2022 Georgia Code
Title 48 - Revenue and Taxation
Chapter 7 - Income Taxes
Article 2 - Imposition, Rate, Computation, Exemptions, and Credits
§ 48-7-26. [Effective January 1, 2024. See note.] Personal Exemptions

1. As used in this Code section, the term “dependent” shall have the same meaning as in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; provided, however, that any unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat, as such terms are defined in Code Section 1-2-1, shall qualify as a dependent minor.
2. Each taxpayer shall be allowed as a deduction in computing his or her Georgia taxable income a personal exemption in an amount as follows:
   1. For each married couple filing a joint return:
      1. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, $18,500.00;
      2. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, $20,000.00;
      3. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2028, $22,000.00; or
      4. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2030, $24,000.00;
   2. For each married taxpayer filing a separate return, one-half of the amount of the personal exemption allowed under paragraph (1) of this subsection for the given year;
   3. For each single taxpayer or head of household, $12,000.00; and
   4. For each dependent of a taxpayer, $3,000.00.
3. No exemption shall be allowed under this Code section for any dependent who has made a joint return with such dependent’s spouse for the taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins.
4. A deduction in lieu of a personal exemption deduction shall be allowed an estate or a trust as follows:
   1. An estate — $2,700.00; and
   2. A trust — $1,350.00.

History. Code 1981, § 48-7-26 , enacted by Ga. L. 1987, p. 191, § 2; Ga. L. 1994, p. 381, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 48; Ga. L. 2012, p. 257, § 2-1/HB 386; Ga. L. 2019, p. 711, § 12/HB 481; Ga. L. 2022, p. 114, § 2-2/HB 1437.

Delayed effective date.

Code Section 48-7-26 is set out twice in this Code. This version, as set out above, is effective January 1, 2024. For version effective until January 1, 2024, see the preceding version.

The 2022 amendment, effective January 1, 2024, rewrote subsection (b), relating to personal exemptions from income tax. See Editor’s notes for applicability.

Editor’s notes.

Ga. L. 2022, p. 114, § 1-1/HB 1437, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2022.’”

Ga. L. 2022, p. 114, § 5-1/HB 1437, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “(a) This Act shall become effective upon the approval of this Act by the Governor or upon this Act becoming law without such approval; provided, however, that Part II of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2024, and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024.

“(b) Tax, penalty, and interest liabilities and refund eligibility for prior taxable years shall not be affected by the passage of this Act and shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated as they existed for such prior taxable years.”