Well, here’s a topic I hate to bring up this early in the year, but it’s time to think about filing your 2021 income taxes sometime in the next two months! Because of holidays, the official tax filing deadline this spring will be April 18th. But the IRS forms will be made available in the next two weeks so you can start the process.

Yes, I know that many of you listening haven’t even received your 2020 tax refunds from the return you filed LAST spring! It’s no secret that the IRS is bogged down. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted the problems the IRS is having – delayed refunds, slow updates on their website, and employees that cannot help, even if you do reach them by telephone.

Eric Smith, IRS spokesperson, attributed the delays to some issues that go beyond not having personnel in the IRS offices. He noted that the tax law changed after many people filed last January – especially the elimination of taxes paid on the first $10,200 of benefits – which required extensive hands-on processing.
Note: For 2021, the year just ended, ALL unemployment benefits are taxable as ordinary income.

Delayed Refunds
In addition to the retroactive change in taxation of unemployment benefits, the IRS had to cross-check the eligibility for stimulus payments. All that bogged the IRS down and delayed refunds to millions still waiting. .
The good news is if you filed by May 17th last year, you will receive 3% interest on the amount the IRS owes you. (If you filed later, perhaps because of an extension, the formula on interest is a bit more complicated.) But your eventual refund check (or direct deposit) will include interest.
Smith warns against filing an amended return if you haven’t yet received your refund. That will only slow the process exponentially.

Stimulus Payments
The IRS will be sending out a letter in January, letting you know how much they sent you in stimulus payments last year. This is NOT taxable income, but will remind you of what you received, and help you file for the stimulus or for more money, if deserved, when you file your 2021 return.

Child Tax Credit
The big change this past year in the amount of the credit and how it was distributed, will likely cause huge hassles. The credit was increased and paid monthly — in advance – starting for most people last July, sending out up to 6 months of the credit.
In January, the IRS will mail a letter informing recipients of the child tax credit how much money they received, so they can file for the remainder of the credit by filing a 2021 tax return (even if they didn’t earn enough money to be required to file). I’m betting the IRS (or Congress) will come up with a simpler solution in the coming months, likely continuing the monthly credit payments.
Again, the child tax credit is not considered income for tax purposes.

Quarterly Estimated Payments
If you haven’t paid in 100% of the taxes you paid last year, or 90% of the taxes owed, you could be in for a penalty. This is the time to carefully review your tax situation and make a quarterly estimated tax payment by this year’s January 18th deadline. Consult your tax advisor.