ABOVE-THE-LINE

above-the-line, adj. (Of a deduction) taken after calculating gross income and before calculating adjusted gross income. • Examples of above-the-line deductions are IRA contributions and moving expenses. Formerly, indi-vidual tax returns had a dark line above which these deductions were written. Cf. BELOW-THE-LINE. [Cases: Internal Revenue 3114. C.J.S. Internal Revenue § 59.]