Unemployed last year? Buying health insurance this year? You may benefit from favorable new changesMany people lost their jobs last year due to pandemic shutdowns. Generally, unemployment compensation is included in gross income for federal tax purposes. But thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted on March 11, 2021, up to $10,200 of unemployment compensation can be excluded from federal gross income on 2020 federal returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) under $150,000. In the case of a joint return, the first $10,200 per spouse isn’t included in gross income, meaning if both spouses lost their jobs and collected unemployment last year, they’re eligible for up to a $20,400 exclusion. Contact us if you have questions about your situation.