AmyC,
Thank you very much for your analytical reply. I appreciate you concurring with my analysis that the 4 items in my blank W2 from the university are not taxable items. I also appreciated the IRS reference you cited. Excellent analytical approach! There is only one glitch still left. The university monthly pay stubs list the 4 items under "Taxable Fringe Benefits," and 3 Ins items (Medical, Life, ADD) are listed under "University Contributions/Other." This is very puzzling. Based upon my taxable income and W2 research, I think that the university doesn't handle the grant researchers' pay stubs and W2 documentation properly. They don't provide a W2 for the research grant salary but emphasize that salary from research grant money is taxable and encourages to file taxes etc. But to file taxes we must have good and accurate documentation. This is the reason I have spent many evenings searching and googling for accurate and authentic answers.
The bottom line: As you (AmyC) stated in your well analyze response, I believe all the 4 items in the Box 14 of the blank W2 from the university are non-taxable and should not be added to the research grant money income reported on the tax forms.
I would greatly appreciate a response on the issue/dilemma created by the university monthly pay stub disparity and in effect an erroneous categorization of the 4 items of the Box 14 of the blank W2 as taxable fringe benefits on the monthly pay stubs!
Again, Thank you AmyC et al who have shown a light of guidance on this issue. Waiting for the response to this post.
