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It is income, it is taxed as income. 
 

To the other posts, there is a difference between “how much taxes are withheld” and how much your bonus is taxed. Your bonus is withheld at a higher rate (usually) due to the way payroll works. You ARE NOT magically taxed at a higher rate than your annual income would dictate. 
 

What happens is: tax is withheld, when you file taxes if your only income is your signing bonus (let’s say you are paid before you start and the previous tax year) then you will receive a refund for the overpayment of taxes. 
 

Again, yes it is taxed, it is income and at the end of the day will be taxed at the appropriate tax rate you fall into for the year, but most likely more will be withheld. 

 

Just to add to this, the withholding rate is higher because it's assumed that the bonus is a regular paycheck and the annualized tax rate is applied. It's a wash when you file your taxes the next year.

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