§ 85. Unemployment compensation

(a) General rule

In the case of an individual, gross income includes unemployment compensation.

(b) Unemployment compensation defined

For purposes of this section, the term “unemployment compensation” means any amount received under a law of the United States or of a State which is in the nature of unemployment compensation.

(c) Special rule for 2020

(1) In general

In the case of any taxable year beginning in 2020, if the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for such taxable year is less than $150,000, the gross income of such taxpayer shall not include so much of the unemployment compensation received by such taxpayer (or, in the case of a joint return, received by each spouse) as does not exceed $10,200.

(2) Application

For purposes of paragraph (1), the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer shall be determined—

(A) after application of sections 86, 135, 137, 219, 221, 222, and 469, and

(B) without regard to this section.

(Added Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 112(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2777; amended Pub. L. 97–34, title I, § 103(c)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 188; Pub. L. 97–248, title VI, § 611(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 706; Pub. L. 98–21, title I, §§ 121(f)(1), 122(c)(2), Apr. 20, 1983, 97 Stat. 84, 87; Pub. L. 99–514, title I, § 121, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2109; Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1007(a), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 317; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(15), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4039; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9042(a), Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 122.)