Federal refunds are on the way to more than 2.8 million people who paid taxes on unemployment benefits that no longer apply due to changes made by the American Rescue Plan Act.
The law, passed by Congress in March, excludes the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits from household income for those who earned less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income in 2020.
Because tax season was already underway when that change happened, some people may be due money. Others who owe taxes or other debts may have the money applied to those balances instead.
Exactly how much each taxpayer will get may vary.
Can states legally opt out early of enhanced unemployment benefits?
To date, the IRS has determined that 13 million people may be eligible for the adjustment.
The tax agency has so far reviewed more than 3.1 million tax returns, of which more than 2.8 million were eligible for refunds.
The next set of refunds is due to go out in the middle of June, while the review process will continue into summer.
Those whose returns are adjusted will receive a letter from the IRS to inform them of the change and the amount.
The IRS is also reviewing returns for other tax credits to see if they are also affected by the exclusion. That includes the earned income tax credit, premium tax credit and recovery rebate credit.
More from Personal Finance:
Is there a labor shortage? What the May jobs report tells us
Restaurants turn to on-demand hiring apps during the labor squeeze
Long-term unemployment is falling for first time during pandemic
For the earned income tax credit, the IRS will adjust returns for those who are single and have no children and become eligible for the credit. It will also adjust returns where the earned income tax credit was claimed and qualifying children were included.
However, those who become eligible for the earned income tax credit after the unemployment income tax exclusion who have qualifying children may need to file an amended return in order to get their benefits, the tax agency said.
