Types of Income the IRS Can’t Touch (2024)

As you probably are painfully aware, the majority of sources of your income are taxable by the IRS. Whether you earn it through a salary, hourly wages, tips, commissions, rent from a property that you lease, or via interest and dividends on your investments, Uncle Sam is going to demand his fair share.

Even barter income is taxable. Say you exchange your hair-cutting services for lawn-cutting services. Seems like a fair trade, right? According to the IRS, you must pay tax on the fair market value of the mowing services you receive.

What if you decide to do something really unsavory and embezzle funds from your boss or your book club? Believe it or not, that income is also taxable. In fact, the IRS specifically spells out that kickbacks and embezzlement proceeds are subject to income tax.

Is there any way an income-earning taxpayer can catch a break? As a matter of fact, quite a few kinds of income are deemed tax-free. Here are 18 types of income the IRS can’t touch.

Key Takeaways

  • The government will demand income tax be paid on a variety of ordinary income sources, from wages and salaries to interest and dividends.
  • Certain forms of income, however, may be tax-exempt, subject to certain limits and qualifications.
  • Examples of nontaxable sources of income include veterans' benefits and life insurance payouts.

1. Veterans' Benefits

Benefits paid to veterans and their families are non-taxable.These include:

  • Education, training, and subsistence allowances
  • Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities
  • Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living
  • Grants for motor vehicles for veterans who lose their sight or use of their limbs
  • Insurance proceeds and dividends paid either to veterans or to their beneficiaries
  • Interest on insurance dividends left on deposit with the Veterans Administration
  • Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program
  • The death gratuity paid to a survivor of a member of the Armed Forces who died after Sept. 10, 2001
  • Payments made under the compensated work therapy program
  • Any bonus payment by a state or political subdivision because of service in a combat zone

2. Child Support Payments

Any money you receive for child support is not taxable.

3. Welfare Benefits

Welfare payments such as those provided by SNAP or TANF are not taxed by the IRS.

4. Workers' Compensation

If you receive workers’ compensation for an employment-related illness or injury, this income is exempt from taxes provided that payments are made under a workers’ compensation act.

5. Foster Care Payments

If you are a foster parent receiving foster payments from a child placement agency or the state or local government, this income is not taxable.

6. Casualty Insurance

If you have an insurance claim because of a car accident or house fire, casualty insurance payments you receive are tax-free unless the payments exceed your actual loss.

7. Payments From a State Crime Victims' Fund

If you receive payments from a state fund for the victims of crime, this is also nontaxable income.

8. Inheritances

If you receive an inheritance from a deceased friend, relative, or even an acquaintance, you often do not have to pay federal taxes on it. That’s because the estate of the deceased pays all the taxes, if any are due, before you receive the inheritance. The estate tax will depend on the value of the taxable estate. Some states do impose state taxes on inheritances, so check.

9. Disaster Relief Grants

Under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, if you receive post-disaster relief grant payments and use the income to meet your necessary expenses or needs for medical, dental, housing, personal property, transportation, or funeral expenses, this income is exempt from taxes.

10. Black Lung Disease Benefits

Any federal black lung benefit payments you receive through the Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation (DCMWC) are considered nontaxable income.

11. Supplemental Security Income

This U.S. government program provides monthly benefits to low-income people who are either 65 or older, blind, or disabled. The Social Security Administration administers theSupplemental Security Income (SSI) program, but the monies for it come from U.S. Treasury general funds, not the Social Security trust fund. SSI payments are not taxable.

12. Interest on Municipal Bonds

Interest on certain municipal bonds issued by states, cities, counties, and other government entities to finance their operations are generally exempt from federal income tax. They may also be exempt from state and local taxes, depending on whether you reside where the bond was issued, making them double-, or potentially "triple-exempt."

13. Compensatory Damages Awarded for Physical Injury or Sickness

Damages awarded for physical injury, physical illness, or emotional distress due to a physical injury or sickness are typically exempt from taxes.

