05/20/2021
The IRS will begin issuing refunds this week to eligible taxpayers who paid taxes on 2020 unemployment compensation that the recently-enacted American Rescue Plan (ARP) later excluded from taxable income. These corrections are being made automatically in a phased approach. The first phase of adjustments is being made for single taxpayers who had the simplest tax returns, such as those filed by taxpayers who did not claim children or any refundable tax credits.
The IRS will issue refunds resulting from this effort by direct deposit for taxpayers who provided bank account information on their 2020 tax return. If valid bank account information is not available, the refund will be mailed as a paper check to the address of record. The IRS will continue to send refunds until all identified tax returns have been reviewed and adjusted.
These refunds are subject to normal offset rules, such as past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support or certain federal nontax debts (student loans). The IRS will send a separate notice to the taxpayer if the refund is offset to pay unpaid debts.
The IRS will send taxpayers a notice explaining the corrections, which they should expect within 30 days of when the correction is made. Taxpayers should keep any notices they receive for their records. Taxpayers should review their return after receiving their IRS notice(s).
Correction to any earned income credit (EIC) without qualifying children and the recovery rebate credit are being made automatically as part of this process. However, some taxpayers may be eligible for certain income-based tax credits not claimed on their original return, such as the EIC for their qualifying children. If so, they should file an amended tax return if the revised adjusted gross income amount makes them eligible for additional benefits.
More complex corrections will begin upon the completion of the first phase and involves couples filing as married filing jointly.
Unemployment compensation is taxable income. ARP excludes $10,200 in 2020 unemployment compensation from income used to calculate the amount of taxes owed. The $10,200 per person exclusion applies to taxpayers, single or married filing jointly, with modified adjusted gross income of less than $150,000. The $10,200 is the amount of income exclusion, not the amount of the refund. Refund amounts will vary and not all adjustments will result in a refund.
However, the IRS recently noted on the FAQ page that taxpayers living in a community property state, filing with a married filing separate status, report half of their unemployment compensation and half of their spouse's unemployment compensation on their respective tax returns. Taxpayers should exclude up to $10,200 on their respective tax return if their MAGI is less than $150,000. Neither spouse should exclude more than the amount of unemployment compensation reported on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), Line 7.
The legislation also suspends the requirement to repay excess advance payments of the premium tax credit (excess APTC). If a taxpayer paid an excess APTC repayment amount when they filed their 2020 return, the IRS is also refunding this amount automatically. If the IRS corrects the taxpayer’s account to reflect the unemployment income exclusion, the excess APTC amount that the taxpayer paid will be included in that adjustment. The IRS is also adjusting accounts for those who repaid excess APTC but did not report unemployment compensation on their 2020 tax return.
