Structured Settlements 4Real®Blog 2026

Structured settlements expert John Darer reviews the latest structured settlements and settlement planning information and news, and provides expert opinion and highly regarded commentary. that is spicy, Informative, irreverent and effective for over 20 years.

Category: Murphy v IRS

  • Whistleblower damages are essentially taxable so by taking a lump sum you are screwing yourself twice. You get less for the privilege of instant gratification and then, unless you have offsetting tax deductions, you keep less because you only have the net after tax amount to consume.

  • The D.C. Circuit’s original decision held that a compensatory award for emotional and professional reputation damages is excluded from gross income and that IRC 104(a)(2) is unconstitutional in allowing taxation on compensation unrelated to lost wages or earnings. Some had hoped the feeling would spread to other Circuits to benefit those with such elements of…