Do tax refunds need to be reported to ESD for weekly unemployment claims?

Oh that's a huge relief! I was worried I'd have to report it. Thanks!

While the previous response is correct that tax refunds don't need to be reported, it's important to understand WHY. Tax refunds represent excess tax withholding you've already paid - it's essentially your own money being returned to you, not new income. ESD only requires reporting of new income sources like wages, self-employment, certain pension payments, etc. But you DO still need to report any side income from gigs, cash jobs, or part-time work during your claim weeks.

I understand your frustration, but there is actually a logical reason for this distinction. Inheritances are considered new income coming to you, while tax refunds are just returning money you already earned and overpaid in taxes. ESD follows federal guidelines on what constitutes income for unemployment purposes. For anyone reading who needs clarification on what must be reported on weekly claims, here's a quick reference: MUST report: Wages, self-employment income, commission payments, bonuses, holiday pay, inheritance, lottery winnings, some pension payments DON'T report: Tax refunds, stimulus payments, child support received, SNAP benefits, insurance settlements for property damage

does this rlly work? i keep calling esd and getting hung up on after waiting 4ever

There's no threshold amount for tax refunds - they simply aren't reportable income for unemployment purposes regardless of the amount. Your cousin may have been confused with another type of payment, or perhaps received an additional tax credit payment that wasn't just a refund of taxes she already paid. The ESD follows IRS guidelines on this, and standard tax refunds are never considered income for unemployment reporting purposes.

Glad we could help! Make sure you're still reporting any actual work income though, even small amounts. Better safe than dealing with overpayment notices later!

ESD should have had all 1099-Gs sent by January 31st as required by law. If you just received yours, that's unusually late. You can always file for an extension if needed, but you'll still need to pay any estimated taxes owed by the regular deadline. If you're worried, you can also access your 1099-G electronically through your ESD account under the "1099-G tax forms" section.