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Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is a significant amount. To start with, it decides whether you are able to give rise to some Roth IRA and in case you're able to deduct IRA contributions.1 2 Additionally, it points into your eligibility for particular education tax advantages and income tax credits.3 Additionally, it builds your eligibility for income-based Medicaid and subsidized health insurance programs on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
However it won't be found by you . You are going to need to crunch some numbers to locate your MAGI.
MAGI could be described as the adjusted gross income with any interest of your household and deductions that were certainly inserted back. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) utilizes MAGI to ascertain if you qualify for certain tax advantages. MAGI decides:
- If You're Able to contribute to a Roth IRA2
- If you can subtract your traditional IRA contributions if you or your partner has a retirement program in work1
- Your eligibility to receive the top tax charge, that enriches your health insurance premiums should you buy a program on the Health Insurance Marketplace
By way of instance, you may contribute to a traditional IRA. But those donations can't be deducted by you when you file your tax return if your MAGI exceeds limits and you or your partner have a retirement plan
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Your MAGI decides if--and how much--you can contribute to a Roth IRA and if you may subtract your traditional IRA contributions.
- To compute your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), consider your adjusted gross income (AGI) and add back certain deductions.
- It is normal for the AGI and MAGI to become comparable.
How Modified Adjusted Gross Income Works
Deciding your MAGI is a procedure:
- Figure your gross income for the entire year
- Compute your adjusted gross income (AGI)
- Add back specific deductions to Locate your MAGI
Figure Your Gross Income
Everything you earned throughout the year is included by your income from:
- Alimony
- Business income
- Capital profits
- Dividends
- Interest
- Farm income
- Rent and royalty income
- Retirement income
- Tips
- Wages6 7
Notice: There are two situations where alimony payments aren't regarded as income. When your divorce agreement had been implemented after 2018, the first is. The second is when your divorce agreement had been implemented before 2019 but altered to state that such obligations aren't deductible for the plaintiff.
Your gross income seems online 7b of Form 1040.
Compute Your AGI (or Locate It on Your Tax Return)
Your adjusted gross income (AGI) is significant since it is the whole taxable income calculated prior to itemized or standard deductions, deductions, and credits have been taken into consideration.7 It assesses how you are able to use various tax exemptions and credits. By way of instance, AGI affects the quantity of money you'll be able to maintain for your child tax charge .
Your adjusted gross income is equal to a gross income particular Costs that are tax-deductible, such as:
- Certain business expenses for performing artists, reservists, and fee-basis government officials
- Educator expenditures
- Half of almost any self-employment taxation
- Medical Insurance premiums (if you are self-conscious)
- Health savings accounts (HSA) contributions
- Moving expenses for members of the Armed Forces moving because of active responsibility
- Penalties on early withdrawal of savings
- Retirement plan contributions (like IRAs and self-explanatory retirement plan gifts )
- student loan interest
- Tuition and fees10
You can do the math to find your AGI out, or you'll be able to find it.
Insert Back Specific Deductions
To locate your MAGI, take your AGI and return:
- Any obligations you chose for IRA contributions and taxable Social Security obligations
- Any obligations you chose for a student loan or tuition
- Excluded overseas Revenue
- Half your self-employment taxes
- Interest from EE savings bonds used to cover higher education expenses
- Losses from a publicly-traded venture
- Passive income or reduction
- Certified tuition costs
- Rental losses
- The exception for adoption expenditures
A number of these deductions aren't commonly used, which means that AGI and that your MAGI may be equal or similar.

Special Considerations for MAGI
Roth IRAs
Your MAGI has to be under the limits to contribute to a Roth IRA. If you are inside the revenue threshold, the true amount you are able to donate can also be dependent on your MAGI. Your gifts are phased out if your MAGI exceeds the limits.
