How do I find my business unemployment number Washington ESD?

I'll check my SAW account, thanks! I don't think I've logged into the employer section in months.

The SAW system can be confusing - make sure you're in the right portal because there's separate sections for personal claims vs business accounts

Good idea, I'll dig through my business mail pile. I probably have some quarterly notices buried in there somewhere.

lol the business mail pile... I know that feeling too well

Ugh I was hoping to avoid calling them. The few times I've tried calling Washington ESD it's been a nightmare.

Actually, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD faster. They have a system that calls for you and connects you when an agent picks up. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

Yeah I'm sure I registered because I have 3 part-time employees and I remember getting set up when I hired my first guy. Just can't remember the dang number.

If you have employees in Washington you definitely need unemployment insurance coverage, so you should have an account number somewhere.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if it actually works.

They don't require any personal info upfront which was nice. Just focuses on getting you connected to an actual person at Washington ESD.

That's smart thinking! I bet my automatic payments to Washington ESD would have that info.

Yeah the electronic payments usually include the account reference number

I do use a local CPA for my taxes, I'll ask her if she has that info on file.

Most accountants keep copies of all the business registrations and tax ID numbers for their clients

I have my UBI number, but I need the specific unemployment account number for this form I'm filling out.

Yeah those are separate numbers, though sometimes Washington ESD references both on their correspondence

I didn't know that existed! I'll look for it on their site.

The Washington ESD website is not the most user-friendly but that feature might save you a phone call

Tell me about it. I swear they make it deliberately difficult to find basic information.

That's exactly why I ended up trying Claimyr - got tired of navigating their terrible phone system. At least with that service you know you'll actually talk to someone.

Good point, I'll search my email for anything from 2022 when I first registered.

Try searching for 'unemployment insurance' or 'employer account' in your email

I'll keep that in mind as a last resort. Hopefully I can find it in my paperwork first.

8am is definitely the sweet spot for Washington ESD calls, but even then it's not guaranteed

WAU-1, got it. I think I have those filed somewhere in my office.

Perfect, I'll look for those notices in my business files.

Those premium notices are usually quarterly so you should have several if you've been in business for 2 years

Awesome! Bank statements are often overlooked but they have so much useful info.

Glad you found it without having to call Washington ESD!

Great news! Save that info somewhere safe for next time.

I'm glad this thread is helpful! I was in a similar situation a few months ago when I needed my account number for a state audit. The bank statement trick really does work - just look for any automatic payments or manual transfers to "WA State Dept Employment Security" or similar. The account number is usually in the reference field or memo line. If you can't find it there, definitely try the SAW portal that Julia mentioned earlier - it's clunky but it has all your employer info once you log in correctly.

@Jay Lincoln Good luck with your contractor application! Another tip if the bank statements don t'work out - check any payroll software you might be using. Programs like QuickBooks or ADP usually store your Washington ESD account number in the tax setup section since they need it for quarterly filings. I found mine there when I was helping my brother with his roofing business last year.

@Jay Lincoln I was in the same boat last year! One thing that really saved me time was checking my email for any Washington ESD notifications about rate changes or policy updates - they usually include your account number in those mailings too. Also, if you use a payroll service or have an HR software, they definitely have it stored since they need it for reporting. Don t'give up before trying all the digital options - calling Washington ESD should really be the absolute last resort!

@Jay Lincoln I went through this exact same headache about 6 months ago when I was applying for a business loan. The bank statements really are your best bet - I found mine buried in an ACH transaction from like 8 months prior. Also, if you have any employees who ve'filed for unemployment in the past, sometimes their claim documents reference your business account number too. It s'worth checking with them if you re'comfortable asking. The whole Washington ESD system is such a pain but at least once you find it you can save it somewhere safe!

@Jay Lincoln I just went through this nightmare myself a few weeks ago! What finally worked for me was logging into my business banking app and searching specifically for ESD "or" Employment "Security in" the transaction history. The account number was listed in the payment details for my quarterly premium payments. Also, if you use any kind of business accounting software like QuickBooks, check the payroll tax settings - they usually store all your state account numbers there. Hope this saves you from having to deal with their phone system!

