(a) Allowance of deductions. In the case of a resident individual, the exemptions provided by this section, as applicable to individuals, shall be allowed as deductions in computing taxable income.

(b) Single individuals. In the case of a single individual, a personal exemption of Five Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($5,250.00) for the 1979 and 1980 calendar years and Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for each calendar year thereafter.

(c) Married individuals. In the case of married individuals living together, a joint personal exemption of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) for the 1979 and 1980 calendar years and Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($9,500.00) for the 1981 through 1997 calendar years, Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for the calendar year 1998, Eleven Thousand Dollars ($11,000.00) for the calendar year 1999, and Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000.00) for each calendar year thereafter. A husband and wife living together shall receive but one (1) personal exemption in the amounts provided for in this subsection for each calendar year against their aggregate income.

(d) Head of family individuals. In the case of a head of family individual, a personal exemption of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) for the 1979 and 1980 calendar years and Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($9,500.00) for each calendar year thereafter. The term “head of family” means an individual who is single, or married but not living with his spouse for the entire taxable year, who maintains a household which constitutes the principal place of abode of himself and one or more individuals who are dependents under the provisions of Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. The head of family individual shall be entitled to the additional dependent exemption as provided in subsection (e) of this section only to the extent of dependents in excess of the one (1) dependent needed to qualify as head of family.

(e) Additional exemption for dependents. In the case of any individual having a dependent, other than husband or wife, an additional personal exemption of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for each such dependent, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section. The term “dependent” as used in this subsection shall mean any person or individual who qualifies as a dependent under the provisions of Section 152, Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.

(f) Additional exemption for taxpayer or spouse aged sixty-five (65) or more. In the case of any taxpayer or the spouse of the taxpayer who has attained the age of sixty-five (65) before the close of his taxable year, an additional exemption of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00).

(g) Additional exemption for blindness of taxpayer or spouse. In the case of any taxpayer or the spouse of the taxpayer who is blind at the close of the taxable year, an additional exemption of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). For the purpose of this subsection, an individual is blind only if his central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses, or if his visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty (20) degrees.

(h) Husband and wife—claiming exemptions. In the case of husband and wife living together and filing combined returns, the personal and additional exemptions authorized and allowed by this section may be taken by either, or divided between them in any manner they may choose. If the husband and wife fail to choose, the commissioner shall divide the exemptions between husband and wife in an equitable manner. In the case of a husband and wife filing separate returns, the personal and additional exemptions authorized and allowed by this section shall be divided equally between the spouses.

(i) Nonresidents. A nonresident individual shall be allowed the same personal and additional exemptions as are authorized for resident individuals in subsection (a) of this section; however, the nonresident individual is entitled only to that proportion of the personal and additional exemptions as his net income from sources within the State of Mississippi bears to his total or entire net income from all sources.

(j) Part-year residents. An individual who is a resident of Mississippi for only a part of his taxable year by reason of either moving into the state or moving from the state shall be allowed the same personal and additional exemptions as authorized for resident individuals in subsection (a) of this section; the part-year resident shall prorate his exemption on the same basis as nonresidents having net income from within and without the state.

(k) Estates. In the case of an estate, a specific exemption of Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00).

(l) Trusts. In the case of a trust which, under its governing instrument, is required to distribute all of its income currently, a specific exemption of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00). In the case of all other trusts, a specific exemption of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

(m) Corporations, foundations, joint ventures, associations. In the case of a corporation, foundation, joint venture or association taxable herein, there shall be allowed no specific exemption, except as provided under the Growth and Prosperity Act, Sections 57-113-1 through 57-113-7, and Sections 57-113-21 through 57-113-27.

(n) Status. The status on the last day of the taxable year, except in the case of the head of family as provided in subsection (d) of this section, shall determine the right to the exemptions provided in this section; provided, that a taxpayer shall be entitled to such exemptions, otherwise allowable, if the husband or wife or dependent has died during the taxable year.

(o) Fiscal-year taxpayers. Individual taxpayers reporting on a fiscal year basis shall prorate their exemptions in a manner established by regulations promulgated by the commissioner.