While the interest is not subject to income tax, it must be reported on your federal income tax return. If you collect Social Security benefits, the interest is taken into account in determining whether and to what extent the benefits are includible in gross income. And if any of the interest is on private activity bonds, the interest likely is taxable for alternative minimum tax purposes.
A statutory term describing the cost used to determine your profit or loss from a sale or exchange of property. It is generally your original cost, increased by capital improvements, and decreased by depreciation, depletion, and other capital write-offs.