Who to contact about NY unemployment tax withholding issue on my check

You need to call the NYS DOL and ask them to change your tax withholding preference. They automatically withhold 10% federal tax unless you specifically opt out. Call the main unemployment number at 888-209-8124, but be prepared for a long wait. You might also be able to change this in your online account under 'Payment Options' or 'Tax Withholding Preferences' depending on your account settings.

just check ur online account first!! u can probably change it urself without calling. go to ur dashboard and look for withholding options

I had this EXACT same problem last month!! The system defaulted back to withholding taxes after a system update even though I had selected no withholding when I first applied. The worst part is they WON'T refund the taxes they already took - you have to wait until you file your taxes next year to get that money back. So frustrating!!

After trying for days to reach someone at NY unemployment about my tax withholding issue (same problem as you), I finally used Claimyr to get through to an agent. It's a service that basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo video at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The agent I spoke with said a lot of people are having the same issue right now. Apparently there was a system update in February 2025 that reset some accounts to default settings. The agent was able to change my preference immediately and told me it would take effect on my next payment.

i had a similar probz with my checks last year. what worked 4 me was sending a message thru the contact portal on the DOL website. went to Contact Us > Payment Issues > Tax Withholding. took like 10 days but they fixed it without me calling. worth a try if u hate phone calls like me lol

The tax withholding issue is frustrating but actually quite common. Here's what you need to know: 1. Federal withholding is 10% if selected 2. You can change your preference at any time 3. Changes only affect FUTURE payments 4. Previously withheld taxes cannot be returned directly from NYSDOL To fix this, you have two options: 1. Call 888-209-8124 and speak to a claims specialist (not a general representative) 2. Send a secure message through your online account specifically requesting "tax withholding preference change" Make sure you're very specific that you want to change from "withholding" to "no withholding" for federal taxes. Some representatives may not understand what you're asking if you're vague. And yes, unfortunately, for any taxes already withheld, you'll need to claim those when you file your 2025 tax return next year.

My sister works for the unemployment office (not in NY tho) and she says they've been getting SO many calls about this exact problem lately! Apparently there was some kind of big system update that reset a bunch of people's preferences. She said they're totally overwhelmed with calls right now because of tax season AND this glitch.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! I ended up using that Claimyr service that someone mentioned, and it worked great. Got a call back with an agent on the line within an hour. The agent confirmed there was a system update that reset my tax withholding preferences. They fixed it right away and said my next payment will have the correct amount without taxes taken out. Unfortunately, I can't get back the taxes they already took out, but at least it's fixed going forward. Thanks everyone for your help!