AGI Calculator 2026
Calculate your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) in seconds. AGI appears on Form 1040 Line 11 and determines tax credits, Roth IRA eligibility, and deduction limits. Free, no sign-up.
Key limits & thresholds (2025–2026)
Student loan interest
Phase-out: $85K–$100K single / $170K–$200K MFJ (2025)
Educator expenses
$600 if MFJ, both educators
IRA deduction
By income, filing status & plan
SE tax deduction
Of self-employment tax (Sch 1)
Adjusted Gross Income — Form 1040 Line 11
$60,000
Income
$60,000
Deductions
− $0
What is Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)?
The number that drives your entire tax return
AGI is your total income from all sources minus specific above-the-line deductions. It appears on Line 11 of Form 1040.
The IRS uses AGI to determine your taxable income, eligibility for credits like the EITC and Child Tax Credit, IRA contribution limits, and student loan deduction limits.
AGI affects all of these
AGI vs. Taxable Income
Gross Income
All wages, interest, dividends, self-employment, rental, retirement, unemployment
AGI
Gross income minus above-the-line deductions (Schedule 1). Form 1040 Line 11.
Taxable Income
AGI minus standard deduction (or itemized) minus QBI deduction. This is what's actually taxed.
Use our US Tax Calculator to see how AGI flows into your final tax liability.
Income That Counts Toward AGI
Reported via W-2, 1099, and Schedule forms
| Income Type | Typical Source |
|---|---|
| Wages, salaries, tips | W-2, 1099-NEC |
| Interest, dividends | 1099-INT, 1099-DIV |
| Capital gains | 1099-B, Schedule D |
| Self-employment income | Schedule C, 1099-K |
| Rental income | Schedule E |
| Retirement distributions | 1099-R |
| Unemployment, Social Security | 1099-G, SSA-1099 |
Exclusions (not in AGI): municipal bond interest, certain foreign earned income (IRC §911), gifts, life insurance proceeds.
Tips to Lower Your AGI
Lower AGI = more credits, lower phase-outs
Contribute to a Traditional IRA
Deductible if no workplace plan, or income is within limits
Max your employer 401(k)
Reduces W-2 wages reported, lowering gross income
Claim student loan interest
Up to $2,500 if you paid interest on qualified loans
Educator expenses
Up to $300 ($600 MFJ, both educators) for classroom supplies
Self-employed? Deduct health insurance
100% of premiums reduce AGI if you meet requirements
SEP or SIMPLE contributions
High limits for self-employed — plan before Dec 31
Most above-the-line adjustments must be made during the tax year (except IRA contributions, which can be made until the April filing deadline).
2026 AGI / MAGI Phase-Out Thresholds for Key Tax Benefits
Where your AGI starts to cost you — limits indexed annually by IRS
| Benefit | Single / HOH phase-out | Married filing jointly | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roth IRA contribution | $153,000 – $168,000 | $242,000 – $252,000 | Zero contribution above top of range. MFS: $0–$10k (not inflation-adjusted) |
| Traditional IRA deduction (has workplace plan) | $81,000 – $91,000 | $129,000 – $149,000 | No deduction above top. Can still contribute non-deductible. |
| Traditional IRA (spouse has plan, you don't) | N/A | $242,000 – $252,000 | Only relevant if MFJ and only one spouse has a workplace plan |
| Student loan interest deduction | $85,000 – $100,000 | $175,000 – $205,000 | Max $2,500 deduction; MFS disallowed entirely |
| Saver's Credit (Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) | ≤ $40,250 (credit available) | ≤ $80,500 (credit available) | 3 tiers: 50%, 20%, 10% credit rate depending on income. Zero above cutoff. |
| Child Tax Credit ($2,000 per child) | ≤ $200,000 full credit | ≤ $400,000 full credit | Reduces by $50 per $1,000 of AGI above threshold |
| EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) | ≤ ~$19,000–$59,000 | ≤ ~$26,000–$66,000 | Range varies by number of children (0–3+); also uses investment income test |
| Medicare IRMAA surcharge (Part B & D) | MAGI ≥ $109,000 | MAGI ≥ $218,000 | Based on MAGI from 2 years prior (2024 income → 2026 premiums). 5 tiers above base $202.90/mo premium. |
Thresholds are approximate 2025–2026 values; exact figures indexed annually by IRS (typically announced each October). MAGI for each benefit may differ from your AGI — see the section below. Sources: IRS IRA limits & Publication 590-A.
