Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package could affect your 2020 taxes. Here's how

WASHINGTON -- As welcome as the American Rescue Plan is for many people, the fact that it was signed into law in the middle of tax filing season raises a number of questions.

That's because some provisions may affect how you should prepare your 2020 tax return, including calculating the size of your refund. And nearly 56 million people have already filed as of March 5.

Here's what we know so far.

Tax free unemployment benefits

The main provision in the latest Covid relief package that affects 2020 taxable income applies to those who received unemployment compensation last year.

The American Rescue Plan retroactively excludes the first $10,200 in benefits from federal income tax for households with incomes below $150,000 a year.

That change will either decrease how much you owe the IRS or increase your refund, with the latter being most likely.

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At H&R Block, for instance, "90% of our clients who are filing with unemployment compensation are getting a refund," said Kathy Pickering, the firm's chief tax officer.

Your federal refund may grow larger not only because the initial $10,200 in benefits is now tax free. The provision will reduce your adjusted gross income and taxable income, and that may make you newly eligible for some tax credits that require your income to be below a certain threshold, Pickering said.

The provision may also affect your state income tax return, too, if you live in a state with an income tax. That's because states will often base their computation of taxable income using either your federal adjusted gross income or taxable income.

"Your starting point will be reduced by the [unemployment compensation] exclusion," Pickering said.

Marking a year of loss and disruption, President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law the $1.9 trillion relief package that he said will help the U.S. defeat the coronavirus and nurse the economy back to health.

The IRS has issued this guidance sheet to explain how the change should be calculated and reported on your 2020 tax return. And it has said it also will provide an update for tax preparation software providers that will let filers incorporate the unemployment compensation change into their 2020 calculations.

For those who have already filed their 2020 tax returns, sit tight. "They should not file an amended return at this time, until the IRS issues additional guidance," the agency said.

Economic impact payments

The American Rescue Plan authorizes a third round of economic impact payments to go to households making below $160,000 ($80,000 for single filers). The payments are worth up to $1,400 per tax filer and for each of a filer's dependents -- whether those dependents are children or adults.

While the payments won't affect your 2020 taxes directly, they may affect how quickly or slowly you'll want to file your 2020 return if you haven't already.

Here's why: If the IRS doesn't already have your 2020 return on file, it will base the size of the payment it sends to you on your 2019 income. So, for example, if your 2019 income was too high to qualify, but you believe your 2020 income makes you eligible, you'll need to file your tax return in order to receive your payment.

"You may want to file your 2020 return as quickly and accurately as you can to ensure you've done everything you can to get the most accurate payment," Pickering said.

That said, if you can't file quickly and expect you'll be owed more money, you'll eventually get all the money that is due to you. When you file your 2020 return, the agency will automatically review your account to see if you're eligible for additional funds and, if so, it will send you a supplemental payment.

To ensure the fastest payment, Treasury and IRS officials are urging people to file electronically and choose direct deposit for payment.

Congress has sent President Joe Biden the landmark $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.

Conversely, if your 2019 income would make you eligible for a larger economic impact payment than your 2020 income, you might want to hold off filing your 2020 return for a bit.

"If the taxpayer received more than that to which he or she is ultimately entitled, it does not have to be repaid," said Mark Luscombe, Principal Federal Tax Analyst at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting.

The only exception, Luscombe said, would be if you were in a category of people who are not allowed to receive a stimulus payment in the first place, such as a nonresident alien, anyone who is claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return or someone who has died.

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