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Level 1
posted Jan 26, 2022 4:12:01 PM

Taxes and unemployment

Good evening,

I received some unemployment benefits at the beginning of 2021, will I still be able to file my taxes for free on turbotax? Will the process be as easy as it was last year?

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,

Emma

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2022 4:21:00 PM

If you received unemployment benefits, you need to upgrade to TurboTax Deluxe.

6 Replies
Level 2
Jan 26, 2022 4:20:45 PM

Yes.  Start with the free version and if there are any tax situations that arise you will be notified if you need to upgrade. 

Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2022 4:21:00 PM

If you received unemployment benefits, you need to upgrade to TurboTax Deluxe.

Level 1
Jan 26, 2022 4:24:20 PM

Thank you for your reply. I tried filing but as soon as it asked if I have unemployed to declare, I needed to switch to the deluxe option. So basically, if I want to file my 2021 taxes with turbotax, I must upgrade to the deluxe version? I cannot do it with the free version? And if yes, why? 

Thank you

Level 1
Jan 26, 2022 4:25:38 PM

Thank you for your reply.

Why, this year, do we need to upgrade to file this year if we received unemployment?

Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2022 4:31:55 PM

Reporting unemployment requires additional forms - 1099-G - that is not included in the Free Edition.   There was an exception last year due to the number of people on unemployment, but that was only for the covid year - tax year 2020.  

 

Depending on what your tax situation was last year, you might need to use new tax forms to claim the same deductions, credits, or forms of income. Some of the situations that are now in TurboTax Deluxe and TurboTax Live Deluxe, instead of in Free Edition, include:

Go here for more info on which forms are included in TurboTax Free Edition.

Level 1
Jan 26, 2022 5:28:16 PM

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,

Emma