Are Exemplary Damages Taxable?

Because punitive damages are not to compensate for any loss, be it economical or emotional, they are taxable under all conditions. The IRS requires any punitive damages to be reported as “Other Income” when filing for taxes. So the short answer is: Yes, punitive damages are considered as taxable income.

What type of damages are taxable?

Punitive Damages Are Taxable in California

Punitive damages are awarded by a judge or jury as a punishment when the defendant's actions were especially heinous or showed complete and utter disregard for human life. An example of a case where a judge may award punitive damages would involve a drunk driver.

What type of legal settlements are not taxable?

Settlement money and damages collected from a lawsuit are considered income, which means the IRS will generally tax that money, although personal injury settlements are an exception (most notably: car accident settlement and slip and fall settlements are nontaxable).