Larry, 46, and Donna, 33, are filing a joint return for 2002. Neither is blind. They decide not to itemize their deductions. They use Table 7. Their standard deduction is $7,850.

Example 2.   Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that Larry is blind at the end of 2002. Larry and Donna use Table 8. Their standard deduction is $8,750.

Example 3.   Bill and Terry are filing a joint return for 2002. Both are over age 65. Neither is blind. If they do not itemize deductions, they use Table 8. Their standard deduction is $9,650.

Standard Deduction for Dependents

The standard deduction for an individual for whom an exemption can be claimed on another person's tax return is generally limited to the greater of:

1. $750, or
2. The individual's earned income for the year plus $250 (but not more than the regular standard deduction amount, generally $4,700).

However, if the individual is 65 or older or blind, the standard deduction may be higher.

If an exemption for you (or your spouse if you are married filing jointly) can be claimed on someone else's return, use Table 9 to determine your standard deduction.

Earned income defined.   Earned income is salaries, wages, tips, professional fees and other amounts received as pay for work you actually perform.

For purposes of the standard deduction, earned income also includes any part of a scholarship or fellowship grant that you must include in your gross income. See Publication 520 for more information on what qualifies as a scholarship or fellowship grant.

Example 1.   Michael is single. His parents claim an exemption for him on their 2002 tax return. He has interest income of $780 and wages of $150. He has no itemized deductions. Michael uses Table 9 to find his standard deduction. He enters $150 (his earned income) on line 1, $400 ($150 plus $250) on line 3, $750 (the larger of $400 and $750) on line 5, and $4,700 on line 6. The amount of his standard deduction, on line 7a, is $750 (the smaller of $750 and $4,700).

Example 2.   Joe, a 22-year-old full-time college student, is claimed on his parents' 2002 tax return. Joe is married and files a separate return. His wife does not itemize deductions on her separate return.

Joe has $1,500 in interest income and wages of $3,800. He has no itemized deductions. Joe finds his standard deduction by using Table 9. He enters his earned income, $3,800, on line 1. He adds lines 1 and 2 and enters $4,050 on line 3. On line 5 he enters $4,050, the larger of lines 3 and 4. Since Joe is married filing a separate return, he enters $3,925 on line 6. On line 7a he enters $3,925 as his standard deduction because it is smaller than $4,050, the amount on line 5.

Example 3.   Amy, who is single, is claimed on her parents' 2002 tax return. She is 18 years old and blind. She has interest income of $1,300 and wages of $2,900. She has no itemized deductions. Amy uses Table 9 to find her standard deduction. She enters her wages of $2,900 on line 1. She adds lines 1 and 2 and enters $3,150 on line 3. On line 5 she enters $3,150, the larger of lines 3 and 4. Since she is single, Amy enters $4,700 on line 6. She enters $3,150 on line 7a. This is the smaller of the amounts on lines 5 and 6. Because she checked one box in the top part of the worksheet, she enters $1,150 on line 7b. She then adds the amounts on lines 7a and 7b and enters her standard deduction of $4,300 on line 7c.

Who Should Itemize

You should itemize deductions if your total deductions are more than the standard deduction amount. Also, you should itemize if you do not qualify for the standard deduction, as discussed earlier under Persons not eligible for the standard deduction.

You should first figure your itemized deductions and compare that amount to your standard deduction to make sure you are using the method that gives you the greater benefit.

You may be subject to a limit on some of your itemized deductions if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $137,300 ($68,650 if you are married filing separately). See the instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040), line 28, for more information on figuring the correct amount of your itemized deductions.

When to itemize.   You may benefit from itemizing your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) if you:

1. Do not qualify for the standard deduction, or the amount you can claim is limited,
2. Had large uninsured medical and dental expenses during the year,
3. Paid interest and taxes on your home,
4. Had large unreimbursed employee business expenses or other miscellaneous deductions,
5. Had large uninsured casualty or theft losses,
6. Made large contributions to qualified charities, or
7. Have total itemized deductions that are more than the standard deduction to which you otherwise are entitled.

If you decide to itemize your deductions, complete Schedule A and attach it to your Form 1040. Enter the amount from Schedule A, line 28, on Form 1040, line 38.

Itemizing for state tax or other purposes.   If you choose to itemize even though your itemized deductions are less than the amount of your standard deduction, write IE (itemized elected) next to line 38 (Form 1040).

Changing your mind.   If you do not itemize your deductions and later find that you should have itemized - or if you itemize your deductions and later find you should not have - you can change your return by filing Form 1040X.

Married persons who filed separate returns.   You can change methods of taking deductions only if you and your spouse both make the same changes. Both of you must file a consent to assessment for any additional tax either one may owe as a result of the change.

You and your spouse can use the method that gives you the lower total tax, even though one of you may pay more tax than you would have paid by using the other method. You both must use the same method of claiming deductions. If one itemizes deductions, the other should itemize because he or she will not qualify for the standard deduction (see Persons not eligible for the standard deduction, earlier).

How To Get Tax Help

You can get help with unresolved tax issues, order free publications and forms, ask tax questions, and get more information from the IRS in several ways. By selecting the method that is best for you, you will have quick and easy access to tax help.

Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate.   If you have attempted to deal with an IRS problem unsuccessfully, you should contact your Taxpayer Advocate.

The Taxpayer Advocate represents your interests and concerns within the IRS by protecting your rights and resolving problems that have not been fixed through normal channels. While Taxpayer Advocates cannot change the tax law or make a technical tax decision, they can clear up problems that resulted from previous contacts and ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial review.

To contact your Taxpayer Advocate:

• Call the Taxpayer Advocate at
  1-877-777-4778.
• Call, write, or fax the Taxpayer Advocate office in your area.
• Call 1-800-829-4059 if you are a
  TTY/TDD user.

For more information, see Publication 1546, The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the IRS.

Free tax services.   To find out what services are available, get Publication 910, Guide to Free Tax Services. It contains a list of free tax publications and an index of tax topics. It also describes other free tax information services, including tax education and assistance programs and a list of TeleTax topics.

Personal computer. With your personal computer and modem, you can access the IRS on the Internet at www.irs.gov. While visiting our web site, you can:

• See answers to frequently asked tax questions or request help by e-mail.
• Download forms and publications or search for forms and publications by topic or keyword.
• Order IRS products on-line.
• View forms that may be filled in electronically, print the completed form, and then save the form for recordkeeping.
• View Internal Revenue Bulletins published in the last few years.
• Search regulations and the Internal Revenue Code.
• Receive our electronic newsletters on hot tax issues and news.
• Learn about the benefits of filing electronically (IRS e-file).
• Get information on starting and operating a small business.

You can also reach us with your computer using File Transfer Protocol at ftp.irs.gov.

TaxFax Service. Using the phone attached to your fax machine, you can receive forms and instructions by calling 703-368-9694. Follow the directions from the prompts. When you order forms, enter the catalog number for the form you need. The items you request will be faxed to you.

For help with transmission problems, call the FedWorld Help Desk at 703-487-4608.

Phone. Many services are available by phone.

• Ordering forms, instructions, and publications. Call 1-800-829-3676 to order current and prior year forms, instructions, and publications.
• Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with your tax questions at 1-800-829-1040.
• Solving problems. Take advantage of Everyday Tax Solutions service by calling your local IRS office to set up an in-person appointment at your convenience. Check your local directory assistance or www.irs.gov for the numbers.
• TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access to TTY/TDD equipment, call 1-800-829- 4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and publications.
• TeleTax topics. Call 1-800-829-4477 to listen to pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics.

Evaluating the quality of our telephone services. To ensure that IRS representatives give accurate, courteous, and professional answers, we use several methods to evaluate the quality of our telephone services. One method is for a second IRS representative to sometimes listen in on or record telephone calls. Another is to ask some callers to complete a short survey at the end of the call.

Walk-in. Many products and services are available on a walk-in basis.

• Products. You can walk in to many post offices, libraries, and IRS offices to pick up certain forms, instructions, and publications. Some IRS offices, libraries, grocery stores, copy centers, city and county governments, credit unions, and office supply stores have an extensive collection of products available to print from a CD-ROM or photocopy from reproducible proofs. Also, some IRS offices and libraries have the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, Internal Revenue Bulletins, and Cumulative Bulletins available for research purposes.
• Services. You can walk in to your local IRS office to ask tax questions or get help with a tax problem. Now you can set up an appointment by calling your local IRS office number and, at the prompt, leaving a message requesting Everyday Tax Solutions help. A representative will call you back within 2 business days to schedule an in-person appointment at your convenience.

Mail. You can send your order for forms, instructions, and publications to the Distribution Center nearest to you and receive a response within 10 workdays after your request is received. Find the address that applies to your part of the country.

• Western part of U.S.:
  Western Area Distribution Center
  Rancho Cordova, CA 95743-0001
• Central part of U.S.:
  Central Area Distribution Center
  P.O. Box 8903
  Bloomington, IL 61702-8903
• Eastern part of U.S. and foreign addresses:
  Eastern Area Distribution Center
  P.O. Box 85074
  Richmond, VA 23261-5074

CD-ROM for tax products. You can order IRS Publication 1796, Federal Tax Products on CD-ROM, and obtain:

• Current tax forms, instructions, and publications.
• Prior-year tax forms and instructions.
• Popular tax forms that may be filled in electronically, printed out for submission, and saved for recordkeeping.
• Internal Revenue Bulletins.

The CD-ROM can be purchased from National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling 1-877-233-6767 or on the Internet at http://www.irs.gov/cdorders. The first release is available in early January and the final release is available in late February.

CD-ROM for small businesses. IRS Publication 3207, Small Business Resource Guide, is a must for every small business owner or any taxpayer about to start a business. This handy, interactive CD contains all the business tax forms, instructions and publications needed to successfully manage a business. In addition, the CD provides an abundance of other helpful information, such as how to prepare a business plan, finding financing for your business, and much more. The design of the CD makes finding information easy and quick and incorporates file formats and browsers that can be run on virtually any desktop or laptop computer.

It is available in March. You can get a free copy by calling 1-800-829-3676 or by visiting the website at www.irs.gov/smallbiz.

Previous | First

Publication Index | 2002 Tax Help Archives | Tax Help Archives | Home