Which of the following is not considered a deduction when calculating adjusted gross income (AGI)?

When calculating adjusted gross income (AGI), rental expenses for personal property are generally not deductible. AGI is computed by taking gross income and subtracting specific deductions.

The expenses associated with rental properties can become deductions, but only when they relate to income-generating rental activities. In the context of personal use property, which is property that is not rented out for income, the expenses such as maintenance, property taxes, and other ongoing costs do not qualify as deductions for AGI. Therefore, rental expenses attributed to personal property do not count as part of the deductions that adjust gross income.

In contrast, options such as student loan interest, contributions to a traditional IRA, and health savings account contributions are specifically listed as adjustments to income that can lower AGI, making them valid deductions. Student loan interest is an adjustment that allows taxpayers to deduct a portion of the interest paid on qualifying loans. Contributions to a traditional IRA and HSA also provide tax advantages by allowing contributions to be deducted from gross income, thereby reducing the amount of taxable income reported for the year.