Can't access ny unemployment site for my 1099G form while traveling internationally
I've been traveling outside the US since April last year and now I desperately need to access my 1099G form for filing taxes. Every time I try to log into the NY unemployment portal, I keep getting blocked or redirected to an error page. At first I thought maybe the site was down for maintenance, but after trying several times over the past two weeks, I'm starting to think it might be because I'm accessing from a foreign IP address. Has anyone else experienced this issue while abroad? Are they geo-blocking international access? I've tried using different browsers and clearing my cache but nothing works. My tax deadline is approaching and I really need this document. Any advice on how to get my 1099G while outside the country?
38 comments
Luca Romano
yeah it's definitely a location issue. NY unemployment site uses geo-blocking to prevent fraud. I had the same problem when I was in Mexico for 3 months last year. you might need a VPN that has servers in New York specifically to make it think you're still in the state.
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Zara Rashid
•Thanks! Any specific VPN you'd recommend that worked for you?
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Luca Romano
•I used NordVPN and it worked ok but sometimes took a few tries. just make sure u connect to a new york server not just any US server
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Nia Jackson
•VPN might cause more problems tho. Sometimes govt sites detect VPNs and block you more. Happened to me 🤦♂️
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NebulaNova
•Express VPN worked perfectly for me when i was in thailand last year
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Mateo Hernandez
After weeks of constant busy signals and getting disconnected every time I called NY unemployment, I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me a callback with an actual human agent! They were able to email me my 1099G form directly. Honestly it was the best money I've ever spent to finally get my tax documents. Check out this video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Aisha Khan
•this sounds like an ad... does this actually work? 🤔
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Mateo Hernandez
•I was skeptical too but yeah it actually does. I was literally ready to fly back to NY just to handle this nonsense when my cousin recommended it. The agent I spoke with emailed me my form within 10 minutes of our call.
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NebulaNova
•sounds like one of those sketchy services that charge u for something thats free... idk about this
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Mateo Hernandez
•Totally get the skepticism. But talking to an agent got my docs unlocked so fast compared to the weeks I spent trying myself. Sometimes you gotta spend a little to save yourself the headache.
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Ethan Taylor
•wait hold up - does this actually work or is it just the usual BS? I'm also stuck in the same nightmare
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Nia Jackson
•Yo I can vouch for claimyr too. I was about to lose my apartment waiting for someone to pick up at unemployment and this got me through in like 20 min.
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Yuki Ito
You can also try calling the NY Unemployment 1099G specific helpline at 1-877-479-7356. They might be able to mail it to someone in the US who can scan and send it to you. The automated system MIGHT let you request it be mailed even if you're abroad.
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Zara Rashid
•I tried that number several times but I keep getting a message saying all agents are busy and then it disconnects me 😭
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Yuki Ito
•Classic NY unemployment... have you tried calling at exactly 8:01 AM eastern time? Sometimes that's the only way to get through before the queue fills up.
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NebulaNova
Another option is to have someone you trust back in the US log in for you to download the form. My sister did this for me when I was working in Canada last year. Just make sure its someone u trust with ur login creds.
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Carmen Lopez
I've dealt with this nightmare for the past 3 tax seasons. Here's what you need to know about accessing NY unemployment services while abroad: First, they DO use geo-blocking technology specifically to prevent fraud, but there are legitimate workarounds: 1. VPN with New York servers can work but is hit or miss. Some VPNs are recognized and blocked. 2. Have a trusted family member access from within NY (safest bet) 3. Contact NY unemployment directly - but GOOD LUCK getting through their phone system. I spent DAYS trying. 4. Use a call service like claimyr.com to reach an actual human - they'll wait on hold so you don't have to and connect you with a live agent who can email you the form. This saved me after countless failed attempts. 5. If all else fails, file IRS Form 4506-T to request the information directly from the IRS, though this takes several weeks. Remember that accessing while abroad can sometimes trigger fraud alerts on your account, so be prepared to verify your identity if that happens. Don't wait until the last minute - the NY unemployment system is notoriously difficult even when you're in-state!
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Zara Rashid
•This is INCREDIBLY helpful, thank you so much for the detailed info!
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AstroAdventurer
•Adding to this great info - NY unemployment doesn't use standard 2FA but they do sometimes require additional verification if you login from a new location. They might send a code to your US phone number (which you might not have access to while abroad).
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Ethan Taylor
The website is garbage even when ur in NY lol. It crashes CONSTANTLY and randomly logs me out mid-session. Dont even get me started on those ancient servers they probably run on some commodore 64 from 1985 🤣💀
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AstroAdventurer
•FR!!! I live in Brooklyn and it still throws errors at me every other day. Their tech is from the stone age 💯
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Andre Dupont
•Swear I saw a job posting for COBOL programmers for ny unemployment recently... that tells you everything you need to know about their system 😂
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Aisha Khan
•sometimes I think they make it bad on purpose so people give up trying to get their benefits
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Andre Dupont
Did you try contacting them through email? There's a specific contact form for 1099G issues: https://dol.ny.gov/unemployment-insurance-tax-form-1099-g
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Zara Rashid
•I filled out that form twice in the past month and haven't heard back yet...
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Zoe Papanikolaou
I work in IT and the NY unemployment system definitely uses IP-based filtering. It's not just about being international—they specifically block ranges of IPs known to be used for fraud. Unfortunately, many legitimate foreign IPs get caught in this net too. Try contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you're really stuck, they can sometimes intervene on your behalf.
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Aisha Khan
•This!!! My friend works at a call center for NY government (not unemployment but similar) and said they block entire countries' IP ranges bcuz of fraud.
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Jamal Wilson
•they should at least put a WARNING on the site that says it won't work internationally!!! so frustrating
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Jamal Wilson
You can also request a paper copy of your 1099G by mail. Call the automated system at 1-888-209-8124 and select that option. They can mail it to any address you have on file or update your address. You mite have to use a US address tho, not sure if they mail internationally.
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Mei Lin
What country are you in? Some VPNs work better than others depending on where you are. Also, have you tried accessing it in the middle of the night NY time? Sometimes the site works better during off-hours.
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Zara Rashid
•I'm in Thailand right now. I did try at 3am their time (afternoon here) and still no luck unfortunately
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Liam Fitzgerald
I filed for an extension on my taxes specifically because of this issue. The IRS gives you until October if you file Form 4868. Might be worth doing if you're coming back to the US anytime soon.
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GalacticGuru
try calling the tax form request line at 518-485-7071... sometimes that's better than the main unemployment number because fewer people know about it
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Amara Nnamani
FWIW, I had similar issues with my California unemployment account while traveling. What FINALLY worked was using a residential VPN (not a commercial one) AND clearing all browser data AND using private browsing. Those commercial VPNs are all on government block lists at this point.
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Zara Rashid
•What's a residential VPN? I've never heard of that
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Amara Nnamani
•Residential VPNs use real residential IP addresses instead of data center IPs. They look like normal home internet connections to websites. Way more expensive but govmt sites don't detect them as VPNs.
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Giovanni Mancini
this is why i always download and save ALL my important tax docs as soon as they come out... never know when u might need them and government websites are always down when you need them most 🙃
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Zara Rashid
•Lesson learned for sure... I won't make this mistake again!
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