What principle governs when wages become taxable?

The principle that governs when wages become taxable is the constructive receipt principle. This principle states that income is considered received when it is made available to the taxpayer without any substantial restrictions. In the context of wages, this means that an employee is taxed on their earnings once the wages are made available to them, even if they have not physically received the cash yet.

For instance, if an employer issues a paycheck to an employee but the employee has not yet cashed it, the employee is still considered to have received the income, and it is taxable in that tax year. This is crucial for understanding the timing of income recognition for tax purposes, as it aligns the tax liability with when the income can be accessed and utilized by the employee.

Other options may involve aspects of revenue recognition or accounting practices, but constructive receipt specifically focuses on the taxpayer's ability to access income, thereby clarifying when wages are subject to taxation.