How to Find a Prior Year's AGI

You need last year's adjusted gross income (AGI) to file taxes this year because your prior year AGI is how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) verifies your identity. Thus, the AGI you enter must accurately correspond with IRS records. If not, your return will probably get rejected. To find your prior year AGI, the best place to look is last year's tax return.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Tax return from last year

1. Consult the tax form you filed last year. The AGI is located on line 37 of Form 1040; line 21 of Form 1040A; line 4 of Form 1040EZ; and line 35 of Form 1040NR.

2. Contact the IRS. Dial 1-800-829-1040 to speak to an IRS representative if you cannot locate your tax return. Be sure to tell the representative you are requesting your prior year's AGI for efiling purposes.

3. Open your tax-filing software from your prior year tax return. Popular tax software, such as TurboTax, will let you save a copy of your prior year's tax return. The return will open in an Adobe Acrobat file. Scroll down your tax return until you reach the correct line for the AGI.

4. Request a copy of your tax return from the IRS. It may take seven to 10 days to receive a copy.

Tips & Warnings

• First-time taxpayers or taxpayers who did not file a tax return for the prior year will enter "0" for AGI. The IRS will not have an adjusted gross income on file for you if you did not file last year.

References

• IRS

Resources

• TurboTax