Where to Find AGI on Your Tax Return

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is a foundational figure on your tax return, serving as a starting point for calculating your tax liability. This amount is frequently used to determine eligibility for various tax credits, deductions, and other financial programs. Understanding where to locate your AGI is a practical skill for managing personal finances and ensuring accurate tax filings.

Understanding Adjusted Gross Income

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) represents your gross income minus specific deductions. Your gross income encompasses all taxable earnings from various sources, such as wages, salaries, interest, dividends, and business income. From this total, certain allowable deductions are subtracted to arrive at your AGI. Examples of deductions that reduce gross income to AGI include contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), student loan interest payments, and educator expenses. The resulting AGI directly influences your eligibility for many tax benefits and helps determine your overall taxable income.

Finding AGI on Your Current Tax Return

For the 2024 tax year, Adjusted Gross Income is reported on Line 11 of Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, which includes Form 1040-SR and Form 1040-NR. When reviewing a paper tax return, you can directly locate this line number and the corresponding amount. If you use tax preparation software, the program automatically calculates your AGI and places it on the correct line. You can find this figure by navigating to the summary or main form section within the software, looking for the label “Adjusted Gross Income” or “AGI” next to Line 11. Having your AGI from the previous year is often required for identity verification when electronically filing your current year’s return.

Accessing AGI from Previous Tax Years

To find your Adjusted Gross Income from prior tax years, refer to your previously filed tax returns. AGI is found on the main Form 1040 for those years. While the specific line number for AGI may vary by tax year, look for the “Adjusted Gross Income” label on the Form 1040. It is advisable to keep tax records, including filed returns and supporting documents, for at least three years from the date you filed your original return. This can be beneficial for future tax preparation or in case the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has questions.

Retrieving AGI Without Your Physical Tax Return

If you do not have a physical or digital copy of your past tax returns, you can obtain your AGI by requesting a tax transcript from the IRS. The IRS offers a “Get Transcript” service online, by mail, or by phone. The online service provides immediate access to a “Tax Return Transcript,” which displays most line items from your original return, including AGI. You can also request a transcript by mail. Some tax software providers or tax preparers may also retain copies of your filed returns, offering another avenue for retrieving your AGI.