This is an official communication from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Unemployment Insurance Division.
ID.me, taxes, and more
We’ve heard your feedback. Many claimants have asked for more frequent communication, so beginning this week, we’ll be delivering at least one update each week with the information you need about Colorado’s unemployment programs. We appreciate your input, as we work to better serve you!
ID.me Identity Verification
As you probably know, we have begun rolling out the requirement that all claimants who have not yet done so verify their identity using ID.me. All claimants now have the option to complete the ID.me identity verification, but the requirement is being phased in over a period of weeks. When you are required to verify your identity using ID.me, you will receive an email from CDLE with instructions, as well as an “Identity Verification” issue on the “Issues and Determinations” screen within your MyUI+ account.
Most claimants are able to complete their ID.me identity verification using a self-guided process that takes about 15 minutes. If that process fails, you may have to verify your identity on a live call with an ID.me representative. We know that some claimants have experienced long wait times, and we understand how frustrating this can be. However, given the continued high volume of fraudulent activity, this is a necessary step to protect the integrity of Colorado’s unemployment insurance program.
Tips to avoid having to wait for a live representative:
- Make sure photos/scans of identity documents are clear and legible (well-lit, not blurry).
- When submitting your video selfies, make sure you are in a well-lit space and turn your phone’s brightness all the way up.
If you have not yet received an email from CDLE, or an “Identity Verification” issue within your MyUI+ account, you are not yet required to complete the ID.me process, though you will be in the near future. You can go ahead and do it now if you choose, or you can wait until you are required to do so.
For more information about ID.me identity verification, including a step-by-step how-to video, please visit the ID.me page at ColoradoUI.gov.
1099-G Tax Forms and Filing Your 2020 Taxes
Earlier this year, some claimants received 1099-G tax forms from CDLE, which may have included incorrect amounts or other information. While we have mailed corrected 1099-G forms, if you haven’t received your corrected form, don’t worry — you do not need your corrected 1099-G form to file your tax return. Do not report the incorrect 1099-G income on your tax return. CDLE is unable to provide advice or guidance on filing your taxes; check with the IRS if you are not sure what to do.
As a reminder, the IRS recently announced that claimants who filed their 2020 tax returns before the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) went into effect will not need to take any action to take advantage of the tax benefit included in the legislation. Under ARPA, federal income tax is waived on the first $10,200 (per individual) from unemployment insurance benefits you claimed in 2020. The IRS will automatically refund federal money to taxpayers who already filed, and Colorado taxpayers who are still preparing their state tax returns will need to add back the amount of unemployment compensation excluded from their federal taxable income under ARPA. Taxpayers with questions about their state taxes can call the Colorado tax information hotline at 303-238-SERV (7378) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Reemploy Colorado
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and more Coloradans return to work, we are here to help! Don’t forget about the “Reemploy Colorado” tab on our UI Daily Dashboard. There, you can find all the resources you need to help you return to work, including links to Connecting Colorado, OnwardCO, and My Colorado Journey, virtual events for jobseekers, highlighted jobs and employers, and more. As of today, there are more than 72,000 open jobs listed on Connecting Colorado — more than 22,000 of which are location-neutral.
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Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
633 17th St, Denver, CO 80202