Adjusted gross income defined
General rule
For purposes of this subtitle, the term “adjusted gross income” means, in the case of an individual, gross income minus the following deductions:
Trade and business deductions
Certain trade and business deductions of employees
Reimbursed expenses of employees
Certain expenses of performing artists
Certain expenses of officials
Certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers
The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, not in excess of $250, paid or incurred by an eligible educator—
by reason of the participation of the educator in professional development courses related to the curriculum in which the educator provides instruction or to the students for which the educator provides instruction, and
in connection with books, supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), computer equipment (including related software and services) and other equipment, and supplementary materials used by the eligible educator in the classroom.
Certain expenses of members of reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States
Losses from sale or exchange of property
Deductions attributable to rents and royalties
Certain deductions of life tenants and income beneficiaries of property
Pension, profit-sharing, and annuity plans of self-employed individuals
Retirement savings
Repealed. Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1401(b)(4), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1788]
Penalties forfeited because of premature withdrawal of funds from time savings accounts or deposits
Alimony
Reforestation expenses
Certain required repayments of supplemental unemployment compensation benefits
Jury duty pay remitted to employer
Repealed. Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(34)(C), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4042]
Moving expenses
Archer MSAs
Interest on education loans
Higher education expenses
Health savings accounts
Costs involving discrimination suits, etc.
Attorneys fees relating to awards to whistleblowers
Nothing in this section shall permit the same item to be deducted more than once.
Qualified performing artist
In general
For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(B), the term “qualified performing artist” means, with respect to any taxable year, any individual if—
such individual performed services in the performing arts as an employee during the taxable year for at least 2 employers,
the aggregate amount allowable as a deduction under section 162 in connection with the performance of such services exceeds 10 percent of such individual’s gross income attributable to the performance of such services, and
the adjusted gross income of such individual for the taxable year (determined without regard to subsection (a)(2)(B)) does not exceed $16,000.
Nominal employer not taken into account
Special rules for married couples
In general
Application of paragraph (1)
In the case of a joint return—
paragraph (1) (other than subparagraph (C) thereof) shall be applied separately with respect to each spouse, but
paragraph (1)(C) shall be applied with respect to their combined adjusted gross income.
Determination of marital status
Joint return
Certain arrangements not treated as reimbursement arrangements
For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(A), an arrangement shall in no event be treated as a reimbursement or other expense allowance arrangement if—
such arrangement does not require the employee to substantiate the expenses covered by the arrangement to the person providing the reimbursement, or
such arrangement provides the employee the right to retain any amount in excess of the substantiated expenses covered under the arrangement.
The substantiation requirements of the preceding sentence shall not apply to any expense to the extent that substantiation is not required under section 274(d) for such expense by reason of the regulations prescribed under the 2nd sentence thereof.
Definition; special rules
Eligible educator
In general
School
Coordination with exclusions
Inflation adjustment
In the case of any taxable year beginning after 2015, the $250 amount in subsection (a)(2)(D) shall be increased by an amount equal to—
such dollar amount, multiplied by
the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting “calendar year 2014” for “calendar year 1992” in subparagraph (B) thereof.
Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.
Unlawful discrimination defined
For purposes of subsection (a)(20), the term “unlawful discrimination” means an act that is unlawful under any of the following:
Section 302 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202).2
Section 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, or 207 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1311, 1312, 1313, 1314, 1315, 1316, or 1317).
The National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
Section 4 or 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 623 or 633a).
Section 501 or 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791 or 794).
Section 510 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1140).
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (29 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.).
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29 U.S.C. 2102 et seq.).
Section 105 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2615).
Chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code (relating to employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services).
Section 1977, 1979, or 1980 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1981, 1983, or 1985).
Section 703, 704, or 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–2, 2000e–3, or 2000e–16).
Section 804, 805, 806, 808, or 818 of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3604, 3605, 3606, 3608, or 3617).
Section 102, 202, 302, or 503 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12112, 12132, 12182, or 12203).
Any provision of Federal law (popularly known as whistleblower protection provisions) prohibiting the discharge of an employee, the discrimination against an employee, or any other form of retaliation or reprisal against an employee for asserting rights or taking other actions permitted under Federal law.
Any provision of Federal, State, or local law, or common law claims permitted under Federal, State, or local law—
providing for the enforcement of civil rights, or
regulating any aspect of the employment relationship, including claims for wages, compensation, or benefits, or prohibiting the discharge of an employee, the discrimination against an employee, or any other form of retaliation or reprisal against an employee for asserting rights or taking other actions permitted by law.
Source
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 17; Pub. L. 87–792, § 7(b),Notes
References in Text
Amendments
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Extension.—
The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
Modifications.—
The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Effective Date of 2003 Amendment
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Effective Date of 2001 Amendment
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
any loan interest payment due and paid after
the portion of the 60-month period referred to in section 221(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) after