Will NY unemployment tax refund be automatic or do I need to apply for it?

I got my unemployment tax refund automatically about 3 weeks after filing. The NY Dept of Taxation should process it without you having to do anything extra if you already filed and reported unemployment income correctly. Did you file electronically or paper? Electronic filing gets processed much faster.

Actually, this depends on when you received your unemployment benefits. The tax exclusion only applies to benefits received during specific periods. For 2025, NY is allowing exclusion on the first $12,500 of benefits (increased from previous years). If you received benefits within the eligible period, the system should process it automatically, but there are some cases where you might need to file an amended return (Form IT-213) if the system doesn't catch it. You can check your refund status on the NY tax department website using your SSN, filing status, and refund amount. If it shows as processing, you're good - just wait. If it shows nothing, you might want to call.

I had the same question last month!!! waited like 9 weeks and nothing happend. then i called and they said system was backed up. got my refund 3 days after calling them lol

The NY tax department is incredibly backed up this year with processing these unemployment tax exclusions. I tried calling their main number last week and was on hold for over 2 hours before giving up. I finally got through to someone using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a service that helps you reach tax and unemployment agents without the wait. Watched their video demo first (https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE) to make sure it was legit. The agent told me that if you filed correctly and your refund status shows "processing", you should eventually get it automatically, but some returns are taking 10-12 weeks this year.

my sister got unemployment tax refund like 2 weeks ago but she didn't even do anything special, just regular tax filing in march. maybe it depends on when u filed?

One thing to check - make sure your direct deposit information is correct in your tax return. A few people I know had their refunds delayed because of banking info errors. Also, if you owed any money to the state (like past tax debt or child support), they might have applied your refund to that first.

That's definitely the right move. When you call, make sure you have your tax return, NY-1099G form, and filing confirmation number ready. Ask specifically about the unemployment tax exclusion status, not just the general refund status. Sometimes the representatives only check the main refund system unless you ask about the unemployment portion specifically.

last year my buddy had to file an admended return to get his unemployment tax back... might be worth asking about that too when u call