Does income count toward the year you receive a check or year you deposit it?

[David-B]

If I receive a check on December 30 2016 but don't deposit it until January 3 2017, does the income count toward the previous year or the current year? The income is from a job, but there was no W2 issued. Thank you.

[SweetieJean]

When you receive it.

[SteamTrain]

Its not the case with your particular situation...

.......but there is a caution that even receiving it in the mail in Jan 2017 may not be the determining factor for some cases

......if it was $$ taken from an IRA, 401k,  or other retirement account....then the date the distribution was first processed at the issuer is the critical date....the date you receive or deposit the check is immaterial.

...if it was $$ from a W-2 job, then again, if it was issued by the employer in 2016, it will be recorded on your 2016 W-2 and the fact you either received it in 2017, or cashed it in 2017 is immaterial.

[David-B]

Thanks for all this color. It is from a job, but there was no W2.