What Is Taxable Income? | Capital One (2024)

October 12, 2023 |4 min read

    Taxable income is a term you’ve likely heard during tax season. Like it suggests, taxable income is the amount of a person’s or company’s income—minus exemptions and deductions—that can be taxed.

    Among the types of taxable income are a person’s salary or wages, tips, benefits and investment income. Read on to learn more about what it is and how to calculate it.

    Key takeaways

    • Taxable income is the amount of your income that can be taxed.
    • Common types of taxable income include salary, wages, tips, bonuses, employer-provided benefits and interest from investments.
    • Some kinds of income might not be taxable, including inheritances and child support.

    Taxable income definition

    Taxable income is money a person or company earns—after exemptions and deductions are taken out—that can be taxed. A person or company may be required to file federal, state or local income tax returns.

    What is considered taxable income?

    Many kinds of income are considered taxable income and must be reported on a person’s federal income tax return. Among them are:

    • Salary or wages
    • Income from side gigs
    • Tips
    • Commissions
    • Employer-provided benefits
    • Employer-granted stock options
    • Work bonuses
    • Unemployment benefits
    • Pay for jury duty
    • Income from renting out property
    • Royalties from copyrights, patents, and oil, gas and mineral properties
    • Gains from the sale or exchange of virtual currency
    • Most investment dividends
    • Pension and annuity payments
    • Withdrawals from traditional IRAs
    • Canceled debts
    • Some disability benefits
    • Income generated by a hobby
    • Interest from bank accounts
    • Certain court-granted monetary awards and damages
    • Winnings from gambling
    • Prizes

    Taxable income for businesses

    For the most part, businesses pay taxes on their income earned. However, partnerships don’t pay income taxes. They file a tax return, but the partners include business income or losses on their personal tax returns.

    How to calculate taxable income

    Calculating your taxable income takes a little homework and a little math. Here are the four steps:

    Step 1: Determine your filing status

    Anyone who files an income tax return has a filing status, which determines the rate your income is taxed, according to the IRS. The five filing statuses are:

    • Single: typically a taxpayer who is unmarried, divorced or legally separated
    • Married filing jointly: married couples who file one return
    • Married filing separately: married couples who file individual tax returns
    • Head of household: generally a taxpayer who is not married but has at least one dependent
    • Qualified widow or widower: typically a taxpayer whose spouse has died in the past two years and has a dependent child

    Step 2: List all forms of your taxable income

    To come up with your taxable income, you also must calculate your gross income, which is the total of all your income before taxes and deductions. This amount can include:

    • Salary
    • Commissions
    • Bonuses
    • Overtime pay
    • Some employer-provided benefits

    Step 3: Calculate adjusted gross income (AGI)

    To calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI), subtract specific adjustments to your income—like student loan interest or alimony payments—from your gross income.

    Step 4: Subtract deductions from AGI to determine taxable income

    Next you’ll need to calculate and subtract your deductions. You’ll have either itemized deductions or a standard deduction. Both itemized and standard deductions reduce your taxable income.

    Common itemized deductions for individual taxpayers may include charitable contributions, medical and dental expenses, mortgage interest, and property taxes.

    Some taxpayers choose to take a standard deduction, which is a lump sum, instead of claiming itemized deductions. The IRS has more information about which option may be right for your financial situation.

    Once you’ve tallied your tax deductions, you subtract the total dollar amount for deductions from your AGI to determine your taxable income.

    What is nontaxable income?

    Some kinds of incomes are nontaxable, meaning you’re not required to pay taxes on them. You may still have to report them on your tax return, though.

      Nontaxable income examples

      Examples of potential nontaxable income include:

      • Inheritances up to a certain amount
      • Gifts up to a specific amount
      • Welfare payments
      • Child support payments
      • Health care plans provided by your employer
      • Alimony payments under court orders after 2018
      • Most beneficiary payouts from life insurance policies
      • Most scholarships

      Taxable income FAQs

      Is taxable income the same as gross income?

      Taxable income is not the same as gross income. Taxable income is your total income once deductions and exemptions are subtracted from your gross income. Gross income is your total income before deductions are figured in and taxes are paid.

      What is the formula for calculating taxable income?

      Here’s what the formula looks like:

      What Is Taxable Income? | Capital One (1)

      What is a tax exemption?

