Total Income: Step-by-Step vs. Form 1040

[Ed83]

"Your Total Income" as reported by Step-by-Step in "Let's Review Your Numbers" differs from Line 9 ("total income") of Form 1040, yet "Your Taxable Income" in Step-by-Step and Line 15 of Form 1040 ("taxable income") are the same. I would expect total income to be the same in both places as well. What am I missing?

[dmertz · Accepted solution]

With respect to your tax return, "income" just means an item that is required to appear on your tax return.  You likely have certain items of nontaxable income.  "Total income" in the summary is the total of all items of income entered whether taxable or not.  Form 1040 line 9 only includes the taxable portion of your total income (before subtracting any deductions).

[Ed83]

You are absolutely right. "Total Income" in Step-by-Step differs from Line 9 of Form 1040 by the non-taxable portion of my Social Security benefit. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

[somebody2017]

Besides non-taxable Social Security Benefits, other  non-taxable "income" I've found are:

Tax Exempt Interest Income (listed on 1040 Line 2a),

and

Distributions from IRAs (counted as income to me) that were made as "Qualified Charitable Distributions" to a qualified charity and thus not counted as taxable income.