MAGI Calculator
Enter your income and deduction figures to calculate your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and up to six different Modified AGI figures. Each MAGI definition adds back different items depending on which tax benefit you are checking: Roth IRA contributions, traditional IRA deductions, ACA premium tax credits, education credits, student loan interest, or the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax. Phase-out ranges shown are 2025 IRS figures.
What is MAGI and how is it different from AGI?
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is your total income minus specific above-the-line deductions: the self-employment tax deduction, self-employed health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, traditional IRA deductions, student loan interest, HSA contributions, and a few others. You find your AGI on line 11 of Form 1040. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) starts with that AGI figure and adds certain items back in. The exact add-backs depend on which tax benefit you are checking. For a Roth IRA, the IRS adds back the traditional IRA deduction, the student loan interest deduction, certain foreign income exclusions, savings bond interest exclusions, and employer adoption benefit exclusions, then subtracts any Roth conversion income. For an ACA Premium Tax Credit, it adds back tax-exempt interest and non-taxable Social Security benefits instead. There is no single line on your tax return called "MAGI" because the definition changes with each credit and deduction.
Why MAGI matters for retirement accounts
MAGI is the gatekeeper for both Roth IRA contributions and the deductibility of traditional IRA contributions. For Roth IRAs in 2025, single filers begin phasing out at $150,000 MAGI and are fully ineligible above $165,000. Married-filing-jointly couples phase out between $236,000 and $246,000. Once you exceed those limits, you cannot contribute directly, but the "backdoor Roth" strategy is still available: you contribute to a non-deductible traditional IRA and then convert it to Roth, a process the IRS permits regardless of income. For traditional IRA deductions, the phase-out only applies if you (or your spouse) are covered by a workplace plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), or SIMPLE IRA. If neither of you is covered, the full contribution is deductible at any income level. If you are covered, the 2025 phase-out for singles runs from $79,000 to $89,000 MAGI; for married-filing-jointly filers it runs from $126,000 to $146,000.
MAGI for education benefits, student loan interest, and ACA subsidies
The American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit both use a MAGI that adds back only the foreign earned income exclusion. For 2025, single filers phase out between $80,000 and $90,000; joint filers phase out between $160,000 and $180,000. Married-filing-separately filers cannot claim either credit. The student loan interest deduction uses a similar MAGI but also adds back the student loan interest itself. Single and HOH filers phase out between $85,000 and $100,000; joint filers phase out between $170,000 and $200,000. ACA Premium Tax Credits use a MAGI that adds back tax-exempt interest (municipal bond income), the foreign earned income exclusion, and non-taxable Social Security benefits. Eligibility depends on how your MAGI compares to the federal poverty line for your household size, not a fixed dollar threshold, so this calculator shows you the ACA MAGI component only.
Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) and MAGI
The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) applies when your MAGI exceeds a statutory threshold that is not adjusted for inflation: $200,000 for single filers and heads of household, $250,000 for married-filing-jointly, and $125,000 for married-filing-separately. The tax applies to the lesser of your net investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains, rents, and royalties minus related deductible expenses) or the amount by which your MAGI exceeds the threshold. For NIIT purposes, MAGI is AGI plus the net foreign earned income exclusion. For example, if you are a single filer with a NIIT MAGI of $220,000 and net investment income of $15,000, the NIIT applies to the lesser of $15,000 (investment income) or $20,000 (excess over $200,000), so you owe 3.8% of $15,000, which is $570.
2025 MAGI phase-out ranges by tax benefit
| Tax benefit | Single / HOH | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional IRA deduction (covered by plan) | $79,000 - $89,000 | $126,000 - $146,000 | $0 - $10,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction (spouse covered) | N/A | $230,000 - $240,000 | N/A |
| Roth IRA contribution | $150,000 - $165,000 | $236,000 - $246,000 | $0 - $10,000 |
| Education credits (AOTC / LLC) | $80,000 - $90,000 | $160,000 - $180,000 | Ineligible |
| Student loan interest deduction | $85,000 - $100,000 | $170,000 - $200,000 | Ineligible |
| NIIT 3.8% surtax (threshold, not phase-out) | $200,000 | $250,000 | $125,000 |
These are the 2025 IRS thresholds. "Fully phased out" means the benefit is unavailable above the upper limit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my MAGI on my tax return?
Not directly. Your AGI appears on line 11 of Form 1040, and your MAGI is typically your AGI plus certain add-backs. Because the add-backs differ by tax benefit, there is no single "MAGI" line. The IRS instructions for each credit or deduction tell you exactly what to add back. This calculator applies the standard add-back rules for the six most common MAGI definitions.
Does the standard deduction or itemized deductions reduce my MAGI?
No. The standard deduction and Schedule A itemized deductions reduce your taxable income but are taken below the line - after AGI is calculated. MAGI is derived from AGI, so below-the-line deductions do not reduce it. Only above-the-line adjustments (which appear on Schedule 1, Part II) reduce AGI and therefore MAGI.
What is the backdoor Roth IRA and how does MAGI affect it?
If your MAGI exceeds the Roth IRA contribution limits ($165,000 for single, $246,000 for MFJ in 2025), you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA directly. The backdoor Roth is a two-step workaround: first, you make a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA (allowed at any income level), then you convert the balance to a Roth IRA. The conversion is taxable only to the extent the traditional IRA contains pre-tax money. If you have other pre-tax traditional IRA balances, the pro-rata rule may complicate the tax calculation.
How does a Roth conversion affect my MAGI?
When you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, the converted amount is added to your income in the year of conversion, which raises your AGI and therefore most MAGI figures. Interestingly, for the purpose of computing Roth IRA contribution MAGI, the IRS subtracts Roth conversion income back out. So a large conversion does not push you out of Roth contribution eligibility, but it can trigger the NIIT and affect ACA subsidies.
If I am not covered by a workplace retirement plan, does MAGI matter for my IRA deduction?
If neither you nor your spouse is covered by a workplace retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE IRA, or SEP, your traditional IRA contribution is fully deductible regardless of your income or MAGI. The phase-out ranges only apply when at least one spouse is covered by a plan at work. Box 13 on your W-2 form is checked if your employer covered you during the year.
What income counts as "net investment income" for the NIIT?
Net investment income includes interest, dividends (ordinary and qualified), annuity income from non-retirement plans, rents, royalties, capital gains from investment asset sales, and certain passive activity income. It does not include wages, self-employment income, active business income, Social Security benefits, alimony, retirement plan distributions, or tax-exempt interest. The 3.8% surtax applies to the lesser of your net investment income or the excess of your MAGI over the threshold.
How does MAGI affect ACA Premium Tax Credit eligibility?
The Premium Tax Credit (PTC) is available to households whose ACA MAGI falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty line (FPL). For 2025, because of extended pandemic-era rules, credits are available above 400% FPL on a sliding scale as well. Your ACA MAGI is your AGI plus tax-exempt interest, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and the foreign earned income exclusion. The credit amount depends on your household size, the benchmark plan premium in your area, and where your MAGI falls relative to FPL.