The IRS is processing unemployment tax refunds. When will you get yours? - CNET

Americans who got jobless benefits in 2020 and filed taxes early are seeing money back from the IRS. 

Angela Lang/CNET

About 13 million Americans who paid tax on their 2020 unemployment compensation could be getting a hefty tax break. The IRS recently started processing refunds to 2.8 million people who filed their tax returns before new rules under the American Rescue Plan had made an amount of that unemployment income tax-free. 

Refund quantities will vary depending on a person's total earnings and how much of that came from jobless benefits. individual taxpayers can expect to be compensated for income tax paid on up to $10,200 (up to $20,400 for married couples filing jointly). The unemployment tax refunds will be sent in batches, with the first round disbursed to single people without dependents. Married couples and taxpayers with children should expect to see their IRS money later in the summer. 

We'll explain all the details we know, including how to check on your refund online. You may be curious which states are opting out of $300 bonus unemployment payments and which states are offering return-to-work bonuses. If you're a parent waiting for your first payment of the enhanced child tax credit on July 15, calculate how much you could get for your family and how to use the upcoming IRS child tax credit portals. This story was updated recently with new information.

What you should know about the unemployment tax break and coming refunds

The IRS has started sending refunds to taxpayers who received jobless benefits last year and paid taxes on the money. After some initial delays, more single filers began seeing deposits in their checking accounts starting May 28, with 2.8 million refunds going out the first week of June. The IRS said the next set of refunds will go out in mid-June.

Here's what to expect:

• The tax break is for those who earned less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income. 
• The $10,200 is the amount of income exclusion for single filers, not the amount of the refund. The amount of the refund will vary per person. 
  
• Not everyone will receive a refund. The IRS can seize the refund to cover a past-due debt, such as unpaid federal or state taxes and child support. 
• Refunds started going out in May and will run through the summer as the agency evaluates tax returns. More complicated returns could take longer to process.
  
• The IRS is doing the recalculations in two phases, starting with single filers who are eligible for the up to $10,200 tax break. It will then adjust returns for those married-filing-jointly taxpayers who are eligible for the up to $20,400 tax break.
• If the IRS determines you are owed a refund on the unemployment tax break, it will automatically send a check.
• You don't need to file an amended return to claim the exemption. (Here's how to track your tax return status and refund online.) Some who used tax software such as TurboTax said they have seen their refund amount change due to the unemployment refund, although they have yet to see a check. 
• Refunds will go out as a direct deposit if you provided bank account information on your 2020 tax return. Otherwise, the refund will be mailed as a paper check to the address the IRS has on hand.
• The IRS will send you a notice explaining the corrections within 30 days of when a correction is made.
  

Now playing: Watch this: Your tax questions answered in 3 minutes

3:26

How to check the status of your unemployment tax refund online

If your tax return was already processed a while back, the IRS Get My Payment tracker, the Where's My Refund tool and the Amended Return Status tool likely won't help with figuring out the status of this particular unemployment tax refund. 

However, you can find out when the IRS processed your refund and for how much by viewing your tax transcript. Here's how to find it:

1. Visit IRS.gov and log into your account. If you haven't opened an account with the IRS, this will take some time as you'll have to take multiple steps to confirm your identity.

2. Once logged into your account, you'll see the Account Home page. Click View Tax Records.

3. On the next page, click the Get Transcript button.

4. Here you'll see a drop-down menu asking the reason you need a transcript. Select Federal Tax and leave the Customer File Number field empty. Click the Go button.

5. The following page will show your Return Transcript, Records of Account Transcript, Account Transcript and Wage & Income Transcript for the last four years. You'll want the 2020 Account Transcript. 

6. This will open a PDF of your transcript: Focus on the Transactions section. What you're looking for is an entry listed as Refund issued, and it should have a date in late May or June. 

If you don't have that, it likely means the IRS hasn't gotten to your return yet. 

What we don't know about the IRS tax break

The IRS has provided some information on its website about taxes and unemployment compensation. We are still unclear as to how to contact the IRS if there's a problem with your tax break refund. We've reached out to the IRS for clarification.

However, here's what we know about contacting the IRS for stimulus check problems. For more on stimulus payments and relief aid, here is information about the child tax credit for up to $3,600 per child and details on who qualifies.

CNET How To

Learn smart gadget and internet tips and tricks with our entertaining and ingenious how-tos.

from CNET https://ift.tt/3x6cGcL
via IFTTT