Is filing a state refund mandatory in order to receive the additional refund for the taxes I paid on my 2020 unemployment?

[Jenr1214]

My turbo tax homepage now has an additional option that was not previously there when I login asking if o want to file a state return. I tried to ask the turbo bot, but it just says there is not a state return on file for me.

[rjs]

Getting the federal refund for the unemployment exclusion does not require filing a state tax return.

What state are you in? Did you file a state tax return for 2020? What you have to do about the state, if anything, depends on what state it is. Different states handle the unemployment exclusion differently.

[Jenr1214]

I am in Texas and a state return is not required so I did not file one. I am just confused because I’ve seen several news articles stating that if we used tax preparation software services, such as turbo tax some have seen a change in there return amount. I am a single filer and expected to be among the first to see the additional refund, however I see no other changes on my TurboTax homepage.

additionally, I am confused on where I should be looking for this additional refund to be deposited. Since I did qualify for a $1000 loan on my tax refund I opted to receive a trouble card with my tax refund on it. Is this where I should expect the additional refund or should I expect it in your bank account that my stimulus check was deposited into?  I am unable to verify information by viewing my tax account at IRS.GOV because I do not have a credit card, student loan account number, etc.  Thank you!

[xmasbaby0]

If you are eligible for the extra refund for federal tax that was withheld from your unemployment the IRS will be sending you an additional refund sometime during the next several months.  TurboTax cannot track or predict when it will be sent.  The IRS has not provided a way for you to track it, so all you can do is wait for the refund to arrive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/how-do-i-get-the-new-unemployment-benefits-if-i-ve...

Please read this very recent news from the IRS:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-to-recalculate-taxes-on-unemployment-benefits-refunds-to-start-in-m...

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-correcting-tax-returns-for-unemployment-compensation-income-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-and-deductions/help/am-i-eligible-for-a-new-credit-or-...

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2020-unemployment-compensation-exclusion-faqs