Ok, thanks - I see the abstract, but not the complete article. "Payments for damages can be taxable as income, or can be nontaxable as a return of capital." Basically, the damage payment is paid before the work starts. I do not anticipate any true damage except for the trees they say they may need to cut down. (This slice of my property has nothing but trees, attached to ~ .5 acres of MORE trees between the house and the slice they want to use.) But overall, I believe you that for the most part, at least some portion of the payment should be reported on taxes (and the rep is just lying to me). Thanks
