income (2024)

Income is money or value that an individual or business entity receives in exchange for providing a good or service or through investing capital. The Haig-Simons model of income is commonly used in economics, which considers the following income: wages, salary, commissions, business profits, interest from securities and bank accounts, tips, and rental income; transfer payments; gifts of inheritances; income in kind (e.g. the value of free parking providing by an employer); the net increase in the real value of a person’s assets.

The 16th Amendment allows the federal government to tax income. State governments may also have their own income state regime, but it generally does not vary widely from that of the federal government. For example, New York’s Tax Code defines their taxable income in reference to the federal income tax regime.

For the purpose of U.S. federal income tax, income is divided into gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income.

  • Gross Income: includes “all income from whatever source derived.” 26 U.S.C. § 61. For example, it includes, but is not limited to, the following: compensation for services, income derived from business, gains derived from dealings in property, interest, rents, royalties, dividends, annuities, income from life insurance, pensions, income from discharge of indebtedness, etc. As an example of the broadness of gross income, in Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co., the Supreme Court found that the punitive aspect of the treble damages that a company won in an anti-trust suit was included in gross income.
  • Adjusted Gross Income: Gross income minus allowable deductions.
  • Taxable Income: The income subject to government taxation after allowable deductions are taken and adjustments are made.

[Last updated in August of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

income (2024)

FAQs

What is income meaning? ›

Income is the money you receive in exchange for your labor or products. Income may have different definitions depending on the context—for example, taxation, financial accounting, or economic analysis.

What does your income mean? ›

Gross Annual Earned Income

Gross annual income is the amount you earn each year before any taxes or other deductions are applied. This includes your salary or wages and any additional income sources such as bonuses, overtime pay, commissions, and interest or dividends from investments.

What is considered income? ›

Income can be money, property, goods or services. Even if you don't receive a form reporting income, you should report it on your tax return. Income is taxable when you receive it, even if you don't cash it or use it right away. It's considered your income even if it's paid to someone else on your behalf.

What is an example of income? ›

Gross income includes wages, dividends, capital gains, business and retirement income as well as all other forms income. Examples of income include tips, rents, interest, stock dividends, etc.

What is income in a job? ›

Money you are paid by an employer. This includes tips, bonuses, overtime, and other kinds of pay. If you receive a W-2 tax form, that money is income from employment.

Is an income a salary? ›

On the other hand, your annual income is the total amount of money you earn over the year. This amount includes your salary, but also income from other sources, such as interest from savings or rent for a property you own. Your annual income could also include any bonuses or overtime pay.

What is my personal income? ›

What is Personal Income? Income that people get from wages and salaries, Social Security and other government benefits, dividends and interest, business ownership, and other sources.

What is earned income? ›

Earned Income. Earned income includes all of the following types of income: Wages, salaries, tips, and other taxable employee pay. Employee pay is earned income only if it is taxable. Nontaxable employee pay, such as certain dependent care benefits and adoption benefits, is not earned income.

Is your income your salary? ›

Annual income is the total amount of money you earn during one year. It includes your salary and other payment sources such as Social Security checks and welfare assistance. In some cases, your annual income might be for a calendar year, which is from January 1 to December 31 of the same year.

What is money income? ›

income received in the form of money, rather than in other forms: The research project considers mechanisms for the distribution of money income between people. FINANCE, STOCK MARKET. income received from investments in the money markets, rather than other financial markets.

What best defines income? ›

Income is defined by the Internal Revenue Service as compensation for services rendered. It is not a fixed sum of money and does not have to be paid in cash. This includes, but is not limited to, wages, tips, commissions, dividends, etc. Income is what you earn from your work - even if it's cash, barter, or credit.

What kind of money counts as income? ›

Taxable income includes wages, salaries, bonuses, and tips, as well as investment income and various types of unearned income.

What is the real meaning of income? ›

Income is money or value that an individual or business entity receives in exchange for providing a good or service or through investing capital.

What is the mean income mean? ›

Mean income (average) is the amount obtained by dividing the total aggregate income of a group by the number of units in that group. The means and medians for households and families are based on all households and families. Means and medians for people are based on people 15 years old and over with income.

What does it mean when someone says income? ›

income. noun. in·​come. : a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives from capital or labor. also : the amount of such gain received in a period of time.

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