The short answer
| What it reports | Unemployment compensation, state and local income tax refunds, agricultural payments, and taxable grants. |
|---|---|
| Amounts to report | $10 or more for refunds and unemployment |
| To the recipient | January 31 |
| To the IRS, on paper | February 28 |
| To the IRS, electronically | March 31 |
If one arrives
A state refund is taxable only if you deducted state tax and got a benefit from it. Unemployment compensation is taxable and usually has nothing withheld.
The form is how a payer tells the IRS what it paid. Its absence is not permission — income you received is reportable whether or not a form covers it, and a threshold decides only who must file, never what you owe.
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. It covers United States federal reporting. Consult a qualified tax professional about your situation.