Professional Documents
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2. Gambling Winnings
If your winnings are reported on a Form W-2G, federal taxes are withheld at a flat rate of
25%. If you didn't give the payer your tax ID number, the withholding rate is 28%.
Withholding is required when the winnings, minus the bet, are: More than$5,000.
3. Alimony
Amounts paid under divorce or separate maintenance decrees or written separation
agreements entered into between you and your spouse or former spouse are
considered alimony for federal tax purposes if: You and your spouse or former spouse do
not file a joint return with each other.
4. Hobby Income
You must report on your tax return the income you earn from a hobby. The rules for how
you report the income and expenses depend on whether the activity is a hobby or a
business. There are special rules and limits for deductions you can claim for a hobby.
5. Annuity
An annuity is a series of payments under a contract made at regular intervals over a
period of more than one full year. They can be either fixed (under which you receive a
definite amount) or variable (not fixed). You can buy the contract alone or with the help
of your employer.
6. Illegal Transactions:
Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be
included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ
(Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.
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Although this type of income is illegal, it still counts as income and the IRS
considers it fully taxable.
8. Awards:
Bonuses or awards you receive for outstanding work are included in your income
and should be shown on your Form W-2. These include prizes such as vacation trips for
meeting sales goals. If the prize or award you receive is goods or services, you must
include the fair market value of the goods or services in your income. However, if your
employer merely promises to pay you a bonus or award at some future time, it is not
taxable until you receive it or it is made available to you.
9. Insiders Profits:
Insider profit comes from stock trading that is influence from prior knowledge of
events before these become public and so influence market behavior. Insider trading is
illegal when done by outsiders who improperly gain and exploit internal company
information. Directors and executives also do insider trading legally when they sell
their shares based on their intimate knowledge of company status. Whatever legal or
illegal income derived from insider trading is included in gross income. However if
trading meets the threshold for being considered a for profit activity or activity for the
production of income then expenses related to the investment is deductible as an
itemized deduction from AGI. These expenses must be incurred for the production of
income, for the maintenance, conservation and management have property used in the
production of income or for the purposes of calculating tax obligation and/or refund.
Annual Investment interest is deductible but restricted to net investment income.
This is the amount of money someone receives for being employed during tax
11. Interest:
Taxable interest includes interest you receive from bank accounts, loans you make
to others, and other sources.
16. Kickbacks:
This is used in a form of bribery. Commission gets paid to the bribe taker and gets
in exchange services. For example, it could be money or goods. You must include
kickbacks, side commissions, push money, or similar payments you receive in your
income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040), if
from your self-employment activity.
17. Bonuses:
Any bonuses you get from work are still considered income and are taxable
because it is added money to your income. This bonus can be from a promotion, raise,
award, and etc. However, certain noncash employee achievement awards can be
excluded from income.
You go treasure hunting and happen to find a treasure; the sum of the treasure you
decide to keep is considered recognizable income.
22. Notary Fees:
It is all-important that notaries keep active logs of all notary-related income. This
may include a simple notary fee that is charged for everyday notarizations such as
acknowledged documents or sworn affidavits. Or, this may be larger payment received
for mobile notary services or loan closings. In these cases, a notary may have generated
a large income throughout the year. This income will be reported on Form 1040
Schedule C.
26. Pensions:
Pensions are considered as your income because it is what you make for a living
and what you use to live off. Pensions usually come from 401ks and government jobs.
30. Prizes:
Scholarship prizes won in a contest are not scholarships or fellowships if you do
not have to use the prizes for educational purposes. You must include these amounts in
your income on Form 1040, line 21, whether or not you use the amounts for educational
purposes.
31. Commissions:
If you are an employee, your employer probably withholds income tax from your
pay. Tax may also be withheld from certain other income including pensions,
bonuses, commissions, and gambling winnings. In each case, the amount withheld is
paid to the IRS in your name.
Legal and professional fees, such as fees charged by accountants, that are
ordinary and necessary expenses directly related to operating your business are
deductible on Schedule C or C-EZ. However, you usually cannot deduct legal fees you
pay to acquire business assets. Add them to the basis of the property.
36. Rents:
Most individuals operate on a cash basis, which means they count their rental
income as income when it is actually or constructively received, and deduct their
expenses when they are paid.
39. Discounts:
These are amounts the seller permits you to deduct from the invoice price for
prompt payment
40. Rewards:
If you receive a reward for providing information, include it in your income.
41. Dividends:
Dividends are distributions of property a corporation may pay you if you own
stock in that corporation. Corporations pay most dividends in cash. However, they may
also pay them as stock of another corporation or as any other property. You also may
receive distributions through your interest in a partnership, an estate, a trust, a
subchapter S corporation, or from an association that is taxable as a corporation.
42. Royalties:
Royalties from copyrights, patents, and oil, gas, and mineral properties are
taxable as ordinary income.
