Personal exemptions are subtractions from income tax for each person living in your household along with additional deductions for being 65 or older and/or blind.
The more exemptions you claim, the less state tax will be withheld from your paycheck. Generally it's a good idea to claim the actual number of people in your household. For example, if you claim four exemptions but you live alone, then you will owe money at tax time because not enough tax was taken out.
Some people claim less because they want a bigger refund. For example, instead of claiming yourself, you can claim $0. More tax will be taken out of your pay and you will get back the difference at tax time.
- Line 1. You may claim an exemption for yourself.
- Line 2. You may claim an exemption for your spouse if he or she is not already claimed on his or her own certificate.
- Line 3. Enter the number of dependents you are allowed to claim on your income tax return. NOTE: A spouse is not a dependent.
- Line 5. If you will be age 65 or over by January 1, you may claim one exemption on Line 5(a). If you claim an exemption for your spouse on Line 2, and your spouse will also be age 65 or over by January 1, you may claim an additional exemption on Line 5(b).
- Line 6. If you are legally blind, you may claim an exemption on Line 6(a). If you claimed an exemption for your spouse on Line 2, and your spouse is legally blind, you may claim an exemption on Line 6(b).
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