Washington ESD federal unemployment tax payments - when are they due?

So I need to track both federal and Washington ESD taxes separately? That seems unnecessarily complicated.

Yes unfortunately they're completely separate systems. Federal goes to IRS, state goes to Washington ESD. Different rates, different forms, different deadlines.

What happens if you miss a quarterly payment but your total for the year is under $500? Do you still get penalized?

No penalty if your total annual liability is under $500, even if you missed quarters. The $500 threshold determines your payment schedule.

How does that service work exactly? I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my business account.

They basically help you get through the phone queues faster. Saved me hours of waiting on hold when I needed to verify my SUTA rates with Washington ESD.

Wait, so paying Washington ESD on time affects my federal rate? I had no idea they were connected like that.

Exactly! If you're delinquent with Washington ESD, you lose part or all of that 5.4% credit on your federal taxes. Big incentive to stay current with state.

This is why I hate dealing with employment taxes. Too many moving pieces and connections between agencies.

That's actually helpful to know. So if I have seasonal workers who don't make much, I might not owe FUTA on them at all?

Right, if they make under $7,000 annually, no FUTA. But you still might owe Washington ESD state taxes depending on their wage thresholds.

Same mistake here. Got hit with penalties because I assumed they were coordinated somehow.

The lack of coordination between agencies is ridiculous. How hard would it be to send a courtesy notice?

Good point. I switched payroll companies and they missed filing my Washington ESD quarterly report. Had to straighten that out separately.

Always double-check what's included in their service. Don't assume they handle everything unemployment-related.

Could you share that spreadsheet template? I'm terrible at keeping track of all these different dates.

I'll see if I can upload it somewhere. It's basically just calendar dates with which taxes are due when.

That extension seems pretty short. Is there any way to get more time if you're behind on paperwork?

Not really. The IRS is pretty strict about unemployment tax deadlines. Better to file on time even if it's not perfect.

How much does something like Claimyr cost? Might be worth it if it saves time dealing with government phone systems.

I found it worth the cost when I was stuck and losing money waiting for answers. Check their site for current pricing.

How long does it take to get an experience rating with Washington ESD? I'm in my second year of business.

Usually takes 2-3 years to get your own rate. Until then you pay the standard new employer rate to Washington ESD.

Wait, there's a third tax? How many different employment taxes are there in Washington?

Federal FUTA, state unemployment to Washington ESD, state disability, plus workers comp. It adds up quickly.

This is why I'm considering just hiring contractors instead of employees. So many tax complications.

I accidentally sent a payment to the wrong system once. What a nightmare to get that straightened out.

Always double-check the routing numbers and account info. Easy mistake to make when you're dealing with multiple agencies.

I've been hesitant to use third-party services for tax questions. Do they actually know what they're talking about?

They don't give tax advice - they just help you reach the actual agency representatives who can answer your specific questions.

This thread has been more helpful than hours of googling. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

Agreed! I feel much more confident about handling both the federal and Washington ESD requirements now.