Which of the following categories does NOT require taxpayers to report income on their Form 1040?

Government grants typically do not require taxpayers to report income on their Form 1040, depending on the nature and purpose of the grant. Many government grants are designed to assist individuals in specific situations, such as disaster relief or certain educational programs, and these grants may be excluded from taxable income. This means that while certain income categories, such as wages, salaries, capital gains, and retirement benefits are almost universally taxable and must be reported, government grants can sometimes fall outside that requirement based on their intended use and whether they meet specific criteria set by the IRS.

Wages and salaries are straightforwardly taxable as they are considered earned income. Capital gains arise from the sale of assets and must be reported since they represent profit. Similarly, pensions and retirement benefits are also classified as taxable income, as they are distributions from retirement accounts or other investment sources. Understanding the nuances of these categories helps clarify why government grants can have different reporting requirements compared to other forms of income.