Get Regulation 121063- 97 - Averaging Of Farm Income

Income averaging was a tax break that assisted people with large income deviations up until 1986. After the 1986 Tax Reform Act, income averaging was eliminated for everyone except fishermen and farmers.

The use of farm income averaging does not change the income reported in the prior years, instead utilizes any portion of lower tax brackets unused in the previous years. You do not have to have farm income in the prior years to utilize income averaging of current year farm income.

Forward averaging allows taxpayers to spread that lump-sum retirement income over several prior years, typically either five or ten years. Without forward averaging, a lump-sum distribution from a retirement plan may push a taxpayer into a higher tax bracket.

Use Schedule J (Form 1040) to elect to figure your 2023 income tax by averaging, over the previous 3 years (base years), all or part of your 2023 taxable income from your trade or business of farming or fishing.

Essentially, you may qualify for “ten-year averaging” when you receive a lump-sum distribution (LSD) from a qualified plan. In effect, you're treated as if you're receiving the payout over ten years for tax purposes, thereby reducing the overall tax liability.

Income averaging for farmers and fishermen provides a way to balance an income tax burden over several years, reducing the effects of both lean and bounty years. Schedule J is the Internal Revenue Service form used when you want to average your fishing or farming income.

A farm income averaging election is made by filing Schedule J, “Income Averaging for Farmers and Fishermen,” with an individual's Federal income tax return for the election year (including a late or amended return if the period of limitation on filing a claim for credit or refund has not expired).

Use Schedule J (Form 1040) to elect to figure your 2023 income tax by averaging, over the previous 3 years (base years), all or part of your 2023 taxable income from your trade or business of farming or fishing.