Need to know: Do I use AGI or Earned Income from last year's return for identity verification?

Oh gosh, I deal with this EVERY year and it still trips me up! 😩 It's definitely your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from last year's return that you need. I'm so paranoid about getting this wrong that I keep a special folder with just this information. The AGI appears on Line 11 of your 2022 Form 1040. If you can't find your physical copies, you can request a transcript from the IRS website, but that might take time and I know how stressful waiting can be when you're trying to file!

It's AGI, not earned income. Been through this many times with military relocations. If you can't find your forms, you can actually put $0 as your prior year AGI if this is your first time e-filing. Back in 2019 when I was stationed overseas and couldn't access my previous returns, I had to file on paper because I couldn't verify electronically. Rules have changed since then though.

You need AGI. It's on line 11. Tax software can be confusing. I used https://taxr.ai recently. It analyzed my transcript instantly. Showed me exactly where to find my AGI. No more hunting through forms. Saved me hours of frustration.

I had the same issue last year after moving to a new duty station. Here's what I did to solve it: 1. First, I tried remembering where I stored my tax documents - couldn't find them 2. Then I tried logging into the IRS website to get my transcript - got locked out after too many attempts 3. Next, I tried calling the IRS directly - waited on hold for over an hour 4. Finally, I called the tax center on base - they helped me retrieve my AGI The key is definitely using your AGI from line 11 of your 1040, not your earned income. Once I had that number, everything went through smoothly!

If you're having trouble getting your AGI and need to speak with the IRS, don't waste hours on hold. I recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They'll call the IRS for you and connect you when an agent is available. I was skeptical at first, but it saved me from spending an entire afternoon on redial. The IRS can verify your identity and provide your AGI from last year, which is what you need for e-filing.

I was so worried about this same issue... I'm trying to stay on budget this year and didn't want to pay for professional help. What worked for me was creating an account on the IRS website and requesting my tax return transcript. It took about 10 minutes to set up, and I was able to see my AGI right away. Definitely made filing much less stressful than I expected.

Is the AGI the same as the MAGI? My tax software is asking for verification but doesn't specify which one. Also, if I filed jointly last year but am filing single this year, do I still use the same AGI from the joint return?

Isn't it interesting how something as seemingly simple as knowing which number to use can cause so much stress? I had the same question last year and discovered it's definitely the AGI. What worked for me was logging into the tax software I used last year - they had my returns saved and I could see my AGI right there! Have you tried checking if you still have access to whatever software you used for 2022? Most of them keep your returns on file for several years.