14. Gambling Income (If It Offsets Losses)

Gambling income is non-taxable only if your total losses are greater than your total winnings for the tax year. If, on the other hand, your gambling income exceeds your losses, that income is taxable. You need to report separately on your tax forms winnings as income—and can deduct losses up to the amount of your winnings, if you itemize your deductions, as "other itemized deductions."

15. Gifts

If you receive a monetary gift from a relative or friend, you do not owe taxes on that income. If the gift is more than $16,000 for calendar year 2022, or more that $17,000 for 2023, the giver may owe gift tax, but you do not.

16. Combat Pay

The military income you receive while stationed in a combat zone is usually not taxable.

17. Vacation Rental Income (Limited)

If you rent your personal home for less than 15 days during the tax year, then this income does not need to be reported to the IRS.

18. Life Insurance Death Benefits

Generally speaking, when the beneficiary of alife insurancepolicy receives the death benefit, this money is not counted as taxable income, and the beneficiary does not have to pay taxes on it.

The Bottom Line

While it often seems as if the IRS manages to take a bite out of every type of income you could possibly earn, there are quite a few exceptions to that rule. Before you assume any income is taxable or nontaxable, double-check with a tax professional or visit the IRS website.

Types of Income the IRS Can’t Touch (2024)

FAQs

Types of Income the IRS Can’t Touch? ›

Taxable income includes wages, salaries, bonuses, and tips, as well as investment income and various types of unearned income.

What are the types of income for the IRS? ›

Taxable income includes wages, salaries, bonuses, and tips, as well as investment income and various types of unearned income.

What accounts can the IRS touch? ›

It can garnish wages, take money in your bank or other financial account, seize and sell your vehicle(s), real estate and other personal property. If you receive an IRS bill titled Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to A Hearing, contact us right away.

What is not counted as income? ›

Earned income also includes net earnings from self-employment. Earned income does not include amounts such as pensions and annuities, welfare benefits, unemployment compensation, worker's compensation benefits, or social security benefits.

How much income is not reportable to IRS? ›

Tax Year 2022 Filing Thresholds by Filing Status
Filing StatusTaxpayer age at the end of 2022A taxpayer must file a return if their gross income was at least:
singleunder 65$12,950
single65 or older$14,700
head of householdunder 65$19,400
head of household65 or older$21,150
6 more rows

What are the 6 types of income? ›

Let's dig in.
  • Earned Income. Earned income is the most common and traditional form of income that most people receive through their employment. ...
  • Capital Gains. ...
  • Interest Income. ...
  • Dividend Income. ...
  • Rental Income. ...
  • Business Income. ...
  • Royalty Income.
Mar 7, 2023

What are 4 types of income? ›

4 types of income
  • Active income. If an individual has a job in which they perform tasks for a fixed amount of money, they receive an active income. ...
  • Passive income. Passive income is money earned from a particular enterprise in which an individual isn't actively involved. ...
  • Portfolio income. ...
  • Government income assistance.
Sep 30, 2022

What assets can the IRS not touch? ›

Assets the IRS Can NOT Seize

Work tools valued at or below $3520. Personal effects that do not exceed $6,250 in value. Furniture valued at or below $7720. Any asset with no equitable value.

What kind of account can the IRS not touch? ›

In fact, there is not a type of bank accounts the IRS can't touch. So, the answer to the following three often-asked questions about the seizure of properties by IRS a definite YES.

Can the IRS see all my bank accounts? ›

The Short Answer: Yes. Share: The IRS probably already knows about many of your financial accounts, and the IRS can get information on how much is there.

What counts in income? ›

Gross income includes your wages, dividends, capital gains, business income, retirement distributions as well as other income. Adjustments to Income include such items as Educator expenses, Student loan interest, Alimony payments or contributions to a retirement account.

What types of income do not count under the earnings test? ›

Income is considered wages from an employer and does NOT include investment earnings, government benefits, interest or capital gains.

