ZIP Code Data
Documentation Guide
Tax Year 2005


What the Data Show

ZIP Code Data show selected income and tax items classified by state, ZIP code, and size of adjusted gross income.  The data are based on administrative records (individual income tax returns) from the Internal Revenue Service's Individual Master File (IMF) system, which includes a record for every Form 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ filed with the IRS.  The records included in this study were returns that were filed between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006.  Generally, these are Tax Year 2005 returns although a limited number of late-filed returns for tax years before 2005 were also filed during this period. If a taxpayer filed returns for multiple years during this period, only the most recent return was included.

How the Tables Were Developed

The ZIP Code Data were developed by sorting the returns by the ZIP code provided on the return by the taxpayer.  No attempt was made to correct the ZIP Codes provided by the taxpayers.  In many cases, ZIP codes which are currently invalid were valid at some time in the past.  Returns with foreign or APO or FPO addresses, or which did not contain a ZIP code were not included in these statistics.  The state in which a return belonged was determined by the ZIP code.

Several steps were taken to avoid disclosure of information about individual taxpayers.  ZIP codes from which fewer than 10 returns were filed were suppressed. The data for these ZIP Codes are not included in the state totals. Also, when an AGI class for a given ZIP code had a frequency of less than 10, it was combined with another AGI class within the same ZIP Code to create a total of 10 or greater.  The order in which this was done was from highest AGI class to lowest AGI.  The exception to this rule is when the lowest AGI class had less than 10, the lowest AGI class was combined with the next higher AGI class where the combination of the two classes was greater than or equal to 10.  An additional disclosure protection technique employed was the removal of any return that represented a specified percentage of the total of any particular cell.  For example, if one return represented 75% of the value of a given cell, that return was suppressed from the tabulation.  The actual threshold percentage used, however, cannot be released.  The returns suppressed in this manner are not included in the state totals.  


Statistical Items Shown in the File

"Number of Returns" includes a count of all Forms 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ filed with the IRS filed between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006.  

"Total Number of Exemptions" reflects the number of individuals covered on the tax returns.  Persons who were claimed as a dependent on another person's return were not allowed to claim an exemption for themselves on their own return.  

"Number of Dependent Exemptions" includes exemptions claimed for children at home, children away from home, parents, and other dependents.

"Adjusted Gross Income" is the amount shown on line 37 of Form 1040.

"Salaries and Wages" is the amount shown on line 7 of Form 1040.

"Taxable Interest" is the amount shown on line 8a of Form 1040.

“Taxable Dividends” is the amount shown on Form 1040 line 9a.

“Net Capital Gain/Loss” is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 13.

"Schedule C Net Profit/Loss" is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 12.

"Schedule F Net Profit/Loss" is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 18.

“IRA Payment Deduction” is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 32.

“Self-employed Pension” is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 28.

“Total Itemized Deductions” is the amount shown on Schedule A, line 28.

“Contributions Deductions” is the amount shown on Schedule A, line 18

“Taxes Paid Deductions” is the amount shown on Schedule A, Line 9.

“Alternative Minimum Tax” is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 45.

“Income Tax Before Credits” is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 46.

"Total Tax" is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 63.

“Earned Income Credit” is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 66a.