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44. Salaries:
All wages, salaries and tips you received for performing services as an employee
of an employer must be included in your gross income. Amounts withheld for taxes,
including but not limited to income tax, social security and Medicare taxes, are
considered "received" and must be included in gross income in the year they are
withheld. Generally, your employer's contribution to a qualified pension plan for you is
not included in gross income at the time it is contributed.
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52. Benefits:
Fringe benefits are generally included in an employees gross income (there are
some exceptions). The benefits are subject to income tax withholding and employment
taxes. Fringe benefits include cars and flights on aircraft that the employer provides,
free or discounted commercial flights, vacations, discounts on property or services,
memberships in country clubs or other social clubs, and tickets to entertainment or
sporting events
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56. Fees:
The amount of the user fee depends on the applying organization's average annual
gross receipts. If the organization's average annual gross receipts have exceeded or will
exceed $10,000 annually over a four-year period, the fee is $850. If gross receipts have
not exceeded or will not exceed $10,000 annually over a four-year period, the user fee
is $400. An applicant must certify its gross receipts in Part XI.
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61. Wages:
All wages, salaries and tips you received for performing services as an employee
of an employer must be included in your gross income. Amounts withheld for taxes,
including but not limited to income tax, social security and Medicare taxes, are
considered "received" and must be included in gross income in the year they are
withheld. Generally, your employer's contribution to a qualified pension plan for you is
not included in gross income at the time it is contributed. Additionally, while amounts
withheld under certain salary reduction agreements with your employer are generally
excluded from gross income, such amounts may have to be included in wages subject to
social security and Medicare taxes in the year they are withheld.
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1. Certain death benefits: Exclusion from gross income of proceeds of life insurance
contracts payable by reason of death.
2. Gifts and inheritances: This can be considered property, money, or valuable items that
have been given to you by a family or friend who is deceased or living.
3. Interest on state and local bonds: You dont pay an income tax on the interest. State
and local bonds are interested in taxpayers who have a higher income tax because it is
tax-free.
4. Compensation for injuries or sickness: Any damages occurred in an individual like
sickness or and injury, they receive workers compensation.
5. Amounts received under accident and health plans: All of these amounts are included
in an individuals gross income
6. Contributions by employer to accident and health plans: This employees gross
income doesnt include the employers coverage under an accident or health plan.
7. Rental value of parsonages: The is the rental amount paid as a part of compensation
towards an individual.
8. Income from discharge of indebtedness: This results in a realization of income. For
example, a person performs services for a creditor who cancels the debt, and then the
debtor realizes the income of their debt.
9. Improvements by lessee on lessors property: For this, gross income doesnt include
income other than rent by a lessor of real property.
10. Qualified lessee construction allowances for short-term leases: Gross income of a
lessee isnt included any amount received of cash.
11. Recovery of tax benefit items: This is the amount of an expense that is recovered
included in the year of recovery and to the original expense that is the tax benefit.
12. Certain combat zone compensation of members of the Armed Forces: For this, gross
income doesnt include compensation received for a member below the position of a
commission officer in the armed forces.
13. Income of States, municipalities, etc.: It is the income that is about the government of
any possession of the US.
14. Qualified scholarships: This is excluded from your gross income only if you are
someone who qualifies for a degree.
15. Contributions to the capital of a corporation: This is the total amount of equity
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recorded by an organization.
16. Meals or lodging furnished for the convenience of the employer: This is the value of
meals that are furnished for the employee by the employer.
17. Amounts received under qualified group legal services plans: The gross income of an
employee, or his spouse, or his dependents doesnt include the amount distributed by the
employer on behalf of his employee.
18. Exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence: According to this, a taxpayer can
gain up to $250,000 realized on sale or exchange of the taxpayers principal residence.
19. Certain reduced uniformed services retirement pay: When it comes to this, gross
income doesnt include the amount of any reduction of uniformed services.
20. Amounts received under insurance contracts for certain living expenses: If a case of
an individual whose residence is damaged or destroyed, gross income does not include
any amount received for the individual.
21. Cafeteria plans: This is what an employer offers to their employees so that they buy
benefits with pre-taxed dollars. This then allows employees to decrease their income tax
liability.
22. Certain cost-sharing payments: This is what an individual has to pay for their items or
particular service.
23. Educational assistance programs: These programs are provided in your workplace and
comes with benefits such as payments for tuition, fees and expenses, books, supplies,
and equipment.
24. Dependent care assistance programs: This is a tax arrangement by which an employer
makes up for his/her employees expenses.
25. Certain personal injury liability assignments: Any amount received for agreeing to an
assignment isnt included in gross income.
26. Certain foster care payments: The amount received by a foster care provider during
the taxable year.
27. Certain fringe benefits: These benefits include: no additional cost-service, qualified
employee discount, and a working condition fringe.
28. Certain military benefits: These are benefits received by any member of the US armed
forces or are any dependent of such member.
29. Income from United States savings bonds used to pay higher education tuition and
fees: This is the income used from the US in order to pay off higher taxed fees regarding
higher education.
