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Taxation and Regulation/Blueprint/4.B

Adjustments and deductions

Area 4: Federal Taxation of Individuals (22-32%)

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Topics

  • Above-the-line deductions (AGI adjustments)
  • Standard vs. itemized deductions
  • Qualified business income deduction (Section 199A)
  • H.R. 1 AGI adjustments (auto loan interest, tip income)

Lessons

  • Individual Taxation: Income

Study Frameworks

Individual Tax Formula

Individual Income Tax Computation
Gross Income (§61)
Wages, salaries, tips
Interest and dividends
Business income (Sch C)
Capital gains/losses
Rental income (Sch E)
Alimony (pre-2019 agreements)
Adjustments (Above the Line)
IRA contributions
Student loan interest
Self-employment tax (50%)
HSA contributions
Alimony paid (pre-2019)
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Deductions (Below the Line)
Standard deduction OR
Itemized deductions (Sch A)
Taxable Income
Tax Computation
Apply tax rate brackets
− Credits (nonrefundable, then refundable)
+ Self-employment tax, AMT, etc.
− Payments and withholding
Tax due or refund

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

Gross Income − Above-the-Line Deductions

Taxable Income

AGI − (Standard Deduction or Itemized Deductions) − QBI Deduction

QBI Deduction (§199A — simplified)

Lesser of: 20% of QBI OR 20% of Taxable Income before QBI deduction

Subject to W-2 wage and UBIA limits for taxpayers above income thresholds

Key Itemized Deductions (Schedule A)

CategoryDeductionLimitation
MedicalUnreimbursed medical expensesExceeds 7.5% of AGI
TaxesState/local income or sales + property taxesSALT cap: $10,000
InterestHome mortgage interestOn up to $750K of acquisition debt
CharitableCash to public charities60% of AGI
CharitableCapital gain property to public charities30% of AGI
CasualtyFederally declared disaster lossesExceeds $100 per event + 10% AGI
ACIDAlimony (pre-2019), Contributions to IRA, Interest on student loans, Deduction for 50% SE tax

Major above-the-line deductions (adjustments to gross income). These reduce AGI like ACID dissolves income.

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