Is a personal injury settlement taxable if lost wages are included?

LoveDogs! asked:


I am going to receive a settlement and part of it is for my time off work from when I was hurt and off work for 7 months.I was injured and they are taking full responsibility for my injuries.

Gwinnett Personal Injury Lawyer
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Comments on Is a personal injury settlement taxable if lost wages are included?

December 18, 2009

Gwinnett Personal Injury Lawyer

Settlement for injury is not taxable. If it is for lost wages or interest, it is taxable.

December 21, 2009

Gwinnett Personal Injury Lawyer

Be sure they designate how much is for lost wages and how much for other things. The lost wages part is taxable.

December 24, 2009

Gwinnett Personal Injury Lawyer

If the wages are part of the injury suit, they are not taxable to you. No settlement for personal injury is taxable unless there is interest accrued after the settlement but before the completion of the check.

The paperwork must be completely read in order to know if the wages are a part of the injury.

Helen, EA in PA

December 25, 2009

Gwinnett Personal Injury Lawyer

If it isn’t too late, have your lawyer review the papers. The company paying the settlement would prefer that as much of the money as possible be considered as taxable to you. Punitive damages are not taxable to you nor are they deductible on the company’s tax return.

Compensation for lost wages: taxable
medical expenses: nontaxable (most likely)
punitive damages: nontaxable
compensation for damaged personal property: probably not taxable (if you paid $3K for a car for which you receive $4K from insurance, $1K is taxable capital gain)

I hope this helps.
Gary