what is personal exemption for yourself
Personal exemptions for both taxpayers and dependents provide that only a personâs income above some defined basic level is subject to tax. This helps ensure that the poorest households are not subject to the income tax. In 2016, the personal exemption is $4,050. In 2013, tax filers reported $9.1 trillion in adjusted gross income (AGI) and claimed $1.1 trillion in personal exemptions (although, as explained below, not all exemptions could be fully utilized to reduce tax liability).