ALERT! 2020 Tax Date Delay AND Unemployment Income Now Tax FreeMarch 24, 2021Individual tax filing due date: May 17, 2021 (was April 15, 2021) Unemployment income: $10,200 per person not subject to federal tax (was taxable) A surprise tax break for 2020 was passed into law in March of 2021. This late, late, late law change is creating havoc within the system. So much so that the individual tax filing due date AND payment of tax is delayed from April 15 to May 17, 2021. Furthermore, unemployment income received by millions of taxpayers in 2020 may now be tax free! Here is what you need to know. Background Unemployment compensation was received by millions of Americans during the pandemic. While it’s welcome income during a tough time if you’ve lost your job, it’s classified as taxable income to be reported on your tax return. The recently passed American Rescue Plan now makes part of your unemployment benefits free from federal taxation. Specifically, the first $10,200 of 2020 unemployment compensation, or as much as $20,400 if your spouse also received unemployment, is now tax free. The benefit is for households with adjusted gross income under $150,000. Depending on your tax bracket, this tax break could mean $1,200 or more in taxes saved on your 2020 return. The problem The legislation which contains this tax break didn’t become law until March of 2021, three months after the end of the tax year and after millions of Americans already filed their 2020 tax return! And to make matters worse, the IRS has no time to figure out how this tax break will be reported on your 2020 tax return. Congress also passed legislation that requires the IRS to send millions more economic recovery payments PLUS develop a system to be in place immediately to send monthly enhanced child tax credit payments to families starting in July! The net result is an overwhelming of the Treasury Department and the IRS, who are already buried because of the pandemic and other prior programs passed into law. The result Tax filing delay. You now have until May 17, 2021, to file your 2020 individual tax return and pay the tax. This move from the traditional April 15 filing deadline DOES NOT impact first quarter estimated tax payments or extended filing due dates in September and October 2021. Tax-free unemployment income. If you received unemployment compensation in 2020, here’s what you need to know:
While this legislation is creating chaos in preparing tax returns, rest assured every effort will be made to get your tax return filed as soon as possible. So, if you have not already done so, please continue to send in your information so your return can be filed as soon as is possible. |
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