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Level 3
posted Mar 8, 2021 4:24:23 PM

If American Rescue Plan makes $10,200 of UEC in 2020 tax free, and I get a new 1099-G, how do I amend return in TurboTax?

Can I still use Turbo Tax to file an amended return and if so how do I navigate for this situation?

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Mar 8, 2021 4:42:55 PM

WAIT  until the IRS issues instructions on how this is going to work ... do NOT just amend the return YET until the programs have been updated to include the IRS instructions.   Filing an amended return before the rules and forms are posted will delay the processing of your return for months and months.  

24 Replies
Level 15
Mar 8, 2021 4:40:34 PM

You can file an amended return with TurboTax, but it's not clear that you will need to file an amended return. After the law is passed and signed, the IRS will issue guidance about what to do if you already filed and making part of your unemployment tax-free would increase your refund or reduce your tax. Wait until the IRS has issued the instructions before you do anything.


You will not get a new 1099-G. The 1099-G reports the full amount of unemployment benefits that were paid to you, whether or not it is all taxable. The 1099-G does not show how much of it is taxable or not taxable. Any adjustment of the taxable amount will be made on your federal tax return, or on an amended federal tax return, or by the IRS.

 

Level 15
Mar 8, 2021 4:42:55 PM

WAIT  until the IRS issues instructions on how this is going to work ... do NOT just amend the return YET until the programs have been updated to include the IRS instructions.   Filing an amended return before the rules and forms are posted will delay the processing of your return for months and months.  

Level 3
Mar 8, 2021 5:29:06 PM

Yes, I figured as much. Thanks for posting that though for everybody as anxious as I am😊

Level 3
Mar 8, 2021 5:30:22 PM

Super. Thanks for taking the time to contribute this answer. I appreciate it!

New Member
Mar 11, 2021 2:34:34 AM

What if I didn’t file yet? Now that it’s law can we just deduct $10,200? 

Level 1
Mar 11, 2021 4:10:31 AM

You can't just "deduct" it -- there is nowhere on the current forms to do this. I don't think I would just subtract 10,200 on my own from the reported income.  I would wait to see what the IRS says to do.  The bill just got passed, so it's not like they are going to issue instructions the next day.   Remember that millions of taxpayers (and accountants) are asking the exact same question.

Expert Alumni
Mar 11, 2021 4:59:24 AM

If you've filed your return, do not do anything yet.  If you haven't filed you should file as usual.

 

The IRS will issue guidance about what to do if you already filed.  Making part of your unemployment tax-free would increase your refund or reduce your tax. Wait until the IRS has issued the instructions before you do anything.

 

You will not get a new 1099-G. The 1099-G reports the full amount of unemployment benefits that were paid to you, whether or not it is all taxable. The 1099-G does not show how much of it is taxable or not taxable. Any adjustment of the taxable amount will be made on your federal tax return, or on an amended federal tax return, or by the IRS.

New Member
Mar 11, 2021 12:55:24 PM

How long will it take TurboTax to update their software for the new ARP rule that the first $10,200 of unemployment insurance payments for 2020 is now tax-free (after IRS issues the rule about this)?

Expert Alumni
Mar 11, 2021 1:08:39 PM

Here is the latest update from TurboTax on the bill that was signed today. The IRS will need to determine the best course forward for this large undertaking.

New Member
Mar 12, 2021 8:52:25 AM

I have the 2020 turbotax disk version.  After IRS issues guidance on unemployment benefit taxable income will I be able to update the installed program through the intuit website?

Expert Alumni
Mar 12, 2021 9:08:34 AM

Yes  - you will be able to download updates to TurboTax CD/Download when they become available.

 

In TurboTax CD/Download, you will be prompted to download any updates available when you open the program.  You can also update the program while you have it open by following these steps:

  1. Click on the Online link in the black bar at the top of the page.
  2. Click on Check for Updates.
  3. TurboTax will download and install any updates available.  If there aren't any updates, you will receive the message "Your software is up to date."

 

TurboTax Online automatically updates the website when the forms become available.

 

@billy25

 

Level 3
Mar 12, 2021 5:26:11 PM

Will the 10200 or the lesser of unemployment income be subtracted before the Adjusted income.  It adds it before so would it be subtracted before.  This is important if on the edge of 150K$ for a family.  For example I am over the 150K$ limit with unemployment but below it if it is adjusted out before.

Level 15
Mar 12, 2021 5:36:14 PM

NO ONE KNOWS YET ... the IRS still  needs to issue the instructions on how this is to be handled so you will have to wait for your answer.  

Level 3
Mar 12, 2021 5:51:34 PM

Thank you Critter-3,  My recommendation to anyone filing where unemployment is involved is to wait for a resolution and update from Turbo Tax which may be in April.  I would hope Turbo Tax would provide some communication that they have the ARP update fully updated.  This will be a good test for Turbo Tax for me.  Here we are, one month from the dead-line and the IRS is looking at a 90 mph slider breaking and does not know how it will be handled since the legislation did not detail the curve and no one thought a slider was coming. 

Level 15
Mar 12, 2021 6:14:32 PM

Important Tax News
 
 

 

IRS Provides American Rescue Plan Guidance
Do not file amended returns

The IRS has informed NATP that it's reviewing implementation plans for the newly enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Additional information about a new round of economic impact payments, the expanded child tax credit, including advance payments, and other tax provisions will be made available as soon as possible.

