In normal times when the U.S. isn’t suffering from a pandemic, unemployment benefits are no different than earning a paycheck with respect to income taxes. You must report unemployment income on your tax return because it is considered taxable income. You are also to include this unemployment income on your tax return.
In response to COVID-19, the federal government tweaked this tax code in 2020; however, recipients of unemployment benefits in 2021 will likely pay the full tax rate.
Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the federal government have not said whether the rule will change again by Nov. 29, 2021.
The following information will help you prepare for paying taxes on income in the tax year 2021, which will be filed in 2022.
For Tax Year 2021, these are the Rules on Unemployment Income
As reported by theBalance, a tax break of up to $10,200 in unemployment benefits was enacted for the 2020 tax year by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on March 11, 2021.
An adjusted gross income (MAGI) of less than $150,000 was needed to qualify for the exclusion. Benefits, as well as any other sources of income, contributed to the limit. When you filed your tax return for 2020 in spring 2021, you claimed the exclusion.
Recalculations were made on tax returns that had been filed before the March 2021 ruling. Afterward, it refunded any overpayments to taxpayers before ARPA was implemented.
It is possible that you were paid benefits in January 2021 if you collected unemployment benefits in 2020. Therefore, you must include those benefits in your 2021 tax return. The ARPA exemption does not apply to unemployment income received in 2021, regardless of the fact that it technically pertains to the unemployment period in 2020. The key words ARPA stated are “unemployment compensation paid in 2020.”
What Qualifies as Unemployment Benefits?
Unemployment benefits encompass a wide range of benefits. It includes state unemployment insurance, railroad unemployment compensation may also be claimed. It also encompasses any funds you may receive from the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.
Read More: $4,500 Stimulus Check Available For Eligible Families, Here’s How To Get Your Share
A Guide to Unemployment Benefit Taxes
Form 1099-Gs for unemployment income in 2021 should be sent to you by your state or your unemployment benefits payor early in 2022. Box 1 on the form should show the full amount of your benefits. Form 1099-G will also be received by the IRS, so they will know how much you received. It is not required to include the form with your return.
Neither Medicare nor Social Security taxes apply to unemployment benefits, only income tax. Therefore, your tax burden may be reduced which is claimed.
As you file your tax return for 2021, prepare Schedule 1, Additional Income and Adjustments to Income, and include the amount in box 1 of Form 1099-G. Schedule 1 must be filed with your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Line 7 states, “Unemployment compensation.” When filing your tax return, line 8 should contain the complete amount of the tax return.
You can report unemployment benefits on your tax return even if you did not receive a Form 1099-G. Visit your state’s website if you do not receive one. A state’s unemployment office can also give you the form, although it’s usually available electronically.
Report the Form 1099-G to the paying authority as soon as possible if you receive it and did not collect unemployment benefits in 2021.
What You Need to Do to Prepare for your Tax Bill in 2021
If you wish to avoid having to pay all your income tax in one go, you can have it withheld from your unemployment benefits. However, this won’t occur automatically. To receive your benefits, you need to submit Form W-4V to the authority paying them. There is a box 4 on your 1099-G.5 that shows the amounts withheld.
Currently, you are allowed to withhold a maximum of 10% of benefits. This amount may not cover the tax benefit you received. For returning workers, you can choose to have additional taxes withheld from their checks to cover taxes due on unemployment benefits and regular paychecks.
The second option would be to make advance quarterly payments of any income taxes you may owe. Benefits received between September and December of the prior tax year are subject to estimated tax payments until Jan. 15. You should do so if enough tax was not withheld from your unemployment benefits. The IRS may charge you a tax penalty if you fail to “pay as you go” by withholding additional amounts or paying estimated payments during the tax year.
You might owe a small amount of tax depending on how many unemployment benefits you received. Unemployment benefits don’t replace 100% of what you earned previously.
In the event that your unemployment benefits are not withheld taxes, and if estimated payments are not made, you will be responsible for paying any lump sums and penalties by April 15, the day filing of tax return is due.
If You are Unable to Pay your Owned Taxes
Unemployment benefits are most likely a sign that you’re out of work, which can make filing your tax return difficult if you realize you need to pay a large sum of money in taxes. Many taxpayers may be faced with the decision of whether to pay rent or buy groceries or to send estimated tax payments to the IRS. You have a few options if you find yourself here.
The IRS offers short-term and long-term installment agreements that let you pay your tax debt in monthly installments over a period of time, ranging from six to seventy-two months. To get started, complete Form 9465 with the IRS.
If you feel that the IRS’s assessment of an underpayment penalty would be inequitable, you can also file Form 2210 with the tax agency to request a waiver. A waiver may also be available if you become disabled during your unemployment benefits period, or retired during that period while at age 62 or older.
Taxes on Unemployment Benefits from State Government
You may have more to worry about than just the IRS. The state may tax your unemployment benefits as well. California, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are among the states that do not charge unemployment taxes. Maryland and Arkansas will not assess state income taxes on unemployment benefits collected in the 2021 tax year.
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming are the only eight states that don’t tax income at all. Regular income is not taxed in New Hampshire; only investment income is.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Percentage of Unemployment Compensation is Taxed?
You have the option of withholding 10% of federal taxes when collecting unemployment benefits. Depending on your state, you may be able to withhold 5%. When filing your annual tax return, you will have to pay taxes if you do not have taxes taken out of your unemployment checks. In either case, your unemployment benefits are taxable in the same way as your wages.
Can the Government Collect as much Tax Money if Unemployment is High?
During an unemployment period, the government may have trouble collecting taxes. As you may know, the national tax system is of course complex and always subject to change in terms of both politics and economics. A government, for example, could potentially raise taxes the next tax year if it does not receive enough revenue from taxes.
Unemployment Taxes: Who Pays Them?
Benefit recipients are responsible for paying unemployment taxes. But, “unemployment taxes” are known as taxes issued under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA). Employers are responsible for paying these FUTA taxes.
