From the Desk of Michael T. McCormick
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAXABLE AND NON-TAXABLE INCOME
I often have clients ask me about what income is taxable and what is not, particularly at this time of year. Clients are always surprised to realize that gift income is not taxable to them as the donee! In general, all income is taxable unless a law specifically says it isn’t. Here are some basic rules you should know:
Taxable Income
Taxable income includes money you earn, like wages and tips. It also includes bartering, an exchange of property or services. The fair market value of property or services received is normally taxable.
Non-taxable Income
Some types of income are not taxable except under certain conditions, including:
• Life insurance. Proceeds paid to you upon the death of an insured person are usually not taxable. However, if you redeem a life insurance policy for cash, any amount you get that is more than the cost of the policy is taxable.
• Qualified scholarship. In most cases, income from a scholarship is not taxable. This includes amounts used for certain costs, such as tuition and required books. On the other hand, amounts you use for room and board are taxable.
• Other income tax refunds. State or local income tax refunds may be taxable. You should receive a Form 1099-G from the agency that paid you. They may have sent the form by mail or electronically. Contact them to find out how to get the form. Report any taxable refund you got even if you did not receive Form 1099-G.
It Depends
Here are some items that are usually not taxable:
• Gifts and inheritances
• Child support payments
• Welfare benefits
• Damage awards for physical injury or sickness
• Cash rebates from a dealer or manufacturer for an item you buy
• Reimbursements for qualified adoption expenses
This is not an exhaustive list and it is always important to consult our tax team to determine if an item of income is taxable. There can be some fairly stiff penalties for not paying estimated taxes on some income streams. Nonetheless, the tax code does provide some nice benefits if you know where to look!