Married taxpayers

If you both qualify, you and your spouse can each subtract up to $20,000 of your own pension and annuity income. However, neither of you can claim any unused part of your spouse’s exclusion.

Example: Chris and Pat, both age 62, included total pension and annuity income of $45,000 in their federal adjusted gross income on their joint federal tax return. Chris received qualifying pension and annuity payments totaling $30,000 and Pat received qualifying payments totaling $15,000. They are filing a joint New York State resident personal income tax return. Chris may claim the maximum pension and annuity income exclusion of $20,000, and Pat may claim an exclusion of $15,000, for a total pension and annuity income exclusion of $35,000.