AGI vs. MAGI: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
Most phase-outs use MAGI, not AGI — and the add-backs vary by benefit
MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) starts with your AGI and adds back certain deductions. The IRS uses a different MAGI formula for each benefit, so your MAGI for Roth IRA purposes may not equal your MAGI for student loan purposes. Your AGI from this calculator is the foundation for all of them.
| Benefit that uses MAGI | Key add-backs on top of AGI |
|---|---|
| Roth IRA eligibility | AGI + Traditional IRA deduction + student loan interest + foreign earned income exclusion + a few others |
| Traditional IRA deductibility | AGI + student loan interest deduction + tuition/fees deduction (if applicable) |
| Student loan interest deduction | AGI + the student loan interest deduction itself (IRS adds it back for the phase-out test) |
| ACA Premium Tax Credit | AGI + excluded foreign income + Puerto Rico / US territory income |
| Medicare IRMAA | AGI + tax-exempt interest (from municipal bonds) |
For most people with only W-2 income and common deductions, MAGI and AGI are the same or very close. If you have foreign income, municipal bond interest, or IRA deductions, the difference can matter for eligibility tests.
When Social Security Benefits Become Taxable (The Provisional Income Test)
Up to 85% of Social Security can be included in your AGI — here's exactly how it's calculated
Social Security benefits are not automatically tax-free. The IRS uses a provisional income formula to determine how much of your benefits are included in your AGI. Provisional income = AGI (excluding SS) + nontaxable interest + ½ of your Social Security benefits.
| Filing status | Provisional income | Taxable SS portion |
|---|---|---|
| Single, HOH | Below $25,000 | 0% — SS is tax-free |
| Single, HOH | $25,000 – $34,000 | Up to 50% of SS included in AGI |
| Single, HOH | Above $34,000 | Up to 85% of SS included in AGI |
| Married filing jointly | Below $32,000 | 0% — SS is tax-free |
| Married filing jointly | $32,000 – $44,000 | Up to 50% of SS included in AGI |
| Married filing jointly | Above $44,000 | Up to 85% of SS included in AGI |
| Married filing separately | Any amount | Up to 85% (nearly always) |
Important: These provisional income thresholds are not indexed for inflation — they have been fixed since 1993. As a result, more retirees become subject to SS taxation each year as their other income (withdrawals from Traditional IRAs, pensions, investment income) grows.
Practical example: A retired single filer receives $20,000/year in Social Security, $30,000 in Traditional IRA distributions, and $2,000 in bond interest. Provisional income = $30,000 + $2,000 + $10,000 (½ of SS) = $42,000. Since $42,000 > $34,000, up to 85% of Social Security ($17,000) is included in gross income and flows into AGI.
Strategy: Keeping Traditional IRA distributions lower, converting to Roth in low-income years, or using municipal bond interest (which does count for the provisional income test) can affect how much of your SS is taxable.
References & Official Sources
- IRS Form 1040 — U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
AGI appears on Line 11.
- Schedule 1 (Form 1040) — Additional Income and Adjustments
Above-the-line adjustments on Lines 10–26.
- IRS Publication 17 — Your Federal Income Tax
Chapter 22: Adjustments to Income.
- IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to IRAs
IRA deduction limits and rules.
The AGI shown above comes from the numbers you enter on this page—not a third-party feed. We add up all your income, subtract above-the-line adjustments (with IRS caps where they apply), and make sure the result is not below zero. That matches Form 1040 Line 11 before the standard or itemized deduction. Below are the formulas we use, the order we follow, and a worked example you can check by hand.
