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January 20, 2024
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Gift for agreement of employment

  • January 20, 2024
  • 1 reply
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I'm a musician and live in Virginia.  In 2023, I played music at a local church and was compensated as a non-employee.  The church asked me to become an employee to lead their music, and as an incentive, offered to give me a guitar if I agreed to employment.  I became an employee and received the guitar.  Is this taxable and if so, how should this be reported in TurboTax?

    Best answer by Mike9241

    if that guitar is worth more than a nominal amount (se below) say like $25(?) the church should have included it on your W-2 as compensation. If it's worth a lot more the church should issue a corrected w-2. 

     

    An exception to the general rule of taxing incentives and rewards is de minimis benefits. These benefits are so low in value and frequency that having to account for them would be unreasonable or impractical. For example, office snacks, use of the company copy machine, holiday gifts, or occasional meal money for working overtime.

    1 reply

    Mike9241Answer
    January 21, 2024

    if that guitar is worth more than a nominal amount (se below) say like $25(?) the church should have included it on your W-2 as compensation. If it's worth a lot more the church should issue a corrected w-2. 

     

    An exception to the general rule of taxing incentives and rewards is de minimis benefits. These benefits are so low in value and frequency that having to account for them would be unreasonable or impractical. For example, office snacks, use of the company copy machine, holiday gifts, or occasional meal money for working overtime.

    January 21, 2024

    Thanks for your reply.  The guitar is worth $800