30. Energy conservation subsidies provided by public utilities: These can be the use of
natural gases any improvements done for the environment or state. These are considered
a state incentives program, which makes them unsure whether they are taxable to
income, as of now it seems that residents of that state or city can exclude this tax.
31. Adoption assistance programs: Any money you get from adoption assistance is not
included in the gross income because the money should be used to provide for the childe.
32. Medicare Advantage MSA: This is a type of health care an employer or trustee can
offer somebody so they dont have to pay as many medical expenses.
33. Disaster relief payments: These are payments that a family or individual might qualify
for when a disaster hits. Such as, funeral expenses, repair expenses, living expenses, and
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etc.
34. Federal subsidies for prescription drug plans:
Medicare Part D, also called the Medicare prescription drug benefit, is a United States
federal-government program to subsidize the costs of prescription drugs and prescription
drug insurance premiums for Medicare beneficiaries.
35. Benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders: Any
benefit provided by firefighters or medics is excluded from there income.
36. COBRA premium assistance: This is a type of health insurance that employers pay for
employees when they are terminated involuntarily.
37. Indian health care benefits: This is a specific health insurance for American Indians,
and it can be anything from private health to Medicaid.
38. Indian general welfare benefits: This gives the tribes exclusion from gross income
because of their beliefs and rights, such as, ceremonial activates and basically anything
with cultural significance.
39. Cross references to other Acts: An example of something like this would be a person
who serves the U.S. in a different country, will receive expenditures from any money lost
because of foreign currency.
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Inheritances
Gross income does not include the value of property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or
inheritance.
To determine if the sale of inherited property is taxable, you must first determine your basis
in the property. The basis of property inherited from a decedent is generally one of the
following:
The fair market value (FMV) of the property on the date of the decedent's death.
The FMV of the property on the alternate valuation date if the executor of the estate
chooses to use alternate valuation.
Lessees Improvements
Gross income does not include income (other than rent) derived by a lessor of real property
on the termination of a lease, representing the value of such property attributable to buildings
erected or other improvements made by the lessee.
Life Insurance Proceeds
The proceeds of life insurance policies paid to the heirs or beneficiaries upon the death of
the insured, whether in a single sum or otherwise, but if such amounts are held by the insurer
under an agreement to pay interest thereon, the interest payments shall be included in gross
income.
Long-Term Care Insurance
According to the Internal Revenue Service (Publication 525), long-term care insurance is
treated much like health insurancethe dollar amounts the policyholder receives (other than
dividends and premium refunds) for personal injury or sickness generally are excludable from
income, and the premiums paid generally are tax deductible. Long-term care policies must
have these features to qualify for the deductions: be guaranteed renewable; not provide for a
cash surrender value or other money that can be paid, assigned, pledged or borrowed; and not
pay for or reimburse expenses that would be reimbursed under Medicare.
Moving Expenses
You can deduct your moving expenses if you meet all three of the following requirements:
1.Your move is closely related to the start of work.
2.You meet the distance test.
3.You meet the time test.
If you meet the requirements discussed earlier under Who Can Deduct Moving Expenses,
you can deduct the reasonable expenses of:
A) Moving your household goods and personal effects (including in-transit or foreignmove storage expenses),
B) Traveling (including lodging but not meals) to your new home.
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institution for the purpose of study. A fellowship grant is generally an amount paid or allowed
to an individual for the purpose of study or research. Other types of grants include need-based
grants (such as Pell Grants) and Fulbright grants.
If you receive a scholarship, a fellowship grant, or other grant, all or part of the amounts
you receive may be tax-free. Scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grants are tax-free if
you meet the following conditions:
You are a candidate for a degree at an educational institution that maintains a regular
faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in
attendance at the place where it carries on its educational activities; and
The amounts you receive are used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment or
attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment
required for courses at the educational institution.
Social Security Payments (depending on gross income)
Social security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor and disability benefits. They
do not include supplemental security income (SSI) payments, which are not taxable. The
amount of social security benefits that must be included on your income tax return and used to
calculate your income tax liability depends on the total amount of your income and benefits for
the taxable year.
Tuition Paid by Employer (job-related only)
If you receive educational assistance benefits from your employer under an educational
assistance program, you can exclude up to $5,250 of those benefits each year. This means your
employer shouldn't include those benefits with your wages, tips, and other compensation
shown on your Form W-2, box 1. This also means that you don't have to include the benefits
on your income tax return.
Veterans Benefits
1. Disability Compensation
2. Pension
3. Education and training
4. Services for dependents and survivors
Workers Compensation and Similar Payments
Amounts you receive as workers' compensation for an occupational sickness or injury
are fully exempt from tax if they are paid under a workers' compensation act or a statute
in the nature of a workers' compensation act. The exemption also applies to your
survivors. The exemption, however, does not apply to retirement plan benefits you
receive based on your age, length of service, or prior contributions to the plan, even if
you retired because of an occupational sickness or injury.
References:
https://www.irs.gov/
https://www.wikipedia.org/
www.investopedia.com/
www.businessdictionary.com/definition/accounting.html
www.accountingcoach.com/
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