New York will still tax the unemployment benefits New Yorkers received in 2020, despite changes on the federal level, according to State Budget Director Rob Mujica.

Numerous lawmakers have been pushing the state to change its own laws due to the pandemic, saying it is unfair to New Yorkers who lost their jobs when New York went on “pause.”

“Those benefits have been subject to state tax for decades,” Mujica said during Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget update. “So that has not changed.”

When the federal government passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in March, Congress included an exemption so at least a portion of unemployment benefits from 2020 will not be federally taxed.

People whose adjusted gross income was less than $150,000 can exclude up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits from taxes in 2020.

“It’s outrageous that the governor and Democratic Legislative Majorities are giving $2.1 billion in so-called unemployment assistance to those in New York state illegally and working illegally, but not one cent to match the $10,200 tax break for jobless New York citizens that the federal government has given,” Senator Jim Tedisco said. “When taxpaying citizens who work hard, play by the rules, and do the right thing face such constant abuse from this downstate-driven state leadership, why wouldn’t New York state be number one in the nation for out-migration of residents?”

Taxes are due on May 17.