J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                           625

United States, except income, excess profits, federal excise taxes,
inheritance, estate, succession or gift taxes.

282. Optional Standard Deduction for Individuals.

For all calendar years beginning after December 31, 1950, and for
all fiscal years ending after said date, an individual, excluding, how-
ever, fiduciaries to the extent included under subsection (e) and de-
fined under subsection (f) of Section 279 of this subtitle, shall be
allowed a standard deduction, which shall be allowed only if the
individual elects to claim it [.] and the filing of a return by use of
the optional standard deduction herein provided shall constitute such
election and said return and method of filing shall be final and
irrevocable for the particular taxable year. Where the individual
elects to claim the optional standard deduction here provided, such
deduction shall be in lieu of all non-business ground rents and interest
paid or incurred, taxes, casualty losses, including theft, nonbusiness
contributions, medical expenses, alimony and losses to the extent
provided in Section 281 (e) of this subtitle. The standard deduction
herein provided for shall not be in lieu of the deductions provided
in Section 281 of this subtitle, to the extent paid or incurred in carry-
ing on a trade or business, including traveling expenses deductible
in subsection [(r)] (s) of Section 281 and expenses, including
losses paid or incurred in the acquisition of or care of income-
producing property to the extent under subsections (e) and (m) of
Section 281. The standard deduction provided for by this section
shall be in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the gross income
of the taxpayer as computed in accordance with the provisions of
this subtitle but in no event shall the standard deduction exceed five
hundred dollars ($500.00). In the case of husband and wife filing
a joint return, said return, for the purposes of this section, shall be
considered the return of two taxpayers; however, the standard de-
duction provided for in this section shall not be allowed to either if
the net income of one of the spouses is determined without regard to
such standard deduction or without regard to Section 289 hereof,
anything to the contrary in said Section 289 notwithstanding.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1959, but shall be applicable for the full calendar year Nine-
teen Hundred and Fifty Nine (1959) or a fiscal year to the extent
ending in said calendar year and for each calendar or fiscal year
thereafter.

Approved April 8, 1959.

CHAPTER 483
(House Bill 604)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 41 of
Article 11 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.

CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.

Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.