What if I received money other than just a W-2? Is that considered income?

Income is generally split into two categories: earned income and income not earned.

What is earned income?

The 2 ways you can receive earned income are when someone pays you for your work or service or you operate your own business or farm.

Here’s a general list of what’s considered taxable earned income:

• Federal taxable wages, salaries, tips, and other miscellaneous taxable employee pays
• Union strike benefits
• Long-term disability benefits received before the minimum retirement age (retirement age may vary depending on where you live )
• Net gain from self-employment under these categories:
• You operate or own a business or farm
• You are a minister or member of a religious order
• You’re a statutory employee with income (you can find this on your W-2, Box 13 or this is applicable if you’re working as a contractor)

What is unearned income and do I still need to report it?

Unearned income can affect your credits and deductions. Here are some examples of unearned income :

• Interest and dividends
• Capital gains
• Retirement income
• Social security
• Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
• Unemployment benefits
• Alimony

Please note that this is an incomplete list meant to provide some common examples of what is or isn’t treated as taxable income. The IRS provides more detailed information on the different kinds of taxable income in Publication 525.