Do you get a W2 from unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

Thanks! Should I be worried if I haven't gotten it yet? It's almost February.

They have until January 31st to mail them out. Check your address on file with Washington ESD to make sure it's current.

I always get confused about all these tax forms lol

The 1099-G will show the total benefits paid and any federal tax withholdings. You'll need it to file your taxes.

Interesting, never heard of that service before. The Washington ESD phone lines are always busy when I try calling.

I used Claimyr last month when I needed to update my address for tax documents. Actually got through to someone in like 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold.

Good idea! I'll log into my account and check right now.

Yes, they usually post them online around the same time they mail them out.

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income at the federal level. Washington state doesn't have income tax so no state taxes on it here.

That's why they give you the option to have federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims. If you didn't withhold, you might owe come tax time.

ugh great, another thing I didn't think about when I was unemployed

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr would have saved you hours of frustration. They specialize in getting you connected to Washington ESD agents.

Wish I had known about that back then! Will definitely keep it in mind for the future.

I did move in December! How do I update my address with them?

You can update it online through your Washington ESD account or call them. If you call, you might want to use that Claimyr service others mentioned to actually get through.

Good point. I should be able to see all my payments in my Washington ESD account history.

Yes, your payment history online will show exactly what you received and when. Very helpful for tax prep.

taxes are so confusing omg

That's a really good point that trips people up every year. It's all about when you actually received the payment.

How much does it cost? Might be worth it if I can't get through myself.

I don't remember the exact amount but it was reasonable for the time it saved me. Check their website for current pricing.

What should I do if there's a mistake on the form?

Contact Washington ESD immediately to get a corrected 1099-G issued. Don't file your taxes with incorrect information.

Thanks for the professional insight! This is all new to me.

do you know if TurboTax handles unemployment forms okay? or should I go to a real person

TurboTax handles 1099-G just fine. It will ask you about unemployment income and walk you through it step by step.

Good to know the deadline. I'll give it another week or two before I start worrying.

And if you need to call them about it, Claimyr can help you get through instead of sitting on hold forever.

I only got benefits from Washington ESD so I should just get one form then.

Correct, just one 1099-G from Washington ESD in your case.

I don't think I had any overpayments but I'll make sure to check when I get the form.

Box 2 shows any overpayments that were repaid. Most people will have zero in that box.

Good to hear! Hopefully mine shows up in the next few days.

Same here, got mine on Monday. Washington ESD seems to be on schedule this year.

Where does it go exactly? I'm planning to use tax software.

Most tax software will have a specific section for unemployment income where you enter the 1099-G information. It should be clearly labeled.

That actually makes sense now why it's a different form. Thanks for explaining!

Exactly right. It's considered income for federal tax purposes but not wages for FICA purposes.

Sounds like a lot of people have had good luck with that service. Might be worth trying if I run into problems.

Yeah, the phone system at Washington ESD is just brutal. Anything that helps you actually talk to a human is worth it.

Good advice. I'll scan it and save a digital copy once it arrives.

You should keep tax documents for at least 3 years, sometimes longer depending on your situation.

Will do! Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more prepared now.

You're welcome! Tax season with unemployment can be confusing the first time but it's really not too complicated once you understand the basics.