Which of the following is considered taxable earned income?

Bonuses are considered taxable earned income because they are payments made to an employee as a form of additional compensation for their work. This category of income stems from employment, which is the primary basis for earned income as defined by the IRS. Earned income generally includes wages, salaries, bonuses, and other forms of compensation received for services provided.

In contrast, interest and dividends are classified as unearned income since they are not directly tied to employment or work performed. Unemployment benefits, while taxable, do not fall under earned income as they are payments made to individuals who are not currently working. Alimony, while it may have been considered taxable for the recipient in previous tax law, does not classify as earned income because it is not tied to active employment or services rendered. Therefore, bonuses distinctly qualify as taxable earned income due to their nature as compensation for work performed.