How to Find Your AGI When It’s Not on Your W-2

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is a key figure in personal finance and taxation, used for many financial calculations and eligibility criteria. It represents a taxpayer’s gross income reduced by specific deductions. A common misunderstanding is that AGI can be found directly on a W-2 form. However, a W-2 only reports income and withholdings from one employer, making it an incomplete record for overall AGI.

Understanding Adjusted Gross Income

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is your total gross income with certain permitted deductions subtracted. Gross income encompasses all money earned from various sources before any deductions are applied. This includes wages, salaries, interest, dividends, business income, and other earnings.

A W-2 form details income from a specific employer, displaying only a portion of an individual’s total income. It does not account for other income streams like self-employment earnings, rental income, or investment returns. Furthermore, a W-2 does not reflect the “above-the-line” deductions subtracted to arrive at AGI. Therefore, AGI, which considers all income sources and these specific deductions, cannot be listed on a W-2.

Calculating Your AGI

Calculating your Adjusted Gross Income begins by compiling all sources of your gross income for the tax year. This includes wages, tips, and other compensation reported in Box 1 of your W-2 form. Beyond employment income, you must also account for interest income (Form 1099-INT) and dividend income (Form 1099-DIV).

Other common income sources include capital gains, business income or loss (Schedule C), rental income or loss (Schedule E), unemployment compensation (Form 1099-G), and pension or annuity income (Form 1099-R). Social Security benefits may also be taxable. After totaling all gross income, the next step involves subtracting specific “above-the-line” deductions. These deductions reduce your gross income before your AGI is determined, regardless of whether you take the standard deduction or itemize.

Common above-the-line deductions include:
Contributions to a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA), often found on Form 5498.
Student loan interest paid, with details often on Form 1098-E.
Contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA), generally reported on Form 8889.
One-half of self-employment taxes for self-employed individuals, and certain educator expenses.
Alimony payments made under divorce decrees executed before 2019.

Once all eligible above-the-line deductions are identified and summed, they are subtracted from your total gross income. The resulting figure is your Adjusted Gross Income, expressed as: (Total Gross Income) – (Total Above-the-Line Deductions) = Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

Locating Your AGI on Filed Tax Returns

If you have previously filed a tax return, your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is readily available on the main tax form. For recent tax years, including 2020 through 2024, your AGI is reported on Line 11 of Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Having a copy of your filed tax return, either in paper or digital format, is the most direct way to locate this information.

Alternatively, you can obtain your AGI by requesting a tax transcript directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An IRS tax transcript provides a summary of your tax return information, including your AGI, and is not a copy of your full return. The IRS offers an online “Get Transcript” service, often the quickest method to access these records. You can also request transcripts by mail using Form 4506-T or by calling the IRS automated phone transcript service. These methods are useful for retrieving past years’ AGI.