Representation in civil lawsuits doesn’t come cheap. In the best-case scenario, you’ll be awarded money at the end of either a trial or a settlement process. But before you blow your settlement, keep in mind that it may be taxable income in the eyes of the IRS. Here’s what you should know about taxes on lawsuit settlements. A financial advisor can help you optimize a tax strategy for your lawsuit settlement.
What Are the Different Kinds of Lawsuit Settlements?
If you get a settlement from a lawsuit it could be for one of a few reasons. You could receive damages in recognition of a physical injury, damages from a non-physical injury or punitive damages stemming from the defendant’s conduct. In the tax year that you receive your settlement, it might be a good idea to hire a tax accountant, even if you usually do your taxes yourself online. The IRS rules around which parts of a lawsuit settlement are taxable can get complicated.
How Taxes on Lawsuit Settlements Work
The tax liability for recipients of lawsuit settlements depends on the type of settlement. In general, damages from a physical injury are not considered taxable income. However, if you’ve already deducted, say, your medical expenses from your injury, your damages will be taxable. You can’t get the same tax break twice.
In some cases, you may get damages for physical injury stemming from a non-physical suit. For example, if you win a libel suit and get damages for the doctors you saw about your stress-induced headaches after being libeled, the damages for those medical expenses are not taxable, assuming you haven’t already deducted them from your taxes.
Although emotional distress damages are generally taxable, an exception arises if the emotional distress stems from a physical injury or manifests in physical symptoms for which you seek treatment.
In most cases, punitive damages are taxable, as are back pay and interest on unpaid money. Damages you receive for emotional distress are also taxable, with the exceptions above as well. And here’s the kicker: you owe taxes on the full amount that you receive, including any attorney fees.
That’s right – even if you don’t take the money home it’s still part of your award and subject to taxes. And if the opposing side has to pay your attorney’s fee, that fee is taxable income too. Depending on the type of suit you file, you may be able to deduct your attorney fees.
Bottom Line
You might need a tax accountant or tax lawyer to help you navigate the post-settlement process and stay on the right side of the law. However, you don’t have to be an expert to see that it’s wise to set aside part of your settlement to cover the tax bill. Receiving a settlement could bump you up to a higher tax bracket and leave you with a much bigger April bill than you usually get.
Tips for Managing Your Taxes
- Let’s say you’ve already spent your settlement by the time tax season comes along. In this case, you’ll have to dip into your savings or borrow money to pay your tax bill. A financial advisor can help you create a financial plan to avoid that situation. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- There’s no better way to ensure your taxes are in good shape than to plan ahead. This is especially true if you end up owing the government. Use SmartAsset’s income tax calculator to learn more.
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