Connecticut State Department of Revenue Services

Walk-in services at all DRS branch office locations remain suspended. Email DRS at drs@po.state.ct.us. Email the Priority One Taxpayer Assistance Program: DRSPriorityOne_CollectionsAssist@po.state.ct.us. Please check our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Unemployment compensation is subject to state and federal income tax.  Any unemployment compensation that you received during the taxable year will be included in your federal and your Connecticut adjusted gross income.

Federal Income Tax:  For further information on the taxability for federal income tax purposes of unemployment compensation, visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Unemployment Compensation webpage.

Connecticut income Tax:

Connecticut Residents:  In general, unemployment compensation income, whether received from the Connecticut Department of Labor or from an equivalent agency in another state, is subject to both federal and Connecticut income taxes.  As a resident, you will be subject to Connecticut income tax on the benefits.

If the unemployment compensation was paid to you by the Connecticut Department of Labor, you have the option of having Federal and Connecticut income taxes withheld from each payment.  If you do not have taxes withheld, you may have to make estimated income tax payments to the IRS and to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS).  Failure to have tax withheld or to make timely estimated payments can result in underpayment penalties.

Filing your Federal and Connecticut Income Tax Return:  In general, unemployment compensation paid to you in the prior calendar year is reported to you by the Connecticut Department of Labor (or equivalent agency in another state) on Form UC-1099-G in late January.  The form will also report the amount of federal and state taxes that were withheld from your benefits.  Use this information to complete your federal and Connecticut income tax return.  The unemployment compensation will be included in your federal adjusted gross income which is then brought over to Line 1 of the Connecticut income tax return. If you had any tax withheld by the Connecticut Department of Labor, it will be reported to you as state tax withheld on Form UC-1099-G.  Be sure to report the withholding on the withholding schedule on the Connecticut income tax return.

If you received unemployment compensation from another state, you may also be subject to income tax in that state and you should contact the tax department in that state for information.  If you are subject to tax in that state, you will file a nonresident return with that state and you will be able to claim credit on your Connecticut resident return for that tax paid to that state by completing Schedule 2, Credit for Tax Paid to Another Jurisdiction.  You can claim credit for tax paid to another jurisdiction by filing Form CT-1040 using the TSC or electronically using commercially available software or through a tax preparer.

Nonresidents of Connecticut:  In general, unemployment compensation income, received from the Connecticut Department of Labor, is subject to both federal and Connecticut income taxes.  If you are a nonresident, the unemployment compensation paid to you in connection with former employment in Connecticut will be Connecticut source income and subject to Connecticut income tax. You have the option of having Federal and Connecticut income taxes withheld from each payment.  If you do not have taxes withheld, you may have to make estimated income tax payments to the IRS and to DRS.  Failure to have tax withheld or to make timely estimated payments can result in underpayment penalties.

Filing your Federal and Connecticut Income Tax Return:  In general, unemployment compensation paid to you in the prior calendar year is reported to you by the Connecticut Department of Labor (or equivalent agency in another state) on Form 1099-G in late January.  The form will also report the amount of federal and state taxes that were withheld from your payments.  Use this information to complete your federal and Connecticut income tax return.  The unemployment compensation will be included in your federal adjusted gross income which is then brought over to Line 1 of the Connecticut income tax return. Nonresidents must file Form CT-1040NR/PY and report the unemployment compensation, along with any other Connecticut source income, on Schedule CT-SI of that form.  If you had any tax withheld by the Connecticut Department of Labor, it will be reported to you as state tax withheld on Form 1099-G.  Be sure to report the withholding on the withholding schedule on the Connecticut income tax return.

Check with that tax department in your state of residence to see if you can claim credit for tax paid to Connecticut on the unemployment compensation.

The Department of Labor's brochure, A Guide to Your Rights and Responsibilities When Claiming Benefits in Connecticut, is helpful in explaining how to request withholding.