Which investment income type cannot qualify for the special income tax rate?

Interest income cannot qualify for the special income tax rate because it is taxed at ordinary income tax rates. This income typically comes from sources such as savings accounts, bonds, and other debt instruments. Unlike qualified dividends and long-term capital gains, which enjoy preferential tax rates due to their nature as investments that encourage long-term growth, interest income is treated as regular income.

Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends benefit from lower tax rates because they are part of a framework established to incentivize long-term investing. Conversely, short-term capital gains are taxed at the same rate as ordinary income, but they still do not qualify for the special tax rates. Since interest income is consistently taxed without any preferential treatment, that is why it does not qualify for the special income tax rate like the others do.