What is income that is not worked for? ›

There are two ways to make money. People earn an income when they're hired to work. People can also receive income even if they don't work for pay. This type of income is known as unearned income.

How much income can go unreported? ›

Depending on your age, filing status, and dependents, for the 2022 tax year, the gross income threshold for filing taxes is between $12,550 and $28,500. If you have self-employment income, you're required to report your income and file taxes if you make $400 or more.

Does all income get reported to IRS? ›

Taxpayers must report all income on their tax return unless it is excluded by law, whether they receive a Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation; Form 1099-K; or any other information return.

How much money can you not report? ›

Cash includes coins and currency of the United States or any foreign country. For some transactionsPDF, it's also a cashier's check, bank draft, traveler's check or money order with a face amount of $10,000 or less. A person must report cash of more than $10,000 they received: In one lump sum.

What are the 5 income categories? ›

One objective way some researchers divide individuals into economic classes is by looking at their incomes. From that data, they split earners into different classes: poor, lower-middle class, middle class, upper-middle class and wealthy.

What are the 3 most common types of income? ›

Three of the main types of income are earned, passive and portfolio. Earned income includes wages, salary, tips and commissions. Passive or unearned income could come from rental properties, royalties and limited partnerships. Portfolio or investment income includes interest, dividends and capital gains on investments.

How many forms of income should you have? ›

According to financial expert Tom Corley, via CNBC, you should have three income streams at all times to achieve substantial wealth.

What is Type 3 income? ›

Passive income. Passive income is money earned from a rental property, limited partnership or other business in which you're not actively involved. For example, if you invest in a business without participating in its development, you're a silent investor receiving passive income.

What is the most common type of income? ›

What it is: Earned or Active income is the most common way that people are taught to make money. This is the type of income that comes from working a job that requires your energy and time.

What type of income does not need to be reported anywhere on a federal tax return? ›

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.

What three things will the IRS never do? ›

Three Things the IRS Will Never Do
  • The IRS Will Never Cold Call You About Debt. Their policy is to always mail you a bill first. ...
  • The IRS Will Never Demand Immediate Payment. ...
  • The IRS Will Never Threaten You.

What are the IRS collection limitations? ›

As a general rule, there is a ten year statute of limitations on IRS collections. This means that the IRS can attempt to collect your unpaid taxes for up to ten years from the date they were assessed. Subject to some important exceptions, once the ten years are up, the IRS has to stop its collection efforts.

What makes the IRS flag your account? ›

While the odds of an audit have been low, the IRS may flag your return for several reasons, tax experts say. Some of the common audit red flags are excessive deductions or credits, unreported income, rounded numbers and more. However, the best protection is thorough records, including receipts and documentation.

What triggers an IRS bank? ›

In addition to incorrectly reporting income, some of the most common audit triggers include taking too many business deductions, operating a cash-only business, and not reporting money in foreign bank accounts.

What is the most money you can spend without alerting the IRS? ›

A person may voluntarily file Form 8300 to report a suspicious transaction below $10,000. In this situation, the person doesn't let the customer know about the report. The law prohibits a person from informing a payer that it marked the suspicious transaction box on the Form 8300.

Who gets audited by IRS the most? ›

Audit rates by reported annual income

Black people with low income have nearly a 3 percent higher audit rate than Non-Black people with low income. If you're a single Black man with dependents who claims the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you have a 7.73% chance of being audited by the IRS in any given year.

How much money can I transfer without being flagged? ›

How much money can you wire without being reported? Financial institutions and money transfer providers are obligated to report international transfers that exceed $10,000. You can learn more about the Bank Secrecy Act from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

How much money can I deposit in the bank without being reported? ›

Depositing a big amount of cash that is $10,000 or more means your bank or credit union will report it to the federal government. The $10,000 threshold was created as part of the Bank Secrecy Act, passed by Congress in 1970, and adjusted with the Patriot Act in 2002.

