Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 22:59     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:Odd that folks are excluding investment income and all their W2 adjustments


All my dividends get reinvested. I don't see it, it's not income to me, just Uncle Sam. I'm sure I'll feel differently in retirement.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 22:46     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:When you folks are posting HHI on this board, what are you including? Is it your AGI? Or do you add back in items like 401k, health insurance, HSA, FSA, DCP? Do you include rental income and if so, is it net of expenses? Other investment income?


We only include our net, earned income – basically whatever gets deposited into our bank accounts twice per month from W-2 sources. I know a ton of people on DCUM like to inflate their HHI by referring to gross income or by including things like dividends, interest, and capital gains…but that’s not a game that DH and I need to play.


Interesting. Doesn’t work if the majority of your HHI is via RSUs.


RSUs get included in your W-2 income as they vest.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 21:45     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:When you folks are posting HHI on this board, what are you including? Is it your AGI? Or do you add back in items like 401k, health insurance, HSA, FSA, DCP? Do you include rental income and if so, is it net of expenses? Other investment income?


We only include our net, earned income – basically whatever gets deposited into our bank accounts twice per month from W-2 sources. I know a ton of people on DCUM like to inflate their HHI by referring to gross income or by including things like dividends, interest, and capital gains…but that’s not a game that DH and I need to play.


Interesting. Doesn’t work if the majority of your HHI is via RSUs.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 19:33     Subject: Definition of HHI
Our HHI income would be very small if I only considered W2 income. I got to include survivor's benefits and investment income.
I don't have any of the accounts mentioned by OP.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 19:17     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:Pretax W2 income.


Yep. This.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 18:20     Subject: Definition of HHI
Just use your MAGI
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 18:18     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:When you folks are posting HHI on this board, what are you including? Is it your AGI? Or do you add back in items like 401k, health insurance, HSA, FSA, DCP? Do you include rental income and if so, is it net of expenses? Other investment income?


We only include our net, earned income – basically whatever gets deposited into our bank accounts twice per month from W-2 sources. I know a ton of people on DCUM like to inflate their HHI by referring to gross income or by including things like dividends, interest, and capital gains…but that’s not a game that DH and I need to play.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 17:55     Subject: Definition of HHI
I would include all W-2 income but not investment income, because that's all in retirement accounts and 529s (and I don't track it that carefully).

That'll change this year actually (we had a large inheritance), so I guess I'll have to think about counting that investment income.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 17:53     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Pretax W2 income.


+1. Doesnt include any investment returns


Yep. Pretax W2 income plus any rental and/or business income before deductions etc.

I could see including investment returns only if you don’t work a job and that’s your sole or primary source of income.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 17:51     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:Pretax W2 income.


+1. Doesnt include any investment returns
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2026 08:37     Subject: Definition of HHI
Odd that folks are excluding investment income and all their W2 adjustments
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2026 22:23     Subject: Definition of HHI
Anonymous wrote:Pretax W2 income.


This. We make nearly as much from investments, but we don't count that as HHI income (it's definitely on our tax returns) as it's all reinvested.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2026 20:59     Subject: Definition of HHI
Gross before tax and other deductions
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2026 20:55     Subject: Definition of HHI
Pretax W2 income.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2026 20:30     Subject: Definition of HHI
When you folks are posting HHI on this board, what are you including? Is it your AGI? Or do you add back in items like 401k, health insurance, HSA, FSA, DCP? Do you include rental income and if so, is it net of expenses? Other investment income?