My husband grew up in the Philadelphia area. Me? I paid nonresident tuition throughout law school because I was planning on going back to North Carolina afterwards (only I didn’t because Philadelphia rocks – Travel and Leisure magazine agrees).
Despite the fact that I’m not really from *here* I have been chosen nearly every year for jury duty because I’m just that lucky. My husband? Once in ten years (or so).
Of course, my consolation for spending a day each year not getting picked to serve on an actual jury is that I get compensated a whopping $9.00 for my trouble. To put that into perspective, my train fare into and out of Center City is $5 each way.
Despite the fact that I lose money, I get that it’s my civic duty (sadly, though, because of my profession and my colleagues, I spend a day in the waiting room never being chosen). Many of the folks in the audience near me are excited to be chosen. Their enthusiasm over the $9.00 per day (trust me, they talk about it) and subsequent behavior reminds me exactly why I never want to be tried by a jury of my peers in Philadelphia.
But yes, there is a tax lesson here. The $9.00 I get for spending my entire day in a crowded, uncomfortable space is still taxable to me. Jury duty pay must be included on your federal form 1040 at line 21, as “Other Income.” Of course, if you have to turn over your pay to your employer, you can deduct it as an adjustment to your income. That amount goes on line 36 (write “Jury Pay” next to line 36).
This is because income is income. It doesn’t matter if it’s a mere $9.00 or a whopping $9,000,000. It’s reportable if it’s income. Easy peasy.
We get $15 plus $2.20 for bus fare even tho the bus fare has gone up to $3.00. It you drive – its about $20+ to park! Good to hear that we make so much more than you do for jury duty -lol.
I’ve lived in TX for 14 years and have never been called for jury duty. I remember when I registered to vote there was a question that asked if I would like to perform jury duty and I remembered checking no.
Is mileage reimbursement for jury duty also taxable?