There are many ways to generate passive income, but sadly, the majority of them are taxed. This is especially true for income-producing investments, as just a small number of them let you avoid paying taxes.
Although they are normally paid annually or all at once, there are various credits, settlements, and payouts that you might earn without paying taxes.
Passive income can be a great way to help you generate extra cash flow, whether you’re running a side hustle or just trying to get a little extra dough each month, especially as inflation rages throughout the economy. Passive income can help you earn more during the good times and tide you over if you suddenly become unemployed, if you voluntarily take time away from work or if inflation keeps chipping away at your purchasing power. (Image by Adobe Stock)
Below are a few examples of non-taxable passive income streams.
Municipal Bonds Exempt from Tax
One example of a non-taxable passive income is buying a tax-free municipal bond. Purchasing municipal bonds is the simplest—and in fact, one of the only—ways to make money from your assets tax-free. Municipal bonds are typically tax-exempt at the federal level. State-level tax breaks are frequently available to citizens of the issuer’s home state as well. However, any eligible capital gains are wholly taxable.
Inheritance
Another form of non-taxable passive income is inheritance. No matter how much an inheritance is, you won’t have to worry about paying federal tax on it. Estate taxes may occasionally need to be paid by the deceased, although beneficiaries are not concerned about it. You must confirm whether all of your proceeds are entirely tax-free because six states do tax beneficiaries who receive inheritances.
There are numerous ways to earn passive income, but unfortunately, most of them are taxable. This is particularly true of income-generating investments, of which only a handful allow you to avoid paying tax. (Photo by Jeffrey Hamilton / Getty Images)
Proceeds from Life insurance
Your life insurance policy’s proceeds will be distributed to you tax-free if you are the designated beneficiary or another form of non-taxable passive income. Even if you acquire sizable insurance, say one for $1 million or more, this is still the case. It should be noted that you will probably have to pay tax on some or all of the proceeds of a life insurance policy if you cash them in rather than collecting the proceeds of a death benefit.
Disability Benefits
Disability benefits may occasionally be regarded as taxable income. However, any disability benefits you receive are regarded as non-taxable passive income if you pay all of the premiums for a health or accident insurance plan.
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Gifts
If gifts exceed the yearly gift tax exclusion amount, which is $17,000 per person for 2023, the giver may occasionally be required to pay taxes on the excess amount. Gift receivers, however, are never required to pay taxes on what they get.
Alimony
Before 2019, alimony was tax deductible for the payer and taxable for the recipient. After that year’s January 1st, neither the payers nor the recipients of alimony could claim a tax deduction for such payments. However, keep in mind that some states, including California, do not follow this federal reform and continue to tax alimony.
Child Assistance
Child support payments are neither deductible by the payer nor taxable by the receiver, according to the IRS, exactly like alimony payments.
Withdrawal from a Roth IRA
In contrast to standard IRAs, Roth IRA payouts are frequently considered non-taxable passive income. You won’t have to pay tax on any money you remove as long as it is “qualified,” which typically implies you have kept the account for at least five years and are older than 59.5. This is true regardless of whether the money is interest or capital gains.
Payments for Disaster Mitigation
Your state or local government might provide you with a disaster mitigation payment if you experience a disaster. This compensation is another form of non-taxable passive income.
Passive income includes earnings from investments and other ventures that require minimal supervision or effort such as income generated from interests, dividends, royalties, and payments from rental property. While it’s a good idea to invest in passive income streams, just like all income, they are still subject to income tax.
Adoption Reimbursements That Qualify
You can exclude from income employer-provided adoption assistance payments in addition to receiving a tax credit for eligible adoption expenses.
HSA Funds Distribution that is Qualified
You are permitted to move money from your IRA to an HSA account once without paying taxes on the transfer.
Earnings from a State Without Income Taxes
Currently, Alaska, South Dakota, Nevada, Florida, Texas, Wyoming, Washington, and Tennessee are the eight states that do not tax income that is typically subject to federal taxation. This is one of the few instances where ordinary taxable income is exempt from tax. Even if you reside in a state where there is no income tax, you will still be required to pay federal taxes on your income.
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How to Reduce Passive Income Taxes
Even if you have taxable income, there are things you may do to lower your tax obligation. The following are some of the top options:
Use tax-advantaged accounts
You won’t have to pay taxes on your income or gains until you take the funds from a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k). You might never be required to pay tax on distributions from a Roth IRA. You may also be eligible for a tax deduction on your contributions to qualifying retirement accounts such as traditional IRAs, 401(k) plans, and others.
Hold off till later
Keeping investments for a long time enables you to benefit from lower long-term capital gains tax rates as well as avoid multiple taxable transfers.
Tax Harvest Losses
You can take unrealized losses from your portfolio and utilize them to reduce any taxable profits you might have made over the year. You may also use up to $3,000 annually to offset your ordinary income if your losses outweigh your gains.
