For those taxpayers that filed their taxes before the $10,200 unemployment exclusion was approved in the middle of the 2020 tax season, the IRS will automatically recalculate the Federal taxes and plans to start issuing refunds in May 2021.

From the official IRS guidance, we can read:  “… This law change occurred after some people filed their 2020 taxes. For taxpayers who already have filed and figured their 2020 tax based on the full amount of unemployment compensation, the IRS will determine the correct taxable amount of unemployment compensation. Any resulting overpayment of tax will be either refunded or applied to other taxes owed.

The agency will do these recalculations in two phases.

  • First, taxpayers who are eligible to exclude up to $10,200.
  • Second, those married filing jointly who are eligible to exclude up to $20,400, and others with more complex returns.

Taxpayers only need to file an amended return if the recalculations make them newly eligible for additional federal tax credits or deductions not already included on their original tax return.”

IRS Unemployment exclusion – https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/new-exclusion-of-up-to-10200-of-unemployment-compensation