43-1023. Exemptions for blind persons and persons sixty-five years of age or older

A. A taxpayer is allowed an exemption of $1,500:

1. For a taxpayer who is blind or if either the taxpayer's central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or the taxpayer's 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 not greater than twenty degrees.

2. For the taxpayer's spouse if a separate return is made by the taxpayer and if the spouse is blind as described in paragraph 1 of this subsection, has no Arizona adjusted gross income for the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins and is not the dependent of another taxpayer.  For the purposes of this paragraph, the determination of whether the spouse is blind shall be made at the close of the taxable year of the taxpayer. If the spouse dies during the taxable year, the determination shall be made as of the time of the spouse's death.

B. A taxpayer is allowed an exemption of $2,300 for:

1. Each person sixty-five years of age or older regardless of the person's relationship to the taxpayer:

(a) If the taxpayer pays more than one-fourth of the total cost of maintaining that person in a nursing care institution or residential care institution licensed pursuant to title 36, chapter 4, or an assisted living facility provider of a type certified pursuant to title 11, chapter 2, article 7, if such payments exceed $800 in the taxable year.

(b) If the taxpayer otherwise makes payments exceeding $800 in the taxable year for home health care or other types of medical care.

2. For taxable years beginning from and after December 31, 2003, each birth for which a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth has been issued pursuant to section 36-330 if the child otherwise would have been a member of the taxpayer's household.  The taxpayer may claim the exemption under this paragraph only in the taxable year in which the stillbirth occurred.

C. For taxable years beginning from and after December 31, 1998, a resident taxpayer is allowed an exemption of $10,000 for each parent or ancestor of a parent of the taxpayer, who is sixty-five years of age or older, who requires assistance with activities of daily living and who lives in the taxpayer's principal residence for the entire taxable year, if the taxpayer pays more than one-half of the person's total support and maintenance costs. An exemption under this subsection is in lieu of an exemption under subsection B of this section for the same person.

D. An exemption under subsection B or C of this section is in lieu of claiming a credit for the same person under section 43-1073.01.

E. A taxpayer is allowed an exemption of $2,100:

1. If the taxpayer has attained sixty-five years of age before the close of the taxable year filing a separate or joint return and the taxpayer is not claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer.

2. For the taxpayer's spouse if the spouse has attained sixty-five years of age before the close of the taxable year, a joint return is filed and the spouse is not a dependent of another taxpayer.