FMLA tax confusion - Do I pay taxes on 2024 FMLA leave? ESD related?

FMLA isn't taxable because it's not income. It's just job protection that allows you to take time off without losing your position. If you didn't receive any payments during your leave, there's nothing to tax. However, if you received short-term disability benefits or used Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) through Washington state during your FMLA leave, THOSE would be taxable and you should have received tax documents for them.

You're confusing FMLA with Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML). They're two completely different programs! FMLA = Federal program that protects your job for up to 12 weeks but provides NO MONEY PFML = Washington state program that provides partial wage replacement when you can't work due to qualifying medical or family reasons If you didn't receive any income during your leave, there's nothing to tax. However, you might have been eligible for PFML benefits through ESD. Even though it's too late now for last year's leave, you should know for the future that PFML in Washington can provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave at up to 90% of your weekly wage.

this happens all the time!! ppl dont realize FMLA doesnt pay u anything!! its rly just a piece of paper that says ur boss cant fire u while ur out for medical stuff. u definately shoulda applied for the WA state paid leave (PFML) thru ESD!!! that would have given u money while u were out!

To clarify what others have said: 1. FMLA is just job protection, not income, so there's nothing to tax 2. Washington's PFML program is administered by ESD (same agency that handles unemployment) 3. ESD handles several different benefit programs: Unemployment Insurance, Paid Family & Medical Leave, and Long-Term Care Insurance For your specific situation: If you didn't receive any income during your FMLA leave, there's nothing to report on your taxes related to that period. If you had applied for and received PFML benefits, you would have received a 1099-G form from ESD to report that income. Many people don't realize that Washington state has one of the most generous paid leave programs in the country through PFML, which can be used concurrently with FMLA.

i took FMLA last year and also got the PFML at same time. the PFML money WAS taxable and i got a 1099-G from ESD in my online account on the eservices portal. but if u didnt get any money then u dont have taxes on nothing!! hope that helps

Jumping back in to confirm what others have said - if you received $0 during your leave, there's nothing to report on your taxes. However, for future reference, you should know you can apply for PFML benefits retroactively up to 30 days after your qualifying event. So unfortunately for last year's leave, it's too late now. Also, for anyone trying to contact ESD about PFML or UI benefits - I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an ESD agent quickly instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It saved me hours of frustration when I had questions about my PFML claim.

@OP - Correct, if you received no income during your FMLA leave, you don't need to report anything on your taxes related to that period. FMLA itself is just paperwork that protected your job, not a payment program. @concerned_citizen - ESD handles multiple programs. Unemployment Insurance (UI) is one program, and Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) is another program, but they're both administered by the Employment Security Department. The requirements and benefits are different for each program. PFML specifically requires that you've worked 820 hours in Washington during the qualifying period and have a qualifying medical or family event.

@concerned_citizen They're completely separate programs with different funding sources. UI is funded by employer taxes, while PFML is funded by both employee and employer premiums (small deduction from your paycheck). That's why the application processes and eligibility requirements are different. @OP For future reference, if you ever need to take medical leave again, make sure to apply for PFML through ESD's website. You can use FMLA and PFML simultaneously - FMLA protects your job while PFML provides income replacement.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better knowing I don't have any tax obligations from my FMLA period. Definitely learned a valuable lesson about Washington's PFML program though - I'll be sure to apply for that if I ever need medical leave again. Really wish my HR department had mentioned this as an option!

This is such a common confusion! I went through the same thing when I took leave for my father's care last year. The key thing to remember is that FMLA and PFML are two separate programs that can work together: - FMLA = Federal job protection (unpaid) - PFML = Washington state income replacement (paid) Since you didn't receive any income during your leave, there's nothing to tax. But I'd recommend bookmarking the ESD PFML page for future reference - it's really generous coverage (up to 90% of your wages) and you pay into it through small payroll deductions anyway, so you might as well use it if you ever need leave again. Also, don't feel bad about not knowing - a lot of employers don't proactively inform employees about PFML benefits. It's relatively new (started in 2020) so many HR departments are still learning about it themselves.