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I've been collecting unemployment through Washington ESD for about 6 months now and just realized I need to figure out the tax situation. I know unemployment benefits are taxable but I'm not sure how much I should expect to pay. I've been getting $620 per week and didn't have any taxes withheld because I thought I could handle it myself. Now I'm worried I'm going to owe a huge amount when I file my taxes. Has anyone calculated roughly how much you end up owing on unemployment benefits? Should I start having taxes withheld from my remaining weekly claims?
I just got laid off from my retail job after 8 months and I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits. I've never filed before and honestly have no idea what the requirements are. Do I need to have worked a certain amount of time? What about if I was part-time for some of those months? I'm seeing stuff about base period and monetary determination but it's all confusing. Can someone break down what Washington ESD looks for when they decide if you qualify?
this thread is super helpful... wish i had found something like this when i first filed. would have saved me a lot of confusion and stress
I had a claim last year that ran out in November and now I'm unemployed again after being laid off from my new job. Can you apply for unemployment two times through Washington ESD? My previous claim was for 26 weeks and I used all of it. Do I need to file a completely new claim or can I somehow reactivate the old one? I'm confused about the process and don't want to mess anything up.
Make sure to apply as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's no benefit to waiting, and you want to get the process started.
Just remember that each claim has its own benefit year and maximum benefit amount. They don't carry over from previous claims.
I'm getting ready to file my 2024 taxes and I received unemployment benefits from Washington ESD for about 6 months last year. This is my first time dealing with unemployment and taxes together. I got a 1099-G form from Washington ESD but I'm confused about how this affects my tax return. Do I have to pay taxes on all the unemployment money I received? Will this put me in a higher tax bracket? I made about $28,000 from my job before getting laid off and received around $12,000 in UI benefits. Any advice would be really helpful since I don't want to mess up my taxes.
this whole thread has been really educational. i'm in a similar situation with washington esd unemployment and taxes so thanks everyone for sharing your experiences
Just wanted to add that if you received unemployment from multiple states (like if you moved), the tax situation gets more complicated. But since you only dealt with Washington ESD, you're in good shape.
I just got approved for unemployment benefits last week after waiting through adjudication for over a month. My claim shows active now but I'm confused about the payment timeline. When exactly do you get paid after filing your weekly claim? I submitted my first weekly claim on Sunday but haven't seen anything hit my account yet. Is there a delay between when you file and when Washington ESD actually sends the payment? I'm really stressed about this because I have rent due soon.
For future reference, you can also check your payment history in your ESD account. It shows when payments were issued and when they should hit your bank account. Super helpful for tracking the timeline.
Bottom line - if you just got approved and this is your first weekly claim, expect to wait until your second week of filing to see your first payment. After that, it's typically 2-3 business days from when you file your weekly claim.
Edison Estevez
Just to add - if you end up owing more than $1,000 when you file and didn't pay enough during the year, you might get hit with an underpayment penalty. It's usually not huge but something to be aware of.
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Myles Regis
AuthorHow much is the penalty usually? I'm starting to think I should definitely set up withholding or make a payment soon.
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Edison Estevez
It varies but usually a few hundred dollars depending on how much you owe and when you pay it. Better to just start withholding now and avoid the penalty altogether.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
I had a similar situation and ended up talking to a tax preparer about it. They said the safest approach is to withhold 10% federal and then make a small estimated payment each quarter if you think you'll still owe more. Covers your bases without overwithholding.
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James Johnson
That sounds like a good strategy. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to taxes.
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Myles Regis
AuthorYeah I think I'm going to start having them withhold 10% immediately and then maybe make a quarterly payment to be extra safe. Thanks everyone for all the advice!
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