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The Daily Insight

Does non-taxable income Show on W-2?

Author

Andrew Ramirez

Published Feb 12, 2026

This is non-taxable income, but under a new rule, it must be reported on your W-2. Your W-2 will also include non-taxable elective deferrals or contributions to retirement plans or any nontaxable combat pay from a military employer.

Where is non-taxable income on W-2?

Box 11
Amounts which are less than $5,000 and are paid under a qualified plan are considered non-taxable benefits. Box 11 is used to report amounts distributed to you from your employer’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan (this amount is taxable). Don’t confuse this with amounts contributed by you.

What requires a W-2 form?

You need your W-2 to do your taxes Your Form W-2 tells you how much you earned from your employer in the past year and how much withholding tax you’ve already paid on those earnings. For many people, the information on the W-2 determines whether they’re getting a refund or writing a check at tax time.

What kind of income is tax free?

Nontaxable income won’t be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS: Inheritances, gifts and bequests. Cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer.

What do you need to know about the W-2 form?

The Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement is how companies report each employee’s annual wages, deductions, and tax withholdings to the IRS. It’s like a pay statement for the entire year. You only need to complete W-2s if you have employees.

Do you have to pay taxes on your W-2?

As a salaried employee, you are required to pay federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and, if applicable, state and local income tax. Knowing how to calculate your W-2 wages can help you to know your total salary and taxable income.

What are the nontaxable expenses on a W-2?

Nontaxable wages include business expenses offered under an IRS-approved plan, such as lodging, meal and mileage reimbursements. Pretax deductions include qualified pretax 401 (k) contributions, group-term life insurance premiums that exceed $50,000 in coverage and adoption assistance benefits.

How much is a non taxable income for an employer?

This only applies to policies that are paid out when the policy is redeemed for cash. Any policy that paid out due to death is a non-taxable amount. As an employer, if you provide educational assistance to an employee, the IRS says it is non-taxable up to $5,250 a year. These benefits should not be included on your employee’s Form W-2.