Were you self-employed during 2021? If so, there is a good chance that you could have qualified for COVID-19 sick and family leave credits worth as much as $32,220.
If you’re like many self-employed individuals or partners, you probably never heard about these tax credits. Unlike employee retention credit for employers, the special temporary credits for the self-employed received relatively little publicity. Many tax professionals were unaware of them. As a result, many self-employed individuals and partners never applied for them.
You qualified for the credits if you could not work or telework for various COVID-related reasons—for example, if you suffered from COVID-19; were under quarantine; underwent COVID testing; or looked after a friend, roommate, or family member impacted by the virus.
There are four separate credits:
- Credit for Sick Leave—January 1, 2021, through March 31, 2021
- Credit for Family Leave—January 1, 2021, through March 31, 2021
- Credit for Sick Leave—April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021
- Credit for Family Leave—April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021
The COVID-related sick leave credit was for up to 10 days from January 1, 2021, through March 31, 2021, plus an additional 10 days from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. The maximum credit was $511 per day ($200 per day if you cared for others).
The COVID-related family leave credit was capped at $200 per day. Up to 50 days of credits were available from January 1, 2021, through March 31, 2021, plus an additional 60 days from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. From January 1, 2021, through March 31, 2021, the credit was available only if you needed to care for a child whose school was closed or whose caregiver was unavailable because of COVID.
From April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021, lawmakers greatly expanded eligibility to include caring for yourself, roommates, friends, and relatives.
You were supposed to claim the credits on your 2021 tax return. But if you overlooked the credits, don’t worry. You can still claim them by amending your 2021 tax return. You need to file a completed 2021 IRS Form 7202, Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals, along with Form 1040-X.
To determine your eligible sick and family leave days, you’ll likely have to consult your calendar for 2021, emails, vaccination or other medical records, school records, or other records showing the days you could not work for COVID-related reasons.
You don’t need to file any documentation with your amended return. Just keep it with your tax records.
You must file your amended return within three years (including extensions). The deadline is April 18, 2025, or if you filed for an extension, up to October 15, 2025. But why wait? Amend your 2021 tax return today, and you’ll get your money as soon as possible.
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