@Jay Lincoln I had the same issue when I needed my unemployment account number for a bid on a city contract. One thing that worked for me was checking my old tax returns - sometimes your CPA includes the Washington ESD account info in the supporting documents they file with your business taxes. Also, if you ve'ever had to respond to any unemployment claims from former employees, those determination letters from Washington ESD always have your account number at the top. It s'frustrating how scattered this info gets, but definitely exhaust all the paper trail options before calling them!

@Jay Lincoln I just dealt with this same issue a couple months ago! Another place to check is if you use any payroll service like ADP or Paychex - they definitely have your Washington ESD account number stored in their system since they handle the quarterly filings. You can usually find it in your employer dashboard under tax settings or compliance info. Also, if you ve'ever received any notices about unemployment claims from former employees, those letters always have your business account number printed right at the top. The whole process is such a headache but there are definitely ways to avoid that dreaded phone call to Washington ESD!

@Jay Lincoln I just went through this exact situation last month! One thing that really helped me was checking my business insurance documents - sometimes your workers comp' or general liability insurance paperwork references your Washington ESD account number since it s'tied to your employment practices. Also, if you use any time tracking software for employees like TSheets or When I Work, they sometimes store tax ID numbers including your unemployment account info in the employer settings. Another tip - if you ve'ever received any mail from Washington ESD about rate changes or annual adjustments, those notices always include your account number. Good luck with your contractor application!

@Jay Lincoln I ve'been lurking on this thread because I m'in a similar boat with my small construction business! One thing I haven t'seen mentioned yet is checking your business credit report - sometimes your Washington ESD account number shows up in the public records section since it s'tied to your business licensing. Also, if you use Square or any other payment processor for payroll, they usually store all your tax account numbers in the business profile settings. I know it s'frustrating having to hunt through all these different places, but it beats sitting on hold with Washington ESD for hours!

@Jay Lincoln I m'dealing with this exact same issue right now for my small plumbing business! One thing that worked for me was checking my original business registration paperwork from when I first set up my LLC - sometimes the Washington ESD account number gets referenced in those initial filing documents. Also, if you use any employee scheduling apps like Homebase or Deputy, they often store your tax ID numbers in the employer profile since they integrate with payroll systems. Another spot to check is your workers compensation' insurance policy - they usually need your unemployment account number when setting up coverage. Hope you find it without having to brave the Washington ESD phone maze!

@Jay Lincoln I just went through this same headache about a month ago when I was applying for a state contract! One thing that saved me was checking my old email receipts from when I made payments to Washington ESD online - if you ve'ever paid your quarterly premiums through their website, the confirmation emails usually include your account number. Also, if you use any HR software or employee onboarding tools, they typically store all your state tax ID numbers including the unemployment account info. I ended up finding mine in an old Gusto payroll setup email from when I first hired employees. The digital paper trail is definitely worth exhausting before dealing with their phone system!

@Jay Lincoln I had this exact same problem a few months ago when I was trying to update my business information with the city! One thing that really helped me was checking my old workers compensation' insurance documents - they often list your Washington ESD account number since it s'connected to your payroll reporting. Also, if you use any direct deposit services for employee paychecks, those setup documents sometimes reference your unemployment account number too. I eventually found mine in an old email confirmation from when I updated my business address with Washington ESD - they sent a confirmation that included all my account details. Definitely worth searching your email for any correspondence with them over the past couple years!

@Jay Lincoln I ve'been following this thread because I m'in a similar situation with my landscaping business! One thing that worked for me was checking any old invoices or statements from my business accountant - they usually keep copies of all the tax registration documents including the Washington ESD account number since they need it for quarterly filings. Also, if you ve'ever used any online payroll calculators or tax preparation software for your business, sometimes they save your account information in the settings. Another place to look is any correspondence from your business bank when you first set up payroll services - they often request and store your unemployment insurance account number for compliance purposes. Really hoping you can avoid that phone call!

@Jay Lincoln I m'actually going through something similar right now with my small electrical business! One thing I discovered that might help is checking any old correspondence from your business insurance agent - when I was setting up my workers comp' policy, my agent kept a file with all my business registration numbers including the Washington ESD account. Also, if you use any cloud-based accounting software like FreshBooks or Wave, they sometimes auto-save your tax ID numbers when you set up payroll integrations. I ended up finding mine in an old quarterly filing reminder email that Washington ESD sent me last year - apparently I had subscribed to their notification system when I first registered. Worth checking your spam folder too since their emails sometimes get filtered! Good luck with the contractor application process.