Items Included/Excluded From Gross Income
Help Questions
CPA Tax Compliance & Planning (TCP) › Items Included/Excluded From Gross Income
For 2025, Riley, a head of household filer, inherited $8,500 from a relative and received $1,050 of dividends from stock holdings. Which income source is correctly excluded from gross income under IRS rules?
Both the inheritance and the dividends
Neither the inheritance nor the dividends
The $8,500 inheritance
The $1,050 dividends
Explanation
IRC Section 102 excludes inheritances, Section 61 includes dividends. Riley inherited $8,500, received $1,050 dividends. Answer B is correct: inheritance excluded. Choice A excludes dividends; choice C excludes both; choice D excludes neither. Identify exclusions properly. Framework ensures accuracy.
In tax year 2025, Quinn, married filing separately, received $70,000 of wages, $250 of interest from a savings account, and a $1,200 graduation gift from a grandparent. Which of the following items should be included in Quinn’s gross income?
Wages and savings account interest only
Savings account interest and the $1,200 gift only
Wages only
Wages, savings account interest, and the $1,200 gift
Explanation
Wages and interest are gross income under IRC Section 61, gifts excluded under IRC Section 102. Quinn received $70,000 wages, $250 savings interest, $1,200 gift. Answer D is correct: wages and interest includible. Choice A includes gift; choice B excludes wages; choice C excludes interest. Differentiate transfers. Apply IRC rules.
Paige, a single filer, had a paycheck for December 2025 work that was available at her employer’s office on December 31, 2025, but she chose to pick it up on January 4, 2026. Under IRS constructive receipt rules, what is the proper treatment of the paycheck?
Include in 2025 because it was made available without substantial limitation on December 31
Include half in 2025 and half in 2026 to reflect the payment date
Exclude from income because it relates to prior-year services
Include in 2026 because Paige picked it up in January
Explanation
Constructive receipt requires inclusion when available without substantial limitation, per Reg. Section 1.451-2. Paige's paycheck was available December 31, 2025, picked up January 4, 2026. Answer B is correct: includible in 2025. Choice A defers to pickup; choice C excludes; choice D splits improperly. Check restrictions on access. Use for income timing.
In 2025, Wren, a head of household filer, received $11,500 of net rental income, $650 of municipal bond interest, and $4,000 of lottery winnings. Which of the following items should be included in Wren’s gross income under IRS rules?
Rental income and lottery winnings only
Rental income, municipal bond interest, and lottery winnings
Rental income and municipal bond interest only
Municipal bond interest and lottery winnings only
Explanation
IRC Section 61 includes rental and lottery, Section 103 excludes municipal interest. Wren received $11,500 rental, $650 municipal, $4,000 lottery. Answer A is correct: rental and lottery includible. Choice B excludes rental; choice C includes all; choice D excludes lottery. Classify accurately. Apply exemptions.
For 2025, Victor, married filing separately, inherited $60,000 cash and received $500 of dividends from a domestic corporation. Which income source is correctly excluded from taxation under IRS gross income rules?
The $500 dividends
The $60,000 inheritance
Neither the inheritance nor the dividends
Both the inheritance and the dividends
Explanation
Inheritances excluded under IRC Section 102, dividends included under IRC Section 61. Victor inherited $60,000, received $500 dividends. Answer D is correct: inheritance excluded. Choice A excludes dividends; choice B excludes both; choice C excludes neither. Categorize sources. Ensure proper exclusions.
In tax year 2025, Marco, a head of household filer, received $48,500 of wages, $1,100 of interest from a certificate of deposit, and a $3,000 gift from Marco’s sibling. Which of the following items should be included in Marco’s gross income?
Wages and certificate of deposit interest only
Wages and the $3,000 gift only
Wages, certificate of deposit interest, and the $3,000 gift
Certificate of deposit interest and the $3,000 gift only
Explanation
IRC Section 61 includes wages and interest, excludes gifts under IRC Section 102. Marco received $48,500 wages, $1,100 CD interest, $3,000 gift. Answer C is correct: wages and interest taxable, gift excluded. Choice A includes gift; choice B includes all; choice D excludes wages. Distinguish earned vs. gifts. Use exclusions framework.
Lena, married filing separately, was entitled to a bonus for 2025 that her employer credited to her bank account on December 30, 2025, but Lena did not check her account until January 2026. Under IRS constructive receipt rules, what is the proper treatment of the bonus?
Include in 2026 because Lena did not review the account until January
Include in 2025 because the funds were credited and available without substantial restriction
Split between 2025 and 2026 based on the pay period
Exclude because bonuses are not wages for gross income purposes
Explanation
Constructive receipt under Reg. Section 1.451-2 includes income when credited and available without restriction. Lena's bonus was credited December 30, 2025, unchecked until January. Answer A is correct: includible in 2025 due to availability. Choice B defers based on awareness, ignoring doctrine; choice C excludes bonuses wrongly; choice D suggests splitting, not applicable. Evaluate control and access. Apply to timing issues.
In 2025, Keenan, a single filer, had $9,000 of net rental income, $800 of interest from municipal bonds, and $500 of lottery winnings. Which of the following items should be included in Keenan’s gross income under IRS rules?
Rental income, municipal bond interest, and lottery winnings
Municipal bond interest and lottery winnings only
Rental income and municipal bond interest only
Rental income and lottery winnings only
Explanation
Gross income includes rental and lottery winnings per IRC Section 61, excludes municipal interest under IRC Section 103. Keenan had $9,000 rental, $800 municipal, $500 lottery. Answer D is correct: rental and lottery includible, municipal excluded. Choice A includes all; choice B excludes rental; choice C excludes lottery. Classify taxable vs. exempt. Verify with IRC sections.
For tax year 2025, Jia, married filing jointly, inherited $100,000 from a parent and received $2,400 of dividends from a publicly traded corporation. Which income source is correctly excluded from taxation under IRS gross income rules?
Both the inheritance and the dividends
The $2,400 dividends
The $100,000 inheritance
Neither the inheritance nor the dividends
Explanation
IRS rules exclude inheritances under IRC Section 102 but include dividends under IRC Section 61. Jia inherited $100,000 and received $2,400 dividends. Choice C is correct as the inheritance is excluded, dividends taxable. Choice A excludes dividends wrongly; choice B excludes both; choice D excludes neither. Identify bequests vs. earnings. Use this to evaluate exclusions.
Yara, a single filer, had a paycheck for December 2025 services that was available for pickup on December 31, 2025, but the office closed early and Yara could not reasonably pick it up until January 2, 2026. Under IRS constructive receipt rules, what is the proper treatment of the paycheck?
Include in 2025 because the paycheck date was in 2025
Include in 2026 because Yara did not have actual or constructive access to the funds in 2025 due to a substantial limitation
Exclude from income because the delay was caused by the employer’s office schedule
Include in 2025 because constructive receipt always applies when work is performed in December
Explanation
Constructive receipt deferred if substantial limitation prevents access, per Reg. Section 1.451-2. Yara couldn't pick up due to early closure until January 2, 2026. Answer B is correct: include in 2026. Choice A uses paycheck date; choice C assumes always; choice D excludes. Evaluate limitations. Framework for restrictions.