Here would be the Roth IRA income limits for 2019:2
Roth IRA Income Limits | ||
---|---|---|
If your filing status is... | Along with your modified AGI is... | You can donate... |
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) | Less than $193,000 | As much as the limitation |
Over $193,000 but less than $203,000 | A lesser amount | |
$203,000 or more | Zero | |
Single, head of household, or married filing separately and you did not live with your partner at any time throughout the year | Less than $122,000 | Up to the limitation |
Over $122,000 but less than $137,000 | A diminished amount | |
Over $137,000 | Zero | |
Married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time throughout the year | Less than $10,000 | A diminished amount |
$10,000 or more | Zero |
Here's a rundown of all Roth IRA income limits to 2020:11
Roth IRA Income Limits | ||
---|---|---|
If your filing status is... | Along with your modified AGI is... | You can donate... |
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) | Less than $196,000 | As much as the limitation |
Over $196,000 but less than $206,000 | A lesser amount | |
$206,000 or more | Zero | |
Single, head of household, or married filing separately and you did not live with your partner at any time throughout the year | Less than $124,000 | Up to the limitation |
Over $124,000 but less than $139,000 | A diminished amount | |
Over $139,000 | Zero | |
Married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time throughout the year | Less than $10,000 | A diminished amount |
$10,000 or more | Zero |
Be aware that should you donate more than you are permitted, you need to eliminate the extra contributions. You'll face a tax penalty. Contributions are taxed at a rate of 6 percent annually for so long as the amount that was excess remains in your IRA.
Traditional IRAs
Your MAGI and if you and your partner have retirement plans on the job determine whether you're able to deduct IRA contributions that are traditional. You can take the deduction up to the quantity of your donation limitation if neither spouse is covered by a plan at work. If either spouse has a strategy at work, your deduction might be restricted.
Here's a rundown of IRA income limits for 2019:13 1
Conventional IRA Income Limits | ||
---|---|---|
If your filing status is... | And your modified AGI is... | Afterward you can choose... |
Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), married filing jointly or individually and neither partner is covered by a plan at work | Any number | A complete deduction up to the amount of your contribution limit |
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) and you are covered by a plan at work | $103,000 or not as | A complete deduction up to the amount of your contribution limitation |
Over $103,000 but less than $123,000 | A partial deduction | |
$123,000 or more | No deduction | |
Married filing jointly and your spouse is covered by a plan at work | $193,000 or less | A complete deduction up to the amount of your contribution limitation |
Greater than $193,000 but less than $203,000 | A partial deduction | |
$203,000 or more | No deduction | |
Single or head of family and you are covered by a plan at work | $64,000 or less | A complete deduction up to the Quantity of your contribution limitation |
Greater than $64,000 but less than $74,000 | A partial deduction | |
$74,000 or more | No deduction | |
Married filing separately and spouse is covered by a plan at work | Less than $10,000 | A partial deduction |
$10,000 or more | No deduction |
Here's a rundown of IRA income limits for 2020:14 15
Conventional IRA Income Limits | ||
---|---|---|
If your filing status is... | And your modified AGI is... | Afterward you can choose... |
Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), married filing jointly or individually and neither partner is covered by a plan at work | Any number | A complete deduction up to the amount of your contribution limit |
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) and you are covered by a plan at work | $104,000 or not as | A complete deduction up to the amount of your contribution limitation |
Over $104,000 but less than $124,000 | A partial deduction | |
$124,000 or more | No deduction | |
Married filing jointly and your spouse is covered by a plan at work | $196,000 or less | A complete deduction up to the amount of your contribution limitation |
Greater than $196,000 but less than $206,000 | A partial deduction | |
$206,000 or more | No deduction | |
Single or head of family and you are covered by a plan at work | $65,000 or less | A complete deduction up to the Quantity of your contribution limitation |
Over $65,000 but less than $75,000 | A partial deduction | |
$75,000 or more | No deduction | |
Married filing separately and spouse is covered by a plan at work | Less than $10,000 | A partial deduction |
$10,000 or more | No deduction |
Tax laws do change and are complex. In case you have some questions regarding earnings limitations and IRA participation, or Should you need assistance figuring out the MAGI, speak to a tax professional.