      A tax exemption eliminates or reduces the taxes that an individual taxpayer or an organization owes. As an individual taxpayer, you might have tax exemptions for your property tax, income tax or other types of taxes.

      Taxable income in a nutshell

      Taxable income is the amount of your income that is subject to taxation. Common types of taxable income include salary, wages, tips, bonuses and employer-provided benefits. Some kinds of income may not be taxable, though, like employer-sponsored health insurance and child support payments.

      Knowing the difference between the two can help as you file your taxes each year.

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      What Is Taxable Income? | Capital One (2024)

      FAQs

      What Is Taxable Income? | Capital One? ›

      Taxable income is the amount of your income that is subject to taxation. Common types of taxable income include salary, wages, tips, bonuses and employer-provided benefits. Some kinds of income may not be taxable, though, like employer-sponsored health insurance and child support payments.

      What does your taxable income mean? ›

      Taxable income is the amount of income subject to tax, after deductions and exemptions.

      What's my taxable income? ›

      Taxable income: Your taxable income is your AGI after the standard deduction or itemized deductions are applied. This is the number the IRS uses to determine your tax liability.

      What is the taxable income amount? ›

      Taxable income is the amount of money you earn that tax is payable on and can be reduced by making deductions on your tax return such as work-related expenses.

      Is taxable income the same as adjusted gross income? ›

      Taxable income – Taxable income is arrived at by subtracting the standard or itemized deductions—whichever amount is greater—from your AGI.

      Is taxable income your refund? ›

      If you did not itemize your deductions in the previous year, do not include the refund in income. If you deducted the taxes in the previous year, include all or part of the refund in the year you receive the refund. This information is found in Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.

      Is taxable income what I owe? ›

      While most income must be reported on your taxes, the IRS allows you to make certain adjustments and exclusions to reduce your taxable income. Your final taxable income and tax bill are determined only after all allowed deductions and other adjustments are subtracted from your gross income.

      Is social security considered taxable income? ›

      You must pay taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits if you file a: Federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. Joint return, and you and your spouse have “combined income” of more than $32,000.

      How much will my tax return be if I made $15,000? ›

      If you make $15,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $1,518. That means that your net pay will be $13,483 per year, or $1,124 per month.

      What is the average tax return for a single person making $35,000? ›

      If you make $35,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $6,243. That means that your net pay will be $28,757 per year, or $2,396 per month.

      What is my taxable income on W2? ›

      Box 1 "Wages, tips, other compensation": This is federal, taxable income for payments in the calendar year. The amount is calculated as YTD earnings minus pre- tax retirement and pre-tax benefit deductions plus taxable benefits (i.e., certain educational benefits).

      How to calculate adjusted taxable income? ›

      Your ATI is the sum of the following amounts:
      1. taxable income (excluding any assessable First home super saver released amount)
      2. adjusted fringe benefits total, which is the sum of. ...
      3. reportable employer superannuation contributions.
      4. deductible personal superannuation contributions.
      May 24, 2023

      What is the difference between net income and taxable income? ›

      Taxable income is your AGI minus your standard deduction (or itemized deductions from Schedule A) and your qualified business income deduction from Form 8995 or Form 8995-A. Net income typically means the amount of income left over after you pay your income tax or get a tax refund.

      Is box 1 on W2 gross income? ›

      Box 1 shows the amount of gross taxable wages an employer paid. These wages include prizes, bonuses, fringe benefits, and salaries. This part of Form W-2 does not include amounts given to retirement plans or other payroll deductions.

      Which explains a difference between income and taxable income? ›

      Which explains a difference between income and taxable income? Income is what a person earns, while taxable income reflects deductions subtracted for relevant expenses.

      What is taxable income on W2? ›

      Box 1 "Wages, tips, other compensation": This is federal, taxable income for payments in the calendar year. The amount is calculated as YTD earnings minus pre- tax retirement and pre-tax benefit deductions plus taxable benefits (i.e., certain educational benefits).

      Is income taxable in the year it is earned or when it is paid? ›

      Under the cash method, you generally report income in the tax year you receive it, and deduct expenses in the tax year in which you pay the expenses. Under the accrual method, you generally report income in the tax year you earn it, regardless of when payment is received.

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