What is the definition of adjusted gross income

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is defined as the gross income earned by an individual minus several adjustments made to that income, such as trade and business deductions. Gross income is the income earned by an individual, including the wage, dividends, capital gains, business income, retirement distributions but can also include other types of income. In order to find the AGI, adjustments are made to the income including for instance student loan interests, alimony payments or retirement savings.

The AGI must be calculated by the IRS to determine one individual’s income tax liability for the taxable year. The term applies to individuals and affects the extent to which medical expenses, nonbusiness casualty and theft losses, charitable contributions, and other items may be deducted.

See: 26 U.S. Code § 62

For more on adjusted gross income, see this St. John's Law Review article and this Brigham Young Law Review article.

[Last updated in November of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Your total (or “gross”) income for the tax year, minus certain adjustments you’re allowed to take. Adjustments include deductions for conventional IRA contributions, student loan interest, and more. Adjusted gross income appears on IRS Form 1040, line 11.

To report expected income on your Marketplace health insurance application, you can start with your most recent year's adjusted gross income and update it based on income and household changes you expect for the coverage year.

The Marketplace uses a different figure, called

, to determine eligibility for savings. MAGI is not a line on your tax return.

  • See the most recent official IRS rules on using income adjustments to determine your AGI
  • See how to estimate income for your Marketplace application
  • Find out if you'll save on Marketplace health coverage

In the United States income tax system, adjusted gross income (AGI) is an individual's total gross income minus specific deductions.[1] It is used to calculate taxable income, which is AGI minus allowances for personal exemptions and itemized deductions. For most individual tax purposes, AGI is more relevant than gross income.

Gross income is sales price of goods or property, minus cost of the property sold, plus other income. It includes wages, interest, dividends, business income, rental income, and all other types of income. Adjusted gross income is gross income less deductions from a business or rental activity and 21 other specific items.

Several deductions (e.g. medical expenses and miscellaneous itemized deductions) are limited based on a percentage of AGI. Certain phase outs, including those of lower tax rates and itemized deductions, are based on levels of AGI. Many states base state income tax on AGI with certain deductions.

Adjusted gross income is calculated by subtracting Above-the-line deduction from gross income.

Gross income[edit]

Gross income includes "all income from whatever source," and is not limited to cash received. It specifically includes wages, salary, bonuses, interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from operating a business, alimony, pensions and annuities, share of income from partnerships and S corporations, and income tax refunds.[2] Gross income includes net gains for disposal of assets, including capital gains and capital losses. Losses on personal assets are not deducted in computing gross income or adjusted gross income. Gifts and inheritances are excluded.[3]

Adjustments[edit]

Gross income is reduced by certain items to arrive at adjusted gross income.[1] These include:

  • Expenses of carrying on a trade or business including most rental activities (other than as an employee)
  • Certain business expenses of teachers, reservists, performing artists, and fee-basis government officials,
  • Health savings account deductions,
  • Certain moving expenses
  • One-half of self-employment tax,
  • Allowable contributions to certain retirement arrangements (SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and qualified plans) and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs),
  • Penalties imposed by financial institutions and others on early withdrawal of savings,
  • Alimony paid (which the recipient must include in gross income),
  • College tuition, fees, and student loan interest (with limitations and exceptions),
  • Jury duty pay remitted to the juror's employer,
  • Domestic production activities deduction, and
  • Certain other items of limited applicability.

Reporting on Form 1040[edit]

Gross income is reported on U.S. federal individual income tax returns (Form 1040 series) type of income. Supporting schedules and forms are required in some cases, e.g., Schedule B[4] for interest and dividends. Income of business and rental activities, including those through partnerships or S corporations, is reported net of the expenses of the business. These are reported on Schedule C[5] for business income, Schedule E[6] for rental income, and Schedule F[7] for farm income.

Modified AGI[edit]

Certain tax calculations are based on modified versions of AGI. The definition of "modified AGI" varies according to the purpose for which the related calculation is being used. These modified versions of AGI may add certain items to AGI that were excluded in computing both gross income and adjusted gross income. Common additions include tax exempt interest, the excluded portion of Social Security benefits and tax-free foreign earned income.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b 26 U.S.C. § 62
  2. ^ 26 U.S.C. § 61
  3. ^ 26 USC 102
  4. ^ https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sb.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040se.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  7. ^ https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040sf.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  8. ^ LISAK, BARRY. "New Premium Tax Credit for 2014".

Further reading[edit]

IRS Materials

  • Publication 17 Your Federal Income Tax
  • Form 1040 series of forms and instructions
  • Social Security's booklet "Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries" and the calculation of the Social Security MAGI.

How do you calculate adjusted gross income?

The AGI calculation is relatively straightforward. It is equal to the total income you report that's subject to income tax—such as earnings from your job, self-employment, dividends and interest from a bank account—minus specific deductions, or “adjustments” that you're eligible to take.

What is adjusted gross income example?

Gross income includes your wages, dividends, capital gains, business income, retirement distributions as well as other income. Adjustments to Income include such items as Educator expenses, Student loan interest, Alimony payments or contributions to a retirement account.

What is difference between taxable income and adjusted gross income?

Taxable income is a layman's term that refers to your adjusted gross income (AGI) less any itemized deductions you're entitled to claim or your standard deduction.

What is not included in adjusted gross income?

Adjusted Gross Income, or AGI, starts with your gross income, and is then reduced by certain “above the line” deductions. Some common examples of deductions that reduce adjusted gross income include 401(k) contributions, health savings account contributions and educator expenses.