Can an Unemployed Person File a Federal Tax Return?

Even if you're not working, you will likely be required to file a federal tax return if you received unemployment benefits. This is because the IRS considers this money taxable income. Therefore, to ensure Uncle Same gets his money, you must report this income to the IRS by filing a tax return and pay any taxes due.

Unemployment benefits are paid to unemployed or underemployed persons who qualify. When you receive unemployment benefits, you will receive IRS Form 1099-G after the year ends. Similar to a W-2, Form 1099-G reports the total amount of unemployment benefits you received during the year.

The IRS considers unemployment compensation taxable income, as well as some states. As a result, you must report this income to the IRS by filing a federal tax return. You can use Form 1099-G to confirm the total amount of money received. Your unemployment income must be listed on your tax return along with any other income you received during the year.

Since unemployment benefits are income, you must pay taxes on that income. Unemployment recipients can elect to have federal and state taxes deducted from their weekly benefits. By doing so, they avoid having to pay a large tax bill at tax time. If you choose to have taxes deducted from your unemployment benefits, the total amount withheld will also be listed on your 1099-G form. You will list this amount on your tax return as well.

If you fail to file a tax return despite receiving unemployment benefits, Uncle Sam may penalize you in the form of penalty fees and interest. To avoid this, you can apply for an extension, which will give you more time to prepare and submit your tax return. However, the extension does not give you extra time to make your payment. Therefore, you must pay any taxes owed by the filing deadline. If you can't, the IRS advises taxpayers to pay as much as they can to reduce the amount of fees and penalties assessed.