The IRS strongly urges taxpayers not to file amended returns related to the new legislative provisions or take other unnecessary steps at this time.

The IRS will provide taxpayers with additional guidance on those provisions that could affect their 2020 tax return, including the retroactive provision that makes the first $10,200 of 2020 unemployment benefits nontaxable. For those who haven't filed yet, the IRS will provide a worksheet for paper filers and work with software industry to update current tax software so that taxpayers can determine how to report their unemployment income on their 2020 tax return. For those who received unemployment benefits last year and have already filed their 2020 tax return, the IRS emphasizes they should not file an amended return at this time, until the IRS issues additional guidance.

Also, the IRS has released IR-2021-54, which notes that the third economic impact payment will begin to be deposited over the next week. The third round of stimulus payments, those authorized by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, differs from the earlier payments in several respects:

  • The third stimulus payment will be larger for most people. Most families will get $1,400 per person, including all dependents claimed on their tax return. Typically, this means a single person with no dependents will get $1,400, while a family of four (married couple with two dependents) will get $5,600.
  • Unlike the first two payments, the third stimulus payment is not restricted to children under 17. Eligible families will get a payment based on all of their qualifying dependents claimed on their return, including older relatives like college students, adults with disabilities, parents and grandparents.

NATP is closely monitoring the details of this news and will be in communication with our members with additional guidance and resources as the IRS releases it.

Level 2
Mar 13, 2021 9:32:00 AM

following....great info here so far. guess we just have to wait it out for a bit.

Level 3
Mar 13, 2021 3:51:37 PM

Just an update since I have been surfing the IRS sites.  IRS has instructions out there now and essentially the 10200 is listed as a subtraction on line #8 (other income).  Then you take the new total adjustments to the 1040 and the AGI is then calculated.  If below 150K$ the line 8's credit remains for joint filers.  So I will wait on the Turbo Tax software to get updated but for anyone in my situation, this is good news and logical.  See the article "New Exclusion of up to 10200 of unemployment compensation" from the IRS which is an addendum to the instructions for Line 7&8 of the 104 sch 1 instructions.   

Level 1
Mar 13, 2021 6:46:08 PM

Lets hope TurboTax  informs all users via email when this has been added to their software, so we can process or amend our taxes quickly.

Level 3
Mar 14, 2021 9:21:01 AM

Can anybody (when Turbotax is updated and ready) walk me through how to file an amended return where that is the solitary change? (I'm always confused when amending if I re-send everything previously filed or just line 8 somehow and the lines that change subsequent to line 😎 And include how free filers do ths as well and IF amended returns are still eligible for the free file versions?

Level 3
Mar 14, 2021 11:25:43 AM

I would wait for the Turbotax update for the UEC tax issue to be resolved.  Anyone that filed early as folks were suggested to do for the lower income constraint who collected UEC will have to file an amended return.  I would assume that Turbotax will provide all of these folks with an easy way to ammend the return.  Just imagine everybody doing so in USA using all different products besides Turbotax  which will have the same issue.  The IRS may actually standardize the fix to prevent them from doing double work and not deal with Millions of Amended returns..

New Member
Mar 15, 2021 2:47:15 PM

So the best advice is to wait until Turbo Tax updates to allow the subtraction of 10,200 on line 8?  Do we know when Turbo Tax will update?

Expert Alumni
Mar 15, 2021 3:06:18 PM

IRS is not accepting amended returns until March 25 if the new Form 1040X is ready at that time.  IRS will issue specific procedures for excluding the untaxable portion of the Unemployment Compensation. 

 

If your e-filed return was rejected (you got a specific reject code), go here instead.

Looking for a prior year return? Go here. 

 

You can amend e-filed returns if they've been accepted; paper-filed returns may be amended once they've been mailed.

 

If your e-file is still pending, you won't be able to make changes until the IRS either accepts or rejects it. Don't know your e-file status? Here's how to look it up.

Select your tax year for amending instructions:

Level 3
Mar 15, 2021 6:09:52 PM

Thanks for the update.  I have not filed yet pending the resultant TurboTax update which will happen in the next week or two I hoe.  There are many that will have to amend and Turbo tax should send them a communication to do that if they do not know.   Please send a reply to the community to this email chain when turbo tax has the software corrected for this change.   Also there is a software glitch when entering 1099-NEC data in sch C where the state income $ box is not there.  35 other folks have mentioned it and it still is not fixed.  TurboTax should fix that also.  After reading the IRS instructions,  I am happy that the credit is added to line 8 as a negative so it is before the adjusted income total.

Level 3
Mar 15, 2021 6:24:52 PM

From all of the input I have seen, I am standing pat until I see the update in the program.  In Turbo Tax's defense they have to get the official instructions from the IRS and from what I have read the IRS has to approve their software change.  Thus why I predict the change will not be there until 4/1.  What is disappointing in this whole mater is why TurboTax is not being proactive with information to prevent folks from having to seek information from platforms like these.   Also , they should disable anyone from submitting a tax return with UEC involved for example.  I like TurboTax, but will give them a "E" on this issue and the legislators an "F" for not extending the tax deadline for this mess they created.