How do I find my adjusted AGI after unemployment tax break was passed last year? Filing issues

Wait, are you sure about using the original AGI? I thought we're supposed to use the adjusted amount after the IRS made all their corrections. That's what I did last year and it worked fine.

You're right to question this because it's confusing. For the 2021 filing season (filing 2020 returns), if you received unemployment and filed before the tax law changed, you should use your original AGI from your initial filed return, not the adjusted amount. The IRS systems are primarily set up to verify identity based on what you originally submitted, not the adjusted figures after automatic corrections. It's counter-intuitive but this is how their verification system works for the electronic filing process.

Does this actually work with the unemployment tax adjustment situation specifically? I'm having the same issue and have spent hours on the phone with the IRS with no luck.

I'm skeptical about giving my tax docs to some random website. How secure is this? And couldn't I just look at my original return PDF instead of using a service?

Yes, it definitely works with the unemployment adjustment situation! It specifically identifies which AGI value you need to use for e-filing verification purposes versus what your actual legal AGI was after adjustments. It saved me from having to paper file last year. Regarding security, they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. And you're right, if you have your original return PDF, you could just look at that - but many people (like me) couldn't find their original filing before the adjustment was made automatically.

How long did it take you to actually speak with someone? Every time I call the IRS I'm on hold for 2+ hours and then they hang up on me saying "call volume too high.

This sounds like a scam. Why would I pay someone to call the IRS when I can do it myself? And how do they magically get through when everyone else can't?

I got through to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes total. I didn't have to stay on the phone - they called me when an agent was about to be connected. Completely different from my previous attempts where I'd waste half my day on hold only to get disconnected. They're not doing anything magical - they use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits in the queue for you. It's the same wait time as everyone else, but you don't have to be the one sitting there listening to hold music. I was skeptical too until I realized how much time I was wasting trying to do it myself.

That's exactly what I was missing! I was looking at my account transcript with the adjusted amount ($7,520 lower than original) because I thought that was the "correct" number. Just tried filing with my original AGI from last year's 1040 Line 11 and it went through! Thank you!!

Glad it worked! For future reference, always use the AGI from your originally filed return for verification purposes, regardless of any adjustments the IRS makes afterward. The IRS computer systems use that original number to verify your identity for e-filing, even if it's not technically your "final" AGI after adjustments.

This is what I did! I logged into my H&R Block account from last year and found my original filing. The AGI was completely different from what I thought it was after the adjustment.

Good point about checking all possible tax software accounts! Sometimes people forget which service they used the previous year, so it's worth checking any tax preparation accounts you might have.

That $0 AGI workaround only works in specific situations - primarily for first-time filers or in years when the IRS specifically allows it. For most people who filed last year, using $0 will cause another rejection. The IRS has been inconsistent with this policy, so it's better to find your actual AGI if possible.