COLUMBIA, S.C. — There are a few small changes in this year's tax season because of COVID-19.
“The biggest change is tied to the economic stimulus payment," says Ed Palekas who runs the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at the Cooperative Ministry in Columbia.
Palekas broke down what you need to know.
“This year the government has input into tax law which is called the recovery rebate credit," Palekas says, "And that is a way for if you did not receive your economic stimulus payments- which should have been two, the first one and then the second one, we do the paperwork within your tax documents and file to be able to receive the full amount.”
That is this year’s biggest change and what Palekas says most people are concerned about.
Ordinarily, the IRS begins receiving individual tax returns at the end of January but this year they will start accepting them on February 12 to allow for additional testing and programming of IRS systems following the tax changes.
Anyone who was unemployed for a period of time in 2020 and received unemployment payments will also need to include their 1099 form along with any W2’s and other forms usually filed.
Anyone in search of help can contact the Cooperative Ministry Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We do the returns properly and we do it for free," Palekas says.
To learn more about their work click here.
To read more about 2021's tax season, visit this site.
