UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF TAXES |
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Part of our increasingly complicated Federal income tax structure is a myriad of acronyms and abbreviations. Understanding the meaning of the more frequently encountered terminology can lead to a better comprehension of the complex tax situations that a taxpayer might encounter.
This section explains some common terminology and provides an overview of their application.
The “line” in this term refers to the line drawn when totaling the items that make up the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI). The term “deduction” is usually associated with itemized deductions, but an above-the-line deduction is one that can be taken in addition to the standard deduction or itemized deductions, whichever is used. This type of deduction is taken before determining the taxpayer’s AGI; hence, the term “above-the-line.”
This is the debt used to acquire, build, or substantially improve a taxpayer’s principal residence or a second home, and it is debt that is secured by the principal residence or second home. The interest on up to $1 million of acquisition indebtedness is deductible as an itemized deduction.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) |
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This may be the most important tax term since the tax code uses the AGI to limit a vast number of tax benefits. AGI is basically a taxpayer’s gross taxable income from all sources (gross income) reduced by certain allowable adjustments, sometimes referred to as above-the-line deductions, which are deductible whether or not the taxpayer itemizes their deductions. The more frequently encountered adjustments include deductions for deductible IRA contributions, moving, alimony payments, higher education interest, forfeited interest and deductions for health insurance premiums, pension plan contributions and 50% of SE tax for self-employed individuals.
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