What is MAGI for Medicare IRMAA?

Modified Adjusted Gross Income — for most retirees, AGI (Form 1040 line 11) plus tax-exempt interest (line 2a).

Do Roth withdrawals count toward IRMAA MAGI?

Qualified Roth withdrawals generally do not increase MAGI. Traditional IRA withdrawals and Roth conversions do.

What is MAGI for Medicare?

Updated August 2026 · Educational, not tax advice

For Medicare IRMAA, MAGI is usually your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) plus tax-exempt interest. On Form 1040: line 11 (AGI) + line 2a (tax-exempt interest). SSA uses that number from the lookback return — 2024 MAGI for 2026 premiums. It is the income Medicare "looks at," even when it is not the number on your W-2 or pension stub.

Where to find MAGI on your tax return

Open the federal return SSA will use (for 2026 premiums, usually 2024).
Line 11 — Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
Line 2a — Tax-exempt interest (often municipal bonds). Add this even though it is not in AGI.
MAGI ≈ line 11 + line 2a for most retirees.

SSA's overview: Medicare premiums for higher-income beneficiaries.

What usually increases MAGI (and can trigger IRMAA later)

Wages and self-employment income
Taxable pensions and IRA withdrawals (including RMDs)
Roth conversions (add to AGI dollar-for-dollar)
Taxable Social Security (included in AGI)
Capital gains and dividends
Tax-exempt interest (added back for MAGI)

What usually does not increase MAGI

Qualified Roth IRA withdrawals (after rules are met)
Return of basis from after-tax contributions (situation-specific — confirm with a CPA)
HSA withdrawals for qualified medical expenses (generally)

This is why Roth timing matters for future years — but a conversion this year still hits MAGI now and can price a premium two years later. See Roth conversion and Medicare premiums.

MAGI is not the same as "taxable income"

Your tax bracket uses taxable income after deductions. IRMAA uses MAGI before that framing — closer to "total income Medicare sees." A household can feel "middle bracket" on taxes and still clear $218,000 joint MAGI from pensions, RMDs, and conversions.

Why the January card only asks for MAGI + filing status

Those two inputs place you on the correct IRMAA tier for the lookback year. Age does not move the line. Medicare enrollment status only changes whether one or two people pay the surcharge (married filing jointly assumes both on Medicare for the couple total).

Retirement Tax Radar's free check uses filing status + last year's MAGI — not a full 1040 upload — because that is enough to answer: room before the line, or how far over, and what $1 more costs.

See whether this household crossed the line. Two questions. No account. Then a result you can text to your spouse.

Run the free check