Hello, all. I received unemployment benefits this year, I didn't have taxes taken out. Should I still file my unemployment benefits?

You do not have a choice.   The unemployment is taxable income that has to be entered on your 2020 return.   

 

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

 

 

Unemployment compensation is taxable on your federal return. 

 

You will have to enter a 1099G that is issued by your state.

Some states will mail out the 1099G.  Or you might need to go to your state’s unemployment website and use the password, etc. that you have been using to certify for weekly benefits to get your 1099G from the state’s site.

Enter your 1099G in Federal>Wages & Income>Unemployment

Go through the screens very carefully, making sure  to enter any federal/state tax you had withheld from the unemployment.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/where-do-i-report-a-1099-g-for-unemployment-or-paid-family-leave/00/26530

 

STATES THAT TAX UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

AZ, AR, CO, CT,, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NB, NM, NY,NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, UT, VT, WV, WI

 

STATES THAT DO NOT  TAX UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS on the state return

AK, CA, DE, FL, MT, NH, NJ, NV ,PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WY

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/personal-income-taxes/help/how-does-receiving-unemployment-affect-my-taxes/00/1756152

Happened to me as well: After I was turned down, they started sending me checks.  Didn't bother to see if any withholding was taken out until I got the W-2 in the mail.  

 

"Pay me now or pay me later"

 

It's reportable income.