COVID Tax Tip: 2020-117: People should have tax withheld from unemployment now to avoid a tax-time surprise

IRS Tax Tips September 10, 2020
Useful Links: IRS.gov Help For Hurricane Victims News Essentials What's Hot News Releases IRS - The Basics IRS Guidance Media Contacts Facts & Figures Around The Nation e-News Subscriptions The Newsroom Topics Multimedia Center Noticias en Español Radio PSAs Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts The Tax Gap Fact Sheets IRS Tax Tips Armed Forces Latest News IRS Resources Compliance & Enforcement News Contact Your Local IRS Office Filing Your Taxes Forms & Instructions Frequently Asked Questions Taxpayer Advocate Service Where to File IRS Social Media	Issue Number: COVID Tax Tip: 2020-117 People should have tax withheld from unemployment now to avoid a tax-time surprise Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans received or are currently receiving unemployment compensation, many of them for the first time. It's important for these individuals to know that unemployment compensation is taxable. People can have taxes withheld from this compensation now to help avoid owing taxes on this income when they file their income tax return next year. By law, these benefits are taxable and must be reported on a federal income tax return for the tax year it was received. Taxable benefits include any of the special unemployment compensation authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Withholding is voluntary Federal law allows recipients to choose a flat 10% withholding from these benefits to cover part or all their tax liability. To do this, recipients should complete Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request, and give it to the agency paying their benefits. Don't send the form to the IRS. If the paying agency has its own withholding request form, use it instead. Recipients who don't choose voluntary withholding, or if the withholding isn't enough, can make quarterly estimated tax payments. The payment for the first two quarters of 2020 was due on July 15. Third quarter is due September 15, 2020 and fourth quarter on January 15, 2021. Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov to view all payment options. Here are other types of payments taxpayers should check for withholding: Benefits paid by a state or the District of Columbia from the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund Railroad unemployment compensation benefits Disability benefits paid as a substitute for unemployment compensation Trade readjustment allowances under the Trade Act of 1974 Unemployment assistance under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 Unemployment assistance under the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 Program Recipients who return to work before the end of the year can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to make sure the right amount of tax is taken out of their pay. This online tool is available only on IRS.gov, and it can help workers or pension recipients avoid or lessen year-end tax bills or can estimate a refund. Reporting unemployment compensation In January 2021, unemployment benefit recipients should receive a Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, from the agency paying their benefits. This form will show the amount of unemployment compensation received during 2020 and any federal income tax withheld. Taxpayers should report this information, along with other income, on their 2020 federal tax return. More information: Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income Share this tip on social media -- #IRSTaxTip: People should have tax withheld from unemployment now to avoid a tax-time surprise.  https://go.usa.gov/xGTnp Back to Top         Thank you for subscribing to IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service. For more information on federal taxes please visit IRS.gov. This message was distributed automatically from the IRS Tax Tips mailing list. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.

 

---

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

---

This email was sent to business.solutions.ve@gmail.com by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Internal Revenue Service · 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. · Washington DC 20535