How to get Washington ESD unemployment 1099 form for tax filing?
I need to file my taxes but can't find my 1099-G form from Washington ESD for the unemployment benefits I received last year. I got about $8,200 in UI payments throughout 2024 but never received the tax form in the mail. I checked my SecureAccess Washington account but don't see any tax documents there either. Does anyone know how to get a copy of the 1099-G from Washington ESD? My tax preparer needs it by next week.
44 comments


Yara Khoury
You should be able to download your 1099-G directly from your Washington ESD account online. Log into your eServices account and look for a 'Tax Documents' or '1099-G' section. They usually post these forms by the end of January.
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AstroAlpha
•I've looked everywhere in my account but can't find any tax document section. Maybe they haven't posted mine yet?
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Yara Khoury
•It might be under a different menu. Try checking under 'Account Information' or 'Payment History' - sometimes it's not obviously labeled.
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Keisha Taylor
I had the same problem last year. You need to call Washington ESD directly at their main number to request a duplicate 1099-G. But good luck getting through - I was on hold for over 2 hours.
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Paolo Longo
•Two hours?? That's insane. There's gotta be a better way to reach them than sitting on hold all day.
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Amina Bah
•Actually, I just used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to Washington ESD about my 1099-G issue. They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Keisha Taylor
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Does it actually work for getting tax documents?
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Oliver Becker
Check your mail again carefully. Sometimes the 1099-G gets mixed in with other mail or forwarded if you moved. Washington ESD is required to mail them by January 31st, so yours should have arrived by now if your address is current.
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AstroAlpha
•I moved in December but updated my address with ESD right away. Maybe it got sent to my old address?
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Oliver Becker
•That's probably it. Address changes can take a while to process in their system. You'll definitely need to call or use that Claimyr thing someone mentioned above.
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CosmicCowboy
•Same thing happened to me when I moved. Had to get a duplicate sent to my new address.
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Natasha Orlova
why do we even need these stupid forms cant the irs just figure it out themselves? this whole system is ridiculous
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Yara Khoury
•The IRS does get a copy of your 1099-G, but you still need it to file your taxes correctly. Unemployment benefits are taxable income that has to be reported.
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Natasha Orlova
•i know that but its still annoying having to chase down paperwork for money they already know i got
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Javier Cruz
I work at a tax prep office and see this every year. Washington ESD 1099-G forms are often delayed or go to wrong addresses. Your best bet is calling them directly, but expect long wait times. Make sure you have your SSN and claim information ready when you call.
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AstroAlpha
•What specific information do they need besides SSN? I want to have everything ready.
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Javier Cruz
•They'll want your full name, SSN, address where the form should be sent, and possibly your claim number or dates you received benefits. Having your total benefit amount helps too.
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Emma Thompson
You can also try the Washington ESD website contact form if calling doesn't work. Sometimes they respond faster to online requests for duplicate tax forms.
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Malik Jackson
•I tried that last month and never got a response. Calling seems to be the only way that actually works.
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Amina Bah
•That's why I ended up using Claimyr. The online forms and regular calling were both dead ends for me. At least with Claimyr I actually got to talk to someone at ESD within a reasonable time.
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Isabella Costa
Pro tip: if you remember roughly how much you received in unemployment, you can estimate it for now and amend your return later when you get the actual 1099-G. But definitely still try to get the real form.
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AstroAlpha
•Is that legal? I don't want to get in trouble with the IRS.
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Isabella Costa
•Yes it's legal as long as you file an amended return once you get the correct amount. But honestly, it's better to just get the actual form first if possible.
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StarSurfer
•I wouldn't risk it. Just get the real 1099-G form. Better safe than sorry with tax stuff.
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Ravi Malhotra
Had this exact same issue two weeks ago. Called the Washington ESD customer service line early in the morning (around 8 AM) and got through in about 45 minutes. They emailed me a copy of my 1099-G the same day.
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AstroAlpha
•They can email it? That would be perfect! What's the best number to call?
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Ravi Malhotra
•Use the main customer service number on their website. And yes, they can email a copy, but you might need to specifically ask for that option.
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Freya Christensen
Check if your state has a third party that handles unemployment tax documents. Some states outsource this to companies like ADP or similar services.
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Yara Khoury
•Washington ESD handles their own 1099-G forms directly. No third party involved here.
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Omar Hassan
Make sure you actually received enough unemployment to get a 1099-G. I think there's a minimum threshold before they're required to send one.
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AstroAlpha
•I got over $8,000 so definitely above any minimum. I should have gotten one for sure.
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Omar Hassan
•Yeah, you definitely should have gotten one then. The threshold is only $10 I think.
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Chloe Robinson
Whatever you do, don't ignore filing taxes just because you don't have the 1099-G. Unemployment income is still taxable whether you have the form or not.
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AstroAlpha
•Oh I'm definitely filing, just need the exact amount. Thanks for the reminder though.
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Diego Chavez
I got mine in the mail last week but it had the wrong amount on it. Shows I got way less than I actually received. Now I have to call to get a corrected one. So frustrating.
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NeonNebula
•That happened to my sister too. Apparently it's pretty common with Washington ESD tax forms.
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Amina Bah
•This is exactly why I keep Claimyr bookmarked now. Anytime I need to actually reach ESD for corrections or missing documents, it's the only thing that works reliably.
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Anastasia Kozlov
For future reference, you should get your 1099-G by January 31st each year. If you don't have it by mid-February, definitely contact Washington ESD immediately.
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AstroAlpha
•Good to know for next year. Hopefully this is a one-time problem.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•It usually is, unless you have address changes or other account issues. Most people get theirs on time.
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Sean Kelly
Update: I tried the Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and actually got through to Washington ESD in about 20 minutes. They're sending a duplicate 1099-G to my current address and should arrive within 5-7 business days. Thanks for the tip!
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Amina Bah
•Awesome! Glad it worked for you too. It's such a relief when you can actually talk to a real person.
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Keisha Taylor
•Might have to try this myself next time I need to reach ESD. Beats sitting on hold forever.
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AstroAlpha
•Wait, this is the original poster - I should have mentioned I tried it! Yes, Claimyr worked great. Got my issue resolved quickly.
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