How can I determine from the tax form 1040 what number I’m supposed to look at to calculate maaser?
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Do you have some reason to think that information is derivable from a US tax document? – Double AA Aug 25 '21 at 20:24
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@DoubleAA i don’t know. I need guidance – Ackstay Aug 25 '21 at 20:25
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Box 9 is TOTAL INCOME, box 15 is TAXABLE INCOME, a reduced amount based on the US tax laws. My guess would be box 9. – Dennis Aug 25 '21 at 20:49
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@Dennis thank you – Ackstay Aug 26 '21 at 00:52
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Related and possible duplicate: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/12863/is-maaser-calculated-pre-tax-or-after-tax – mbloch Aug 26 '21 at 03:33
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@Dennis maaser is calculated on post-tax income – mbloch Aug 26 '21 at 03:34
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Good point. So, neither box 9 nor 15 is correct. – Dennis Aug 26 '21 at 21:55
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The best way to handle this is to put aside 10% of each check that one receives as it is received. The money that is withheld for tax purposes is not counted for ma'aser. As a matter of fact, any money that one receives, even if it is tax free is subject to ma'aaser. That is why the form 1040 is not really valid to use in calculating ma'aser.
Maaser and Unemployment Insurance
Thursday, 11 May 2006 Rabbi Dovid Bendory
There is no such thing as "maaser-free income" — we owe maaser on ordinary income, interest, and gifts — even on tax-free interest. Even a poor person who survives on donated tzedaka — in other words, all of whose income comes from money that itself has been given as maaser — is required to give maaser on the tzedaka he receives.
Thus you can see that even money that does not show as income is still subject to ma'aser. I treat any tax refunds as subject to ma'aser when I receive it even though it does not appear on the following year's form 1040.
As an example see Does someoene have to give ma'aser from scholarship grants or unemployment insurance?
sabbahillel
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That only works for people who have tax pre-deducted, it is worth noting. Also that many poskim hold that there are other expenses that can be deducted before calculating Maaser. Finally, it is often assumed that Maaser today (Maaser Ksafim) is the biblical commandment. It is not - others can answer better but it is either a strong Minhag or (minor opinion) a Rabbinic law. – Elie Aug 26 '21 at 00:22
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I understand your point. It may not be the only thing to rely on but certainly it should be helpful in figuring a lot out. Assuming i know how to read it. – Ackstay Aug 26 '21 at 00:53
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@Elie That is why I do not use the tax forms to calculate ma'aser. If one does not have tax prededucted, then take the ma'aser off the top and subtract the tax expense at the appropriate time. – sabbahillel Aug 29 '21 at 02:29