Do you pay taxes for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

I never got a 1099-G form! How do I get one? And I definitely didn't have taxes withheld - I had no idea I was supposed to.

You can download your 1099-G from your SecureAccess Washington account. Log in and look for tax documents. If you didn't have taxes withheld, you'll need to pay them when you file.

Wait so I only owe federal taxes? That's a relief! I was panicking thinking I'd owe both state and federal.

Exactly! Just federal. But still plan for that - it's usually around 10-22% depending on your tax bracket.

That's exactly what I'm afraid of! Did you have any trouble getting your 1099-G from Washington ESD?

No trouble at all - it was right there in my account. You can also call Washington ESD if you can't find it, though good luck getting through on the phone.

Actually, I had issues getting through to Washington ESD when I needed my 1099-G reprinted. Ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process way easier.

They do give you the option! When you file your weekly claims, there's a checkbox to withhold federal taxes. Most people just don't notice it or understand what it means.

well thats stupid they should make it more obvious

You need to contact Washington ESD to get a corrected 1099-G issued. They should be able to fix it if there was an error on their end.

I've been trying to call for weeks but can never get through. It's so frustrating.

Depends on your total income and tax bracket, but probably somewhere between $1,200-$2,400. You should run the numbers or talk to a tax preparer.

Ouch, that's more than I expected. I guess I need to start saving up for tax season.

That's good to know! I'm not currently getting benefits but I'll remember that if I ever need to file again.

Yeah I wish I had known this earlier. Would have saved me from the tax bill surprise.

Thanks! I'll check that out. Hopefully it's not as bad as I'm imagining.

You still owe the taxes! The IRS doesn't forget. You should file an amended return if you didn't report the unemployment income originally.

crap i never filed that year at all... am i in trouble?

You need to file that return ASAP. There are penalties for not filing, but it's better to file late than never.

Is that service expensive? I'm desperate to get my 1099-G corrected but don't want to pay a fortune.

It's worth it when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold. Plus they actually get you through to someone who can help.

I got my benefits in 2024 so that doesn't apply to me, but good to know for anyone else reading this.

Yeah that 2021 thing was a one-time deal because of COVID. Don't expect it to happen again.

I'll look for that. Their website is pretty confusing to navigate but if the info is there that would be helpful.

I understand the frustration, but unemployment benefits are considered income replacement, so they're taxed like regular income. At least Washington state doesn't tax them.

Still doesn't make it any less frustrating when you're already broke

That's smart. I wish I had thought of that when I was filing my claims.

Same here. Learning this lesson the hard way this year.

Good to know! I'm hoping I won't need a payment plan but it's reassuring to know it's an option.

How would I check that? I don't think I kept track of all my weekly payments.

You can look at your payment history in your Washington ESD account. It should show all the payments you received throughout the year.

Use that IRS calculator I mentioned earlier, or just ask your tax preparer to run the numbers for you.

I might have to try that. I've been trying to get through for my corrected 1099-G and it's been impossible.

Definitely worth trying. Check out their demo video to see how it works - it's pretty straightforward.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much better prepared to deal with this now.

This thread has been super helpful. I was in the same situation and didn't know what to expect.