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Level 1
July 15, 2021
Question

Personal injury settlement

  • July 15, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 20 views

Do you have to pay taxes on a personal injury settlement in California or Texas. Thanks

    2 replies

    Level 2
    July 16, 2021

    If you receive a settlement for personal physical injuries or physical sickness and did not take an itemized deduction for medical expenses related to the injury or sickness in prior years, the full amount is non-taxable. Do not include the settlement proceeds in your income.

    IRS Source: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4345.pdf

    Punitive damages are taxable except in certain wrongful death cases, as are awards for employment discrimination and injury to reputation (libel, slander, or defamation).

    Emotional distress and mental anguish settlements are taxable, but only on the amount above and beyond the undeducted medical costs for treatment of the distress or anguish. You'll need to paper-file your return so you can attach a statement that shows the settlement amount minus the (undeducted) medical expenses related to treatment.

    Any interest earned on a settlement is taxable and should be entered as though you received Form 1099-INT.

     

    Source: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/income/help/are-legal-settlements-taxable/00/26607

    IRS source Pub 525: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p525.pdf

    https://www.irs.gov/government-entities/tax-implications-of-settlements-and-judgments

     

    If you received a Form 1099, you will have to report the information on your tax return, even though the full amount may not be taxable.

     

    Source: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/where-do-i-enter-an-award-from-a-taxable-legal-settlement/00/26107

     

    California law conforms to federal law in this area.

    Source: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/tax-pros/law/conformity.html

     

     

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    Level 2
    July 16, 2021

    The State of Texas' Constitution forbids personal income taxes. Instead of collecting income taxes, Texas relies on high sales and use taxes. 

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