Submitted By: James
Answered: March 4, 2014 8:30 am

My W-2 shows employer-paid health insurance. Do I report this as income?

No. The value of employer-paid health insurance for an employee, spouse, and dependent is a tax-free fringe benefit. However, under the Affordable Care Act, employers (other than small employers currently exempt from this obligation) must report health insurance on W-2s. Presumably, this information is being used by the government for rules in the future; there is no current or future rule on the books that taxes this fringe benefit.

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Tax Glossary

Installment sale

A sale of property that allows for tax deferment if at least one payment is received after the end of the tax year in which the sale occurs. The installment method does not apply to year-end sales of publicly traded securities. Dealers may not use the installment method. Investors with very large installment balances could face a special tax.

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