The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-07
YOUR FEDERAL
INCOME TAX
No. 4
PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS

The principle of the income tax
is to distribute taxes according. to
the relative ability of different per-
sons to pay. Therefore, every tax
payer is granted a personal exemp-
ton, which is deducted from his
income before computing the tax.
For the regular income tax, the
exemption on l943 income is $500
for single person and $1,000 for
married persons living with hus-
band or wife, and for other heads
of families. For the victory tax, the
exemption is 1924, regardless OF
whether married or single.
The $500 exemption for single
persons applies not only to unmar-
mied men and women but also to
widows, widowers divorces, and
also to married persons who are
separated by mutual consent. How
ever, married couples who are only
temporarily apart--as in the case Of
soldiers and their wives-are con-
sidered Giving together and en-
titled to the exemption Of married
persons living with husband or wife.
The 1900 exemption for married
persons is the total exemption for
a man and wife. regardless Of whe-
ther they have separate income or
whether they file separate or joint
returns. The 81 200 exemption may
be taken on the return OF either the
husband or the wife, or divided be-
tween them in any proportion they
desire If they file separate returns
on the long Form l040.
A similar exemption OF $1,000 Is
granted to other who qualify under
the definition of head of family"
for tax purposes-for instance,
single persons supporting aged par
ents, and widows or widowers sup
porting minor children.
Different methods of claiming
these exemptions are provided in
the two forms Of tax returns-the
short Form l040A and the long
Form l040.
On the short Form l040A, you do
not have to figure the amount Of
exemption. Instead, you need only
check in one OF the boxes cat the
top Of the back page which ex-
presses your family status (single,
married. etc. on July 1. 1913. Be-
low these boxes is a table Of taxes,
divided into three columns. The
form will show you which column
10 use according to which family
status box you checked. In this
manner you receive the benefit Of
the personal exemption, and your
regular income tax can be found
without any computation.
On the long Form 1910, you must
show not only the amount OF the
exemption you claim, but also for
how many months Of the year you
were single or married, or other
wise a head of family" On this
form, persons whose status changes
during the year are required to
prorate their exemption according
ly. For instance, couple who were
married after three-fourths Of the
year had gone by would each be
entitled to three-fourths of O sin
gle persons exemption (9-l2 Of
5000 and together would also be
entitled to one-fourth Of married
couples exemption (3-12 OF $4,000.
II a married person dies during the
year. his personal exemption is pro-
rated for the period up to the date
Of death. and the surviving wife or
husband Is considered single" for
the rest Of the year, unless she or
he remarries or is entitled to the
status Of head Of family"
In the case of 1924 victory tax
exemption. the amount must be en-
tered on both forms but Is not af-
fected by family status or by death.
For any return reporting the In
come OF only one person teither
single or married, and including
Joint returns upon which either the
or wife has no income).
the exemption Is a fiat 1924 In all
cases. For any Joint return in which
both the husband and wife each re-
port more than 1924 income, each
Is entitled to 1924 exemption, or a
total Of $l,248. For joint returns In
which either the husband or the
wife has income which Is less than
eH24, they should add the amount
Of the smaller income and 1924 and
enuer the total on their return. In
this last instance, suppose Q hus-
pand had $1,000 income and his
wife 5000; their joint victory tax ex-
emption will be 1924 plus $500, or q
total Of 1924.
If you are IN doubt about the
correct amount Of your personal
exemption, advice may be obtained
readily from the once Of the near
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