Collecting unemployment benefits during the pandemic could impact your tax refund Wendi Lane and last updated 2021-01-28 20:38:02-05 TAMPA, Fla. â As if 2020 wasnât hard enough on our pockets, now tax season is near, and collecting unemployment benefits will impact your filings. If you received a government stimulus check, tax experts say the good news is you wonât be taxed on it; but if you received unemployment, you may have to pay. The unemployment benefits that helped so many Americans stay afloat during the pandemic may hurt them this tax season. Many people rely on a tax refund to help them catch up with bills, but Rob DiMarco, CPA and owner of Tax Artist, says if you received unemployment benefits in 2020 and did not request they withhold taxes, prepare for a lower return and even the possibility of having to pay money in.