Does the Official Poverty Measure Use After-Tax Income?

BSF-0221 · Behind the Numbers · Evidence as of: Current definition (accessed Oct 2, 2026)

The Fact

No. The Census Bureau’s official poverty definition uses money income before taxes.

Official poverty status is not determined by comparing a family’s after-tax spendable income with its actual bills.

U.S. Census Bureau, About Poverty in the U.S. Population. Accessed October 2, 2026. https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/guidance/poverty-measures.html