Can someone claim unemployment in NJ if they haven't paid their taxes?

Question

If this person's paycheck has been taxed by the company he worked for but he hasn't filed for a couple of years, what would this person have to do and what would happen?

Answer 1

Paying (or not paying) income tax has nothing to do with unemployment benefits.  When you work, your employer pays into unemployment insurance.  It's like any other insurance - when you get unemployed, you claim the benefits./

Answer 2

he can apply for unemployment, but that may send a red flag to the state and federal tax people

Answer 3

If the person is eligible for unemployment (worked the required time, etc.), not paying taxes has nothing to do with it.

The IRS already has "this person's" income information, so extra alarm bells would not go off in the IRS computer. Alarm bells have probably already gone off, and will handle it when that priority is triggered. If their computer program doesn't show you owing much tax, or possibly a refund, they may never call you. Or maybe they will.

Anyway, it is a separate issue.

If you think you might get a refund for 2005, 2006 or 2007, please file these taxes. You are barred from any refund after three years.

Answer 4

The two things are not related.

Answer 5

If you worked as an employee, your employer was required to pay into unemployment for you, so your not filing, while it might cause you other problems, wouldn't hurt your eligibility for unemployment.