Taxable Income vs. Nontaxable Income: What You Should Know

What's not taxable Nontaxable income won’t be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS: Inheritances, gifts and bequests Cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer Alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018) Child support payments Most healthcare benefits Money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions Welfare payments Under certain circumstances, the following items may be nontaxable. TurboTax can help you determine what should be included in your return. Money you receive from a life insurance policy when someone dies is not taxable. However, if you cash in a life insurance policy, then a portion, if not all of it, is likely taxable. Money from a qualified scholarship is not taxable. However, if you use the money for room and board, or use it to pay other personal expenses, that portion is normally taxable. Don't worry about knowing tax rules, with TurboTax Live, you can connect with a real CPA or EA for unlimited tax advice and a line-by-line review backed by a 100% accurate expert approved guarantee. Compensation Generally, income can be received in three ways: money, services and property. But, you can also pay tax on income not yet in your possession. For example, if you receive a check but don’t cash it by the end of the tax year, it is still considered income for the year you received the check. The IRS requires that you declare all income on your return. This can include: Wages Salaries Commissions Unemployment compensation Strike pay Rental income Alimony (for divorce decrees finalized before 2019) Royalty payments Stock options, dividends and interest Self-employment income Whether you have stock, bonds, ETFs, cryptocurrency, rental property income or other investments, TurboTax Premier is designed for you. It's free to start, and enjoy $15 off TurboTax Premier when you file. Income from fringe benefits If you receive fringe benefits for services you render, they are usually considered taxable income, even if someone else receives them, such as your spouse. These taxable benefits and perks may include: A company-paid off-site gym membership A company vehicle for personal use Holiday gifts in the form of cash or gift certificates from your employer A certain portion of employer-paid dependent care Company-paid tuition fees over a certain amount Company-paid financial counseling fees Employer-paid group life insurance over a certain amount Miscellaneous income Income that may not be readily identified as taxable but generally must be included on your tax return includes: Employer contributions to an unqualified retirement plan The fair-market value of property received for your services Disability retirement payments from an employer-paid plan Sickness and injury payments from an employer-paid plan Property and services for which you bartered Money and income from offshore accounts The remaining amount of a debt or loan that is canceled or forgiven