In mid-May, the IRS began issuing refunds on 2020 unemployment insurance taxes to some taxpayers.
The refunds have been sent on a rolling basis, with single filers receiving theirs first, including those without children and those who did not claim any refundable tax credits. The second phase will adjust more complicated returns, including for married couples filing jointly. The agency expects that to take through the summer to complete.
Background on Taxable UI benefits
Unemployment insurance (UI) benefits typically count as taxable income. However, the American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law by President Biden in March, excluded UI benefits of up to $10,200 from taxable income for 2020. The IRS says it has identified over 10 million people who filed their tax returns before the ARP became law and might qualify for a refund or reduced balance on their tax bill.
Who is eligible for the refund?
Taxpayers who filed their tax returns before the ARP was enacted and included UI benefits in their taxable income for 2020 may be eligible for a refund.
The break applies on up to $10,200 in UI for individuals and couples who earned less than a modified adjusted gross income of $150,000 in 2020. If both spouses collected unemployment benefits in 2020, then the tax break applies on up to $20,400 for couples who are married and filing jointly.
Those who collected more than $10,200 in unemployment income in 2020 will still owe taxes on the amount exceeding that.
Refund amounts will vary by taxpayer, depending on how much they earned. The refunds will be directly deposited into a taxpayers’ bank account, if the IRS has a bank account on file. Otherwise, they will be mailed a paper check.