(a) General definition
Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, gross income means all income from whatever source derived, including (but not limited to) the following items:
(1) Compensation for services, including fees, commissions, fringe benefits, and similar items;
(2) Gross income derived from business;
(3) Gains derived from dealings in property;
(4) Interest;
(5) Rents;
(6) Royalties;
(7) Dividends;
(8) Annuities;
(9) Income from life insurance and endowment contracts;
(10) Pensions;
(11) Income from discharge of indebtedness;
(12) Distributive share of partnership gross income;
(13) Income in respect of a decedent; and
(14) Income from an interest in an estate or trust.
(b) Cross references
For items specifically included in gross income, see part II (sec. 71 and following). For items specifically excluded from gross income, see part III (sec. 101 and following).
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (a)(8) to (15). Pub. L. 115–97 redesignated pars. (9) to (15) as (8) to (14), respectively, and struck out former par. (8) which read as follows: "Alimony and separate maintenance payments;".
1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–369 inserted reference to fringe benefits.
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §11051(c), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2090, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 62, 121, 152, 219, 220, 223, 382, 408, 3402, 6724, and 7701 of this title and repealing sections 71, 215, and 682 of this title] shall apply to—
"(1) any divorce or separation instrument (as defined in section 71(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2017]) executed after December 31, 2018, and
"(2) any divorce or separation instrument (as so defined) executed on or before such date and modified after such date if the modification expressly provides that the amendments made by this section apply to such modification."
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective Jan. 1, 1985, see section 531(h) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an Effective Date note under section 132 of this title.
Termination Date of 1978 Amendment
Pub. L. 95–615, §210(a), Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3109, provided that: "Title I of this Act [probably means sections 1 to 8 of Pub. L. 95–615, see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note under section 1 of this title] (other than sections 4 and 5 thereof) [amending section 167 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 61 and 62 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 117, 167, and 382 of this title] shall cease to have effect on the day after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 8, 1978]."
Regulations
Pub. L. 95–427, §1, Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 996, as amended by Pub. L. 96–167, §1, Dec. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 1275; Pub. L. 97–34, title VIII, §801, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 349; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) in final form on or after May 1, 1978, and on or before December 31, 1983, or
"(2) in proposed or final form on or after May 1, 1978, if such regulation has an effective date on or before December 31, 1983.
"(b)
Pub. L. 95–615, §3, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3097, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that no regulations be issued in final form on or after Oct. 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1978, providing for inclusion of any fringe benefit in gross income by reason of section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954], ceased to have effect on the day after Nov. 8, 1978, pursuant to section 210(a) of that Act.
No Gain Recognized From Net Gifts Made Before March 4, 1981
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, §1026, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1031, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) the tax imposed by chapter 12 of such Code [26 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.], and
"(2) any tax imposed by a State (or the District of Columbia) on transfers by gifts.
"(c)
Payment-in-Kind Tax Treatment Act of 1983
Pub. L. 98–4, Mar. 11, 1983, 97 Stat. 7, as amended by Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, §1061(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1046; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, §6252(a)(1), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3752, provided that:
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'Payment-in-Kind Tax Treatment Act of 1983'.
"SEC. 2. INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES RECEIVED UNDER A 1983 PAYMENT-IN-KIND PROGRAM.
"(a)
"(1) a qualified taxpayer shall not be treated as having realized income when he receives a commodity under a 1983 payment-in-kind program,
"(2) such commodity shall be treated as if it were produced by such taxpayer, and
"(3) the unadjusted basis of such commodity in the hands of such taxpayer shall be zero.
"(b)
"SEC. 3. LAND DIVERTED UNDER 1983 PAYMENT-IN-KIND PROGRAM TREATED AS USED IN FARMING BUSINESS, ETC.
"(a)
"(1) such land shall be treated as used during the 1983 crop year by the qualified taxpayer in the active conduct of the trade or business of farming, and
"(2) any qualified taxpayer who materially participates in the diversion and devotion to conservation uses required under a 1983 payment-in-kind program shall be treated as materially participating in the operation of such land during such crop year.
"(b)
"(1) section 2032A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to valuation of certain farm, etc., real property),
"(2) section 6166 of such Code (relating to extension of time for payment of estate tax where estate consists largely of interest in closely held business),
"(3) chapter 2 of such Code (relating to tax on self-employment income), and
"(4) title II of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.] (relating to Federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits).
"SEC. 4. ANTIABUSE RULES.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) by reason of the death of a qualified transferor,
"(2) by reason of a gift from a qualified transferor, or
"(3) from a qualified transferor who is a member of the family of the person acquiring the land.
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) who held the land on February 23, 1983, or
"(B) who acquired the land after February 23, 1983, in a qualified acquisition.
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS AND SPECIAL RULES.
"(a)
"(1) 1983
"(A) under which the Secretary of Agriculture (or his delegate) makes payments in kind of any agricultural commodity to any person in return for—
"(i) the diversion of farm acreage from the production of an agricultural commodity, and
"(ii) the devotion of such acreage to conservation uses, and
"(B) which the Secretary of Agriculture certifies to the Secretary of the Treasury as being described in subparagraph (A).
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(6)
"(b)
"(1) any reference in this Act to the 1983 crop year shall include a reference to the 1984 crop year, and
"(2) any reference to the 1983 payment-in-kind program shall include a reference to any program for the 1984 year for wheat which meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1).
"(c)
[Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, §1061(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1047, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending Pub. L. 98–4 set out above] shall apply with respect to commodities received for the 1984 crop year (as defined in section 5(a)(2) of the Payment-in-Kind Tax Treatment Act of 1983 [Pub. L. 98–4, set out above] as amended by subsection (a))."]
Cancellation of Certain Student Loans
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, §2117, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1911, as amended by Pub. L. 95–600, title I, §162, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2810; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that no amount be included in gross income of an individual for purposes of 26 U.S.C. 61 by reason of the discharge made before Jan. 1, 1983 of the indebtedness of the individual under a student loan if the discharge was pursuant to a provision of the loan under which the indebtedness of the individual would be discharged if the individual worked for a certain period of time in certain geographical areas or for certain classes of employers.
Regulations Relating to Tax Treatment of Certain Prepublication Expenditures of Publishers
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, §2119, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1912, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) without regard to Revenue Ruling 73–395, and
"(2) in the manner in which such sections were applied consistently by the taxpayer to such expenditures before the date of the issuance of such revenue ruling.
"(b)
"(c)
Reimbursement of Moving Expenses of Employees of Certain Corporations Excluded From Gross Income; Claim for Refund or Credit; Limitations; Interest
Pub. L. 86–780, §5, Sept. 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 1013, provided for the exclusion from gross income of any amount received after Dec. 31, 1949, and before Oct. 1, 1955, by employees of certain corporations as reimbursement for moving expenses, and the refund or credit of any overpayments.