IRS to California taxpayers: Don't file your taxes yet

IRS won't tax California's Middle Class Tax Refund

The IRS announced it will not be taxing Middle Class Tax Refunds. Millions received papers saying they needed to include the refunds on their taxes, only for the government to say that no, they will not.

LOS ANGELES - If you live in California or more than a dozen other select states, you may be one of the millions of taxpayers being urged by the Internal Revenue Service to hold off on filing tax returns for 2022.

This applies to those who received a special tax refund or payment from your state last year. For example, in California, select residents received checks ranging from $200 to $1,050 as part of the Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR).

Last year, 19 states offered diverse programs that offered inflation relief payments or refunds for taxpayers. The IRS issued the guidance Friday due to the agency’s uncertainty about the taxability of the payments.

"We are working with state tax officials as quickly as possible to provide additional information and clarity for taxpayers," the IRS said in its statement issued to clarify any uncertainty about the taxability of the payments.

If you received a state tax refund last year, here is what you need to know.

I got a tax refund from California. What does the IRS statement mean for me?

If you got a tax refund from your state in 2022, the IRS is recommending you hold off on filing your tax return until the agency gives further instructions. Certain states that provided these refunds have determined that these payments are not taxable for most people. What needs to be determined is if these refunds are taxable on the federal level, said Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals.

In some states, people would get taxed if they received a tax refund in 2022 only if they itemize their deductions, said Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed. An example of a state that is taking this route is Virginia, which has stated that taxpayers that filed a standard deduction will not be taxed for their tax rebate. However, not all states have issued guidance on tax rebates.

RELATED:

Keep in mind that there is a difference between state and federal taxes, the Franchise Tax Board is reminding Californians. The MCTR is not taxable income, but could possibly be considered federal income, according to the FTB. That's why you might receive a 1099-MISC form if you received an MCTR/inflation relief payment of at least $600.

Why should I wait to file my return?

Following the IRS recommendations it's key if taxpayers want to avoid having to amend a previously filed tax return, said Hall.

"I think the IRS is trying to help people save another filing if they had to do an amended return," he said.

I received a refund but already filed my taxes. What should I do?

The IRS is recommending that you don’t file an amended return yet.

If you believe you need to file an amended return, the IRS advises you to wait until further instructions are given.

Which states offered special tax refunds in 2022?

Special tax refunds were offered by 19 states in 2022. The list includes Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.