# 26 U.S.C. § 61: Gross income defined

Source: OLRC release point 119-134 <https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-134/t26/s61>. Cite pinpoints as 26 U.S.C. § 61(a)(1).

## § 61(a) General definition

Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, gross income means all income from whatever source derived, including (but not limited to) the following items:

**§ 61(a)(1)** Compensation for services, including fees, commissions, fringe benefits, and similar items;

**§ 61(a)(2)** Gross income derived from business;

**§ 61(a)(3)** Gains derived from dealings in property;

**§ 61(a)(4)** Interest;

**§ 61(a)(5)** Rents;

**§ 61(a)(6)** Royalties;

**§ 61(a)(7)** Dividends;

**§ 61(a)(8)** Annuities;

**§ 61(a)(9)** Income from life insurance and endowment contracts;

**§ 61(a)(10)** Pensions;

**§ 61(a)(11)** Income from discharge of indebtedness;

**§ 61(a)(12)** Distributive share of partnership gross income;

**§ 61(a)(13)** Income in respect of a decedent; and

**§ 61(a)(14)** Income from an interest in an estate or trust.

## § 61(b) Cross references

For items specifically included in gross income, see part II (sec. 71 and following). For items specifically excluded from gross income, see part III (sec. 101 and following).

## Regulations

- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-1](/26/reg/1.61-1.md): Gross income. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-2](/26/reg/1.61-2.md): Compensation for services, including fees, commissions, and similar items. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-3](/26/reg/1.61-3.md): Gross income derived from business. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-4](/26/reg/1.61-4.md): Gross income of farmers. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-5](/26/reg/1.61-5.md): Allocations by cooperative associations; per-unit retain certificates—tax treatment as to cooperatives and patrons. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-6](/26/reg/1.61-6.md): Gains derived from dealings in property. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-7](/26/reg/1.61-7.md): Interest. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-8](/26/reg/1.61-8.md): Rents and royalties. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-9](/26/reg/1.61-9.md): Dividends. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-10](/26/reg/1.61-10.md): Alimony and separate maintenance payments; annuities; income from life insurance and endowment contracts. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-11](/26/reg/1.61-11.md): Pensions. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-12](/26/reg/1.61-12.md): Income from discharge of indebtedness. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-13](/26/reg/1.61-13.md): Distributive share of partnership gross income; income in respect of a decedent; income from an interest in an estate or trust. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-14](/26/reg/1.61-14.md): Miscellaneous items of gross income. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-15](/26/reg/1.61-15.md): Options received as payment of income. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-21](/26/reg/1.61-21.md): Taxation of fringe benefits. (interprets § 61)
- [Treas. Reg. § 1.61-22](/26/reg/1.61-22.md): Taxation of split-dollar life insurance arrangements. (interprets § 61)

## Final rules

- [85 FR 6424](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/05/2020-02158/determination-of-the-maximum-value-of-a-vehicle-for-use-with-the-fleet-average-and-vehicle) (2020): Determination of the Maximum Value of a Vehicle for Use With the Fleet-Average and Vehicle Cents-Per-Mile Valuation Rules
- [84 FR 9231](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/03/14/2019-03474/eliminating-unnecessary-tax-regulations) (2019): Eliminating Unnecessary Tax Regulations
- [77 FR 45480](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/08/01/2012-18693/deductions-for-entertainment-use-of-business-aircraft) (2012): Deductions for Entertainment Use of Business Aircraft
- [69 FR 41192](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2004/07/08/04-15543/rents-and-royalties) (2004): Rents and Royalties
- [68 FR 54336](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/09/17/03-23596/split-dollar-life-insurance-arrangements) (2003): Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements
- [64 FR 26845](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1999/05/18/99-11891/section-467-rental-agreements-treatment-of-rent-and-interest-under-certain-agreements-for-the-lease) (1999): Section 467 Rental Agreements; Treatment of Rent and Interest Under Certain Agreements for the Lease of Tangible Property
- [62 FR 68173](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/12/31/97-33647/amortizable-bond-premium) (1997): Amortizable Bond Premium
- [62 FR 44542](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/08/22/97-21772/rules-for-property-produced-in-a-farming-business) (1997): Rules for Property Produced in a Farming Business
- [60 FR 40075](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1995/08/07/95-19282/allowances-received-by-members-of-the-armed-forces-in-connection-with-moves-to-new-permanent-duty) (1995): Allowances Received by Members of the Armed Forces in Connection With Moves to New Permanent Duty Stations

## Leading cases

- [Commissioner v. Schleier, 515 U.S. 323 (1995)](https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/117952/commissioner-v-schleier/)
- [Commissioner v. Kowalski, 434 U.S. 77 (1977)](https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/109748/commissioner-v-kowalski/)
- [James v. United States, 366 U.S. 213 (1961)](https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/106235/james-v-united-states/)

## Connections

Cites: none

Cited by: § 280A Disallowance of certain expenses in connection with business use of home, rental of vacation homes, etc.; § 305 Distributions of stock and stock rights; § 351 Transfer to corporation controlled by transferor; § 354 Exchanges of stock and securities in certain reorganizations; § 355 Distribution of stock and securities of a controlled corporation; § 356 Receipt of additional consideration; § 408 Individual retirement accounts; § 671 Trust income, deductions, and credits attributable to grantors and others as substantial owners; § 707 Transactions between partner and partnership; § 6103 Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information

Derived from: 1939 § 22(a)

## Amendments

- 1954-08-16: [Act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736](/26/act/1954-ch736.md), 68A Stat. 17
- 1984-07-18: [Pub. L. 98-369](/26/act/98-369.md), 98 Stat. 884
- 2017-12-22: [Pub. L. 115-97](/26/act/115-97.md), 131 Stat. 2089