Tax filing season begins amid pandemic

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION) Americans can begin filing their taxes Friday, about two weeks after the usual start time in the last week of January.

Millions of Americans lost their jobs or had a reduction in income last year due to the pandemic.Which means that many people who did not receive a stimulus because of their 2018 or 2019 tax returns may now qualify. According to Josue Rojas who is the District Manger of Lopez Tax Services, this will be the case for thousands in our community.

“Its gonna be on the last page of the 1040,” said Rojas. “Where its gonna be refundable credits and theres gonna be box that we check off that they didn’t receive it. “

Seventeen or 18 years old can also request this money but they will have to file as an independent. Rojas confirmed that people will not have to pay taxes on stimulus checks. But they will on unemployment checks. The income received on unemployment will be added as regular income.

“People that received unemployment for the first time just make sure you have your withholdings on your unemployment and make sure you include it on your taxes this year,” said Rojas. 

People may receive less money because of this and some may not even get a refund, said Rojas. But he also said theres a new change that might help if they lost their job and have less earned income

“There is a new tax change that you can use your last years income for the earned income for this year,” said Rojas. “So that way you can make up for it.”

Refunds will be available 2-3 weeks after the filing day. Some changes made include no penalties for early withdraws from retirements. But California will have a penalty for those with no insurance.