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By Megan Doyle | American Express Credit Intel Freelance Contributor
6 Min Read | May 11, 2020 in Money
Modified adjusted gross income is used to determine your eligibility for certain tax benefits, among other things.
There are many ways to calculate your modified adjusted gross income, each depending on which tax benefit or government program you’re applying for.
Understanding your modified adjusted gross income can help make sure you get the tax breaks you’re eligible for.
When it comes to filing your taxes, the notion of “income” gets more complicated than simply the money you earn from work and investments. One commonly used variation of income you have probably heard of is modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Here’s what you need to know about it.
In the most basic terms, modified adjusted gross income is defined as your adjusted gross income (AGI) with certain adjustments added back in. I kid you not. I guess it would sound silly calling it “adjusted adjusted gross income,” and modify and adjust mean roughly the same thing. Your modified adjusted gross is used to determine which tax benefits you qualify for, like IRA contribution limits, Health Insurance Marketplace plans, and others.
Now get this: The tricky thing about your modified adjusted gross is that there’s no one set formula to calculate it! It’s calculated differently depending on what it’s being used for. Only one factor remains constant: each MAGI calculation starts with your adjusted gross income.
AGI and MAGI are, of course, closely related. In fact, it’s not uncommon for your MAGI to be the same as your AGI. They’re both adjustments—er, modifications—of your gross income used by the IRS to determine your eligibility for certain tax credits and deductions that can lower your taxes, putting more money back in your bank account (or pocket). After reviewing the research for this article, I’ve come to view MAGI simply as a way for the federal government to more precisely filter who qualifies for those tax-lowering credits and other deductions.
Here are the key differences between AGI and MAGI:
One important thing to remember about your MAGI is that it’s not your salary. In other words, many of the income limits for determining your eligibility for tax credits and deductions, contributing to a Roth IRA, or even getting health insurance are not based on your actual wages, but your MAGI (or AGI, depending on the tax break). Since your MAGI is typically lower than your gross income, it increases your chance to qualify for tax breaks and so on. So, don’t assume you’re not eligible for a specific tax break because you think your gross income is too high. Calculate your MAGI first—you might qualify.
Keep an eye out for MAGI’s role in the following:
Qualifying for tax credits. Generally speaking, the lower your MAGI, the more likely you are to qualify for certain tax credits (assuming you meet all other qualifications as well). Some common tax credits that rely on your MAGI include the Health Care Tax Credit,1 Child Tax Credit,2 American Opportunity (Education) Tax Credit,3 and Lifetime Learning Credit.4
Itemizing deductions on taxes. If you choose to itemize deductions when filing your taxes, there’s a chance you’ll have to calculate your MAGI at least once. When it comes to deductions, MAGI is often used to determine at what point certain tax deductions will begin to phase out or be reduced.5 For example, if you and/or your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work and you also have a Traditional IRA, you can’t deduct your Traditional IRA contributions if your MAGI exceeds the IRS’ set limit.
Contributing to a Roth IRA. Your MAGI directly affects how much you can contribute to a Roth IRA. The IRS uses MAGI as a baseline for determining the point at which your income is deemed too high to contribute the full amount—or any amount at all. For example, if you’re a single filer with a MAGI of less than $122,000 you can contribute the full limit to your Roth IRA. Between $122,000 and $137,000 your contribution limits are reduced, and a MAGI over $137,000 means you cannot contribute.6
Getting health insurance. If you get your health insurance coverage through a state health insurance marketplace, you may already be familiar with MAGI. Your MAGI is used to determine which health care plans you are eligible for, including Medicaid. The marketplace also uses your MAGI to help determine if—and how much—you can save on health insurance plans.7
Every MAGI calculation depends on why you need to calculate it. The government provides appropriate instruction forms for whichever purpose you’ll need. Some adjustments you might add back include tax-exempt student loan interest, foreign earned income, or higher education costs. Here are a few examples of how MAGI is calculated:
With its many definitions, modified adjusted gross income can be confusing. But it’s a key factor in filing your taxes, qualifying for a Roth IRA, or getting a government-subsidized health insurance plan. Understanding the role of MAGI and how to calculate yours can help you be sure to save as much money on your taxes as you’re legally allowed.
1 “Questions and Answers on the Premium Tax Credit,” IRS
2 “Get Ready for Taxes: Important things to know about tax credits,” IRS
3 “American Opportunity Tax Credit,” IRS
4 “Lifetime Learning Credit,” IRS
6 “Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI),” Investopedia
7 “What to include as income,” HealthCare.gov
8 “Questions and Answers on the Premium Tax Credit,” IRS
The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.