Is Social Security counted as income? ›

Some of you have to pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you have other substantial income in addition to your benefits (such as wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that must be reported on your tax return).

What income is not included in gross income? ›

However, net income also includes selling, general, administrative, tax, interest, and other expenses not included in the calculation of gross income.

What type of income reduces Social Security benefits? ›

If you are younger than full retirement age and earn more than the yearly earnings limit, we may reduce your benefit amount. If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2023, that limit is $21,240.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›

To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.

What are examples of income earned but not received? ›

The three major incomes earned but not received are undistributed profits, taxes on social security, and corporate taxes.

How far back can the IRS audit you? ›

How far back can the IRS go to audit my return? Generally, the IRS can include returns filed within the last three years in an audit. If we identify a substantial error, we may add additional years. We usually don't go back more than the last six years.

How does the IRS look at unreported income? ›

If a taxpayer underreports income, i.e. the income figure they reported on their tax return is less than their actual income, the IRP sends an alert to the IRS. Then an IRS agent compares the income on your tax return with the information in the IRP.

How does the IRS catch tax evaders? ›

Various investigative techniques are used to obtain evidence, including interviews of third party witnesses, conducting surveillance, executing search warrants, subpoenaing bank records, and reviewing financial data.

Will the IRS catch missing income? ›

If you forget to report the income documented on a 1099 form, the IRS will catch this error. When the IRS thinks that you owe additional tax on your unreported 1099 income, it'll usually notify you and retroactively charge you penalties and interest beginning on the first day they think that you owed additional tax.

Do you have to report small amounts of income? ›

Generally, an amount included in your income is taxable unless it is specifically exempted by law. Income that is taxable must be reported on your return and is subject to tax. Income that is nontaxable may have to be shown on your tax return but is not taxable.

Are Zelle payments reported to IRS? ›

Long story short: Zelle's setup, which uses direct bank-to-bank transactions, is not subject to the IRS's 1099-K reporting rules. Other peer-to-peer payment apps are considered “third-party settlement organizations” and are bound by stricter tax rules.

Is it illegal to have too much cash on you? ›

Having large amounts of cash is not illegal, but it can easily lead to trouble. Law enforcement officers can seize the cash and try to keep it by filing a forfeiture action, claiming that the cash is proceeds of illegal activity. And criminal charges for the federal crime of “structuring” are becoming more common.

What are the IRS definitions of income? ›

Income includes wages, interest and dividends, and other payments. adjusted gross income. Gross income reduced by certain amounts, such as a deductible IRA contribution or student loan interest.

What is income defined by IRS? ›

Gross income includes your wages, dividends, capital gains, business income, retirement distributions as well as other income. Adjustments to Income include such items as Educator expenses, Student loan interest, Alimony payments or contributions to a retirement account.

What are the types of other income? ›

Examples of other income include income from interest, rent, and gains resulting from the sale of fixed assets. Companies present other income in a separate section, before income from operations. Other income is income that does not come from a company's main business, such as interest.

What are the different names of income? ›

Synonyms of income
  • revenue.
  • profit.
  • earnings.
  • return.
  • proceeds.
  • incoming(s)
  • yield.
  • gain(s)

What kind of income is 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.

What does the IRS classify as passive income? ›

There are two kinds of passive activities. Trade or business activities in which you don't materially participate during the year. Rental activities, even if you do materially participate in them, unless you're a real estate professional.

How does the IRS calculate income? ›

If the taxpayer is a wage-earner the IRS will calculate the monthly gross income by how often the taxpayer is paid per month. For example, if a taxpayer is paid weekly, the gross income is calculated by the gross amount ($500) multiplied by the average number of weeks in a month (4.3), which is $2,150 per month.

How does the IRS calculate the total income? ›

How Income Taxes Are Calculated. First, we calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI) by taking your total household income and reducing it by certain items such as contributions to your 401(k). Next, from AGI we subtract exemptions and deductions (either itemized or standard) to get your taxable income.

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