Can I file my unemployment taxes next year - Washington ESD timing questions

Thanks! So I don't need to do anything right now? Just wait for the form?

Exactly. The only thing you might want to do now is make sure Washington ESD has your current address so the 1099-G gets to you.

I think I did elect to have federal taxes taken out when I filed my claim. How can I check if that's actually happening?

Log into your SecureAccess Washington account and check your payment history. It should show if federal withholding is being deducted from each payment.

Wait, so we don't pay state taxes on unemployment in Washington? That's actually pretty good compared to other places.

Right, Washington doesn't have state income tax anyway, so unemployment benefits aren't taxed at the state level here.

How much does something like that cost? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my withholding.

They don't post prices on the site but it was worth it for me. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

Good point. I've been pretty good about saving the emails but should probably print some stuff out too.

Screenshots work too. Just make sure you have proof of your benefit amounts in case there are any discrepancies on the 1099-G.

Whatever you receive in 2024 goes on your 2024 tax return, even if you just started in December. You'll get separate 1099-G forms for each tax year.

Makes sense, thanks for clarifying that.

Ugh, this is getting complicated. How do I know if I need to pay quarterly taxes?

Generally if you'll owe more than $1000 when you file, you should be making quarterly payments. But talk to a tax professional if you're unsure.

Or use the IRS withholding calculator on their website to estimate what you might owe.

I haven't done any other work, just the unemployment. Trying to keep it simple while I job search.

Smart approach. Makes tax time much easier.

How do I update my address with them? Through the SecureAccess Washington portal?

Yes, you can update it online through your SAW account under profile settings. Just make sure to save the changes.

Actually, unemployment benefits specifically do NOT count as earned income for EITC. Common misconception though.

oh really? i thought they changed that rule. thanks for the correction

Did you have to give them a lot of personal information to use it?

Not really, it was pretty straightforward to use. Way less hassle than the alternative of never getting through to anyone.

Thankfully I've been in Washington the whole time, so shouldn't have that issue.

Good to know though - I almost moved to Oregon earlier this year.

Job search expenses used to be deductible but the tax law changed in 2018. Most job search costs aren't deductible anymore for regular employees.

Bummer, but good to know. Thanks for saving me from trying to track all that stuff.

That's exactly what I needed to know. So everything I need will be on that one form?

yep, all the unemployment tax info in one place. makes it pretty straightforward

How do I know if I should do that? I don't want to owe a big chunk next April.

Compare what you normally owe/get refunded with your regular job taxes. If you usually owe money, consider having more withheld from unemployment.

This is another thing Washington ESD agents can help you figure out if you can get through to them. That's where services like Claimyr really come in handy.

Good reminder. I'll put a note in my calendar to check for it in February.

You can also access your 1099-G online through your SAW account once it's available, so you don't have to wait for the mail.

That's why keeping your own records is so important. If there's a discrepancy, you need documentation to prove what you actually received.

yeah she had to dispute it and get a corrected form. took months to sort out

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. Feeling much better about the whole situation now.

That's what this community is for. Good luck with your job search!

Great point. I'll definitely mention that if I get hired before December 31st.

Exactly. Better to have slightly more taxes taken out than to owe a surprise amount in April.