I Just Won a Lawsuit! Is My Award Taxable?

Nov 11, 2015 1:26:47 PM / by Jason Shaw

lawsuit

When you receive money from a lawsuit or settlement, it’s important to consider your tax liability before you start spending it. The IRS rules make distinctions between different types of awards when determining what you must claim as income and what you can leave out.

Physical Injury and Sickness

Lawsuit damages that compensate you for physical injury or sickness are generally not taxable. These funds are designed to compensate you for physical loss and associated expenses and are not considered income. However, if you have taken an itemized deduction for medical expenses associated with your illness or injury, then you may have to claim part of the award as income.

If you have received a tax benefit by deducting medical expenses compensated by the award or settlement, then you must claim as income your compensation for the medical expenses that you have deducted.

For example:

Since your accident, you have incurred $100,000 in medical expenses. You paid $10,000 in medical bills and deducted that amount as medical expenses on your tax return. Because your award compensates you for the costs that you had claimed as a deduction, you must now report that $10,000 as income. The remaining $90,000 is not taxable.

Punitive Damages and Emotional Distress

Damages awarded for emotional distress stemming from physical injury or sickness are treated the same as damages to compensate for the injury or sickness itself, as discussed above. Punitive damages are taxable regardless of whether they are associated with the infliction of physical injury.

If money awarded for emotional distress does not stem from physical injury, then it is typically considered income and must be reported. However, if you incurred medical expenses attributable to that emotional distress, then you may reduce the amount of income you report by the amount of those expenses.

For example:

Your award includes $20,000 in damages for emotional distress inflicted by harassment that did not result in physical injury. You have incurred $5,000 in medical expenses in order to recover from this distress and its consequences. You can reduce the income you claim by $5,000, leaving only $15,000 of your emotional distress award as taxable.

Wage, Profit, or other Property Loss

  • When you’re compensated for lost wages, then that portion of your award or settlement will be taxed as wages.
  • Awards received for lost profits on your business are taxable as self-employment income.
  • Compensation for loss of property value is not taxable, as long as it does not exceed the adjusted basis of the property. In the event the property award or settlement exceeds the adjusted basis, then the excess amount is reportable as income.

Interest

Any interest provided by your settlement or award is reportable as interest income.

Boelman Shaw Tax & Financial Planning provides tax and financial planning services in Des Moines. We can help you figure out the intricacies of the taxability of your lawsuit award as well as advise you on tax-advantageous ways to manage your money. 

Tax and accounting services provided through Boelman Shaw & Company, LLC. Advisory services provided through BSC Capital Partners, LLC a state of Iowa registered investment advisor.

Source: "Settlements – Taxability". IRS.gov. Internal Revenue Service, n.d. Web. 16 Oct 2015.

Topics: Financial Planning

Written by Jason Shaw