How to Find Your Prior Year AGI (Adjusted Gross Income)
Quickly locate your prior year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for taxes, financial aid, and other essential verification needs.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is a key figure in personal finance. It represents your gross income, including wages, dividends, capital gains, and other earnings, after certain allowable deductions are applied. AGI helps determine tax liability, eligibility for various tax credits and deductions, and qualifications for financial aid or specific government benefits. Accessing prior year AGI is a common requirement for tax filing, loan applications, and other financial verification processes.
Primary Methods for AGI Retrieval
The most straightforward way to locate your prior year’s AGI is by reviewing a copy of your filed tax return. For most individual taxpayers, AGI is found on Line 11 of Form 1040. If you used tax preparation software, it typically retains copies of your returns, making AGI easily accessible. If a tax professional prepared your return, they can provide you with a copy or the AGI figure.
When a physical copy or software record is unavailable, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers online tools for AGI retrieval. The IRS “Get Transcript Online” tool allows immediate access to tax transcripts, including the Tax Return Transcript, which displays your AGI. To use this service, you must verify your identity through a multi-factor authentication process. This involves providing personal details such as your Social Security number, date of birth, filing status, and the address from your most recently filed tax return.
Online identity verification requires providing a personal account number from a financial instrument, such as a credit card, a home mortgage loan, a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a car loan. You must also have a U.S.-based mobile phone in your name capable of receiving text messages for an authentication code. If your mobile number cannot be linked to your name or if you have a “credit freeze” with Experian, you might need to temporarily lift the freeze or opt for an activation code mailed to your address of record, which can delay immediate access. Once identity verification is complete, you can view, print, or download your Tax Return Transcript, which includes your AGI.
Alternative AGI Retrieval Options
If online access proves difficult, requesting a tax transcript by mail or fax using Form 4506-T is a viable alternative. This form allows you to specify the tax year and the type of transcript needed. You will need to provide your name, Social Security number, current address, and if different, the address shown on the tax return for the requested year. The completed Form 4506-T should be mailed or faxed to the appropriate IRS address or fax number, which varies depending on the state where you lived when the return was filed. Processing times for mailed or faxed requests range from 5 to 10 business days for the transcript to be delivered to the address on file with the IRS.
If electronic or mail requests are not feasible, contacting the IRS by phone or in person offers additional avenues. You can call the IRS automated phone transcript service, which allows you to request a tax return transcript to be mailed to you. This process typically results in delivery within 5 to 10 days. Visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) in person is another option, though it is advisable to locate the nearest office and schedule an appointment beforehand. Be prepared to present identification and relevant tax year details for identity verification.