Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §5126, first ¶, as amended by PL 2001, c. 583, §16, is further amended to read:

For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1998 but before January 1, 1999, a resident individual is allowed $2,400 for each exemption that the individual properly claims for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes, unless the taxpayer is claimed as a dependent on another return. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1999 but before January 1, 2000, a resident individual is allowed $2,750 for each exemption that the individual properly claims for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes, unless the taxpayer is claimed as a dependent on another return. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2000 but before January 1, 2003, a resident individual is allowed $2,850 for each exemption that the individual properly claims for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes, unless the taxpayer is claimed as a dependent on another return. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2003, a resident individual is allowed $5,500 for each exemption that the individual properly claims for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes, unless the taxpayer is claimed as a dependent on another return.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the State's income tax law to increase the amount of each personal exemption from $2,850 to $5,500.