No, under the "constructive receipt" rule, the money is yours as soon has you have the right to it. Thus, if you get a paycheck on December 31, 1999, the income must be declared in 1999, even if you don't cash the check until January 2, 2000. But if you get the paycheck January 2, 2000, even though you earned the money in 1999, you declare it in 2000, because you didn't receive the check until 2000.
If your scenario would work, then no one in the upper tax brackets would cash their paychecks or bonuses for a year. |
