4 Gross Income and Exclusions Flashcards
What is gross income?
The internal Revenue Code defines gross income as all income from whatever source derived except as otherwise provided.
What are types of income that constitute gross income?
- compensation for services, including fees, commissions, and fringe benefits
- gross income derived from business
- gains derived from dealings in property
- interest
- rents
- royalties
- dividends
- annuities
- income from life insurance and endowment contracts
- pensions
- income from discharge of indebtedness
- distributive share of partnership gross income
- income in respect of a decedent (income earned but not received before death)
- income from an interest in an estate or trust
Does property or credit given in lieu of cash or check included in gross income?
Yes, the fair market value of the property or credit is included in gross income
What is gross income of an employee?
Any amount paid by an employer for a liability (including taxes) or an expense of the employee.
What is the threshold for employers to provide a W-2 to an employee?
In 2022 an employer is not required to provide a W-2 for wages less than $2,400.00
What types of income must also be included on form W-2 and in the total on line 1 of form 1040?
- household employee wages
- tip income the taxpayer did not report to the employer
- dependent care benefits, reported in box 10 on form W-2
- employer-provided adoption benefits, box 12 on form W-2 with code T
- excess salary deferrals, box 12 on form W-2
What happens if an employer transfers property to an employee at less than its FMV (bargain purchase)?
The difference may be income to the employee and treated as compensation for personal services
Are scholarships and fellowships received for room, board, or incidental expenses gross income?
Yes
What are the two types of reimbursed employee expense plans?
Nonaccountable and accountable
What is a nonaccountable reimbursed employee expense plan?
The employee reimbursements are advances that are included in gross income.
What are accountable reimbursed employee expense plans?
The employee must submit requests for reimbursement, and only reimbursements in excess of expenses must be included in gross income.
Are qualified reimbursements for moving expenses included in gross income?
If the reimbursement is not for qualified moving expenses or the taxpayer is not a member of the military the reimbursement is included in gross income.
How are employer contributions to qualified retirement plans and elective deferrals treated regarding gross income?
They are not included in income upon contribution, instead the contributions and earnings are included in income and taxed at distribution.
What are examples of interest income?
- merchandise premium - ex a toaster given to a depositor for opening an interest-bearing account
- imputed interest on below-market term loans
- interest on state, local, and federal tax refunds
- interest from U.S. treasury bonds
What form is sent to taxpayers for interest income?
1099-INT
How is taxable interest reported on form 1040?
Taxable interest is reported on form 1040 with Schedule B attached if the total is over $1500.00
What form is sent to taxpayers for ordinary and qualified dividends?
1099-DIV
How are ordinary dividends reported on form 1040?
They are reported on form 1040 with Schedule B attached if the total is over $1500.00 or the taxpayer received, as a nominee, ordinary dividends that actually belong to someone else.
How are qualified dividends reported on form 1040?
They are included in Schedule B in the ordinary dividend total
What form is sent to taxpayers for state or local income tax refunds, credits, or offsets?
1099-G
When are state and local income tax refunds or credits nontaxable?
If the in year the taxpayer paid the tax, the taxpayer either did not itemize deductions or did not deduct state and local income taxes
How are alimony and separate maintenance payments treated regarding gross income?
These are included in gross income of the recipient, and they are deducted from the gross income of the payor for divorce decrees executed prior to 2019.
When are payments considered to be alimony?
A payment is considered to be alimony (even if paid to a third party) when it is:
- paid in cash
- paid pursuant to a written divorce or separation instrument
- terminated at death of recipient
- not designated as other alimony- ex. child support
- not paid to a member of the same household
- not paid to a spouse with whom the taxpayer is filing a joint return
Are payments to a third party for the benefit of the payor’s ex-spouse considered qualified alimony payments?
Yes, if all other requirements are met