U.S. New Exclusion of up to $10,200 of Unemployment Benefits Q&A
Q: | Who are subject to this waive? |
A: |
According to the latest version of the bill, for single taxpayer who made less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income in 2020, the first $10,200 in unemployment insurance benefits are tax free. If both individuals in a married couple who file taxes jointly received unemployment insurance benefits in 2020, each will see taxes waived on the first $10,2000 of that income — for a total of $20,400 — as long as their adjusted gross income is less than $150,000. |
Q: | Who the bill cannot help? |
A: |
Taxpayers who had more than $10,200 in unemployment income in 2020 will still be taxed on the remainder. If your modified AGI is $150,000 or more, you cannot exclude any unemployment compensation. |
Q: |
What to do if you have not filed taxes? |
A: |
You should receive a Form 1099-G showing the total unemployment compensation paid to you in 2020. Under the new exemption, you should report the total amount of unemployment compensation you received on line 7 of Schedule 1. Then, use the Unemployment Compensation Exclusion Worksheet to determine the exclusion amount you are eligible for, which you’ll report on line 8 of Schedule 1. If you file using a tax software, you may still need to wait for guidance to be implemented in the programs before filing. |
Q: | What to do if you have filed already? |
A: | If you collected unemployment insurance in 2020 but you already filed your tax return, you are still eligible for the exemption under the American Rescue Plan. However, the IRS has not issued guidance for those claiming the exemption after filing. The IRS strongly urges those who already filed to wait for more guidance before amending an existing return. |