Stimulus bill adds tax changes to unemployment (Source: Storyblocks) By Adria Goins | March 12, 2021 at 2:29 PM CST - Updated March 13 at 12:40 PM SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Americans have heard about the $1,400 stimulus checks arriving as part of the newly passed coronavirus relief bill, but many hardworking families who’ve spent most of the pandemic on unemployment have an added benefit from the bill as well. The recently signed coronavirus relief bill will waive taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits you received in 2020, if you make less than $150,000 a year. What that means is you won’t be taxed on those unemployment benefits, avoiding a large surprise tax bill for 2020. It’s a tax forgiveness that will keep more money in your pocket instead of handing it back over to the government.