How to Find Your AGI on Your Tax Return

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is a foundational income figure used in tax calculations. It represents your gross income after certain deductions have been applied. Understanding your AGI is important because it serves as the starting point for determining various tax benefits, credits, and additional deductions. This figure plays a significant role in your overall tax liability.

Identifying AGI on Your Tax Form

To locate your Adjusted Gross Income, you will typically refer to your filed tax return. For most individual taxpayers, AGI is found on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. For the 2023 tax year, your Adjusted Gross Income is reported on Line 11 of Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR. This line is generally situated near the middle of the first page of the form, positioned after calculations for total income and before standard or itemized deductions.

If you do not have a physical copy of your tax return, an official tax transcript can provide this information. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers various transcript types, and the “Tax Return Transcript” is the most relevant for finding your AGI. You can request a tax transcript online directly from the IRS website, by mail, or by phone.

When accessing a tax transcript, the Adjusted Gross Income is usually clearly labeled. For instance, on a Tax Return Transcript, the AGI will be listed under the “ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME” section. Online requests for transcripts are often available immediately for viewing or downloading, while mailed requests can take five to ten calendar days to arrive.

For those who use online tax preparation software, locating your AGI is straightforward. After completing and filing your return, most software platforms provide a digital copy of your tax form. You can typically find your AGI on the summary page or within the PDF version of your Form 1040 or 1040-SR provided by the software.

What Adjusted Gross Income Represents

Adjusted Gross Income is a crucial intermediate step in calculating your taxable income. It begins with your total gross income, which includes all taxable earnings such as wages, salaries, interest, dividends, business income, and capital gains. From this total, specific deductions are subtracted to arrive at your AGI. These deductions are often referred to as “above-the-line” deductions because they are subtracted before calculating taxable income. Examples of common above-the-line deductions include contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), student loan interest payments, Health Savings Account (HSA) deductions, and certain self-employment tax deductions.

The resulting AGI figure is significant because it forms the basis for calculating many other tax-related items. Tax rules often use AGI to determine eligibility for various tax credits, the deductibility of certain itemized deductions, and the phase-out thresholds for specific tax benefits. This makes AGI a more refined measure of your income compared to gross income.