Formulas
These are the equations behind the calculator. Dollar amounts come from the fields you enter above.
| Line | Formula |
|---|---|
| Total income | Wages + Interest + Dividends + Capital gains + Retirement distributions + Self-employment + Rental + Unemployment + Other income |
| Student loan interest adjustment | Lesser of (student loan interest entered, $2,500) |
| Educator expenses adjustment | Lesser of (educator expenses entered, $300) |
| Total adjustments | Traditional IRA + Student loan adjustment + Educator adjustment + Self-employed health insurance + 50% of self-employment tax + SEP/SIMPLE + Alimony paid + Other adjustments |
| Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) | Total income − Total adjustments (cannot be less than $0) |
| Taxable income (next step on your return) | AGI − Standard or itemized deduction − QBI deduction (if applicable) |
Order of operations
Add up all taxable income
Total income = Wages + Interest + Dividends + Capital gains + Retirement distributions + Self-employment + Rental + Unemployment + Other income
Each field corresponds to income reported on Form 1040 and supporting forms (W-2, 1099s, Schedule C or E, and so on). Enter wages after any pre-tax 401(k) or HSA already withheld on your W-2—those reduce your W-2 box 1 before they reach AGI.
Apply the student loan interest cap
Student loan adjustment = Lesser of (amount entered, $2,500)
The IRS allows up to $2,500 of qualified student loan interest as an above-the-line deduction. If you enter more than that, we only subtract $2,500. Eligibility also phases out at higher incomes ($85,000–$100,000 single / $175,000–$205,000 married filing jointly in 2025–2026)—we do not model that phase-out here, so enter only the portion you expect to claim.
Apply the educator expenses cap
Educator adjustment = Lesser of (amount entered, $300)
Eligible K–12 educators can deduct up to $300 of unreimbursed classroom expenses ($600 if married filing jointly and both spouses qualify). We cap at $300 per return because we do not ask for filing status—if both spouses are eligible educators filing jointly, enter $600 in Other adjustments instead.
Add up all above-the-line adjustments
Total adjustments = Traditional IRA + Student loan adjustment + Educator adjustment + Self-employed health insurance + 50% of SE tax + SEP/SIMPLE + Alimony paid + Other adjustments
These are Schedule 1 deductions—they reduce income before AGI, unlike itemized deductions which come later. Traditional IRA deductibility has its own income limits; we subtract the amount you enter without testing workplace-plan rules.
Calculate your Adjusted Gross Income
AGI = Total income − Total adjustments (minimum $0)
The result is your estimated Form 1040 Line 11. Taxable income comes next on your return: AGI minus the standard or itemized deduction (and qualified business income deduction if applicable). Use our US tax calculator to see how AGI flows into federal tax owed.
Worked example
$85,000 wages + $1,200 interest + $500 dividends, with IRA and adjustments
Step A — total income.
Total income = Wages + Interest + Dividends + … = $85,000 + $1,200 + $500 = $86,700
Step B — adjustments (with caps).
Student loan adjustment = Lesser of ($2,800, $2,500) = $2,500. Educator adjustment = Lesser of ($400, $300) = $300.
Total adjustments = Traditional IRA + Student loan + Educator = $6,000 + $2,500 + $300 = $8,800
Step C — AGI.
AGI = Total income − Total adjustments = $86,700 − $8,800 = $77,900 (Form 1040 Line 11).
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total income | $86,700 |
| Total adjustments | −$8,800 |
| Adjusted Gross Income (Form 1040 Line 11) | $77,900 |
$86,700 total income − $8,800 adjustments = $77,900 AGI
AGI is not the same as taxable income. On this $77,900 AGI example, you would next subtract the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single) to reach roughly $61,800 in federal taxable income — then apply brackets and credits in our US tax calculator.
Caps and parameters we enforce
| Parameter | What we use |
|---|---|
| Student loan interest deduction cap | $2,500 per return |
| Educator expenses cap (single educator) | $300 per eligible educator |
| Educator expenses cap (MFJ, both educators) | $600 combined |
| Self-employment tax deduction | 50% of SE tax (enter manually) |
| AGI on Form 1040 | Line 11 |
What we do not model on this page
We do not model MAGI add-backs, student loan or IRA deduction phase-outs, Social Security provisional income, capital loss limitations, QBI deduction, standard vs itemized deductions, or whether your IRA contribution is deductible. Pre-tax 401(k) and HSA should already be reflected in lower W-2 wages — do not enter them again as adjustments. Alimony received is income; alimony paid is only deductible for divorce agreements executed before 2019.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for planning and estimation only. Tax rules can change; consult IRS publications or a tax professional for your specific situation. Not a substitute for professional tax advice.