Washington ESD unemployment benefits - do I need to file taxes if I received unemployment?
Got my first unemployment check from Washington ESD last year and I'm completely lost about taxes. Do I have to file if I only received unemployment benefits? I didn't work at all in 2024, just collected UI for about 8 months. Washington ESD sent me some tax form but I'm not sure what to do with it. Has anyone been through this before?
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
Yes, you absolutely need to file taxes on unemployment benefits! Washington ESD should have sent you a 1099-G form showing how much you received. Unemployment is considered taxable income by the IRS.
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Sienna Gomez
•I think I got that form but threw it away thinking it was junk mail. Can I get another copy?
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•You can download it from your Washington ESD account online or call them to request a duplicate. Don't wait too long since tax season is here.
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Abigail bergen
Wait, I thought unemployment wasn't taxable? My friend told me she didn't have to pay taxes on her UI benefits.
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Ahooker-Equator
•Your friend is wrong. Unemployment benefits have always been taxable income. Maybe she's thinking of the special COVID rules from 2020-2021, but those don't apply anymore.
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Abigail bergen
•Oh no, I haven't been setting aside money for taxes! How much do I usually owe?
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Anderson Prospero
I had the same issue last year. If you need help getting through to Washington ESD for tax documents, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get connected to an agent when I couldn't reach anyone about my 1099-G. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Tyrone Hill
•How much does that service cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed.
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Anderson Prospero
•It's worth checking out their site for pricing. For me, it was better than spending hours on hold with Washington ESD.
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Ahooker-Equator
Here's what you need to know: Washington ESD sends 1099-G forms by January 31st. You report the full amount on your federal tax return. If you had taxes withheld from your UI payments, that helps reduce what you owe. If not, you might owe quite a bit.
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Sienna Gomez
•I don't think I had taxes withheld. Washington ESD just sent me the full amount each week. Am I screwed?
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Ahooker-Equator
•Not screwed, but you'll likely owe taxes. You can set up a payment plan with the IRS if needed. Next time, request tax withholding when you file your weekly claims.
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Toot-n-Mighty
ugh the whole tax thing is so confusing with unemployment. i made like $15k from washington esd last year and now i have to figure out all this paperwork
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•It's really not that complicated. Just use the 1099-G form Washington ESD sent you and enter the amount on your tax return. TurboTax or H&R Block can walk you through it.
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Toot-n-Mighty
•yeah but those cost money too. everything costs money when you're unemployed
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Lena Kowalski
I filed my taxes last week and included my unemployment benefits. Made sure to download my 1099-G from the Washington ESD website first. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I had all the documents.
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Sienna Gomez
•How do I log into the Washington ESD website? I can never remember my password.
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Lena Kowalski
•Go to secure.esd.wa.gov and use the password reset option. You'll need your Social Security number and some other verification info.
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DeShawn Washington
Just a heads up - if you received unemployment benefits, you definitely need to file even if it's your only income. The IRS considers it taxable income and Washington ESD reports it to them automatically.
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Abigail bergen
•So even if I only made $8,000 in unemployment, I still have to file?
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DeShawn Washington
•Yes, the filing requirement is usually around $12,000 for single filers, but it's good practice to file anyway. You might get some credits or refunds.
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Tyrone Hill
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SCREW US OVER!!! First they make us jump through hoops to get unemployment then they TAX US ON IT. Washington ESD should warn people about this upfront!!!
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Ahooker-Equator
•I understand the frustration, but unemployment benefits have always been taxable. It's not a new policy. The option to have taxes withheld is available when you file your weekly claims.
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Tyrone Hill
•Nobody told me that when I was filing! I would have chosen to have taxes taken out if I knew.
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
For anyone still confused about the tax situation: Washington ESD unemployment benefits are fully taxable at the federal level but Washington state has no income tax. So you only worry about federal taxes, not state taxes on your UI benefits.
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Sienna Gomez
•Wait, so I don't have to pay Washington state taxes on my unemployment?
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•Correct! Washington doesn't have a state income tax, so you only file federal taxes on your unemployment benefits.
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Mei-Ling Chen
i've been on unemployment for 6 months and didn't know about the tax thing. how do i even start filing? this is my first time doing taxes
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Ahooker-Equator
•Start by gathering your 1099-G from Washington ESD. Then you can use free tax software like FreeTaxUSA or go to a VITA site for free tax prep help.
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Mei-Ling Chen
•what's a VITA site?
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Ahooker-Equator
•Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - they help people with lower incomes file taxes for free. Check the IRS website for locations near you.
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Anderson Prospero
Quick update on getting Washington ESD documents - I used Claimyr again this week to get through to an agent about a corrected 1099-G. Still works great for avoiding those endless hold times.
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Sofía Rodríguez
•Is that service legit? Seems too good to be true.
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Anderson Prospero
•Totally legit. It just automates the calling process so you don't have to sit on hold. Check out their demo video to see how it works.
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Aiden O'Connor
Pro tip: If you're still collecting unemployment benefits, you can request tax withholding on your weekly claim certification. It's under the 'Tax Withholding' section when you file your weekly claim with Washington ESD.
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Sienna Gomez
•I wish I had known this earlier! How much should I have withheld?
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Aiden O'Connor
•The standard is 10% federal withholding. So if you get $400/week, they'd withhold $40 for taxes. Better to have it taken out than owe a big chunk at tax time.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
same boat here. got my 1099-G last week and freaked out when i saw how much i received. didn't realize it would all be taxable
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•Don't panic! You might qualify for tax credits that reduce what you owe. The Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credit, etc. can help offset the unemployment tax burden.
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Jamal Brown
I'm a tax preparer and see this confusion every year. YES, you must report unemployment benefits as income. Washington ESD sends the 1099-G to both you and the IRS, so they already know you received benefits. File your taxes and report it properly.
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Abigail bergen
•What happens if I don't file? I'm scared I'll owe too much money.
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Jamal Brown
•Not filing is worse than owing money. The IRS will eventually catch up and add penalties and interest. File even if you can't pay the full amount - you can set up a payment plan.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
This whole thread is giving me anxiety. I collected unemployment for 9 months last year and never thought about taxes. Now I'm worried I owe thousands of dollars I don't have.
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Ahooker-Equator
•Take a deep breath. Many people in your situation qualify for free tax prep services. The amount you owe depends on your total income and filing status. It might not be as bad as you think.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•I hope you're right. I'm going to try to find one of those free tax places this weekend.
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Giovanni Rossi
For what it's worth, I owed about $1,200 in taxes on $18,000 of unemployment benefits last year. Set up a payment plan with the IRS and paid it off over 12 months. Not ideal but manageable.
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Sienna Gomez
•How do you set up a payment plan? Do they charge interest?
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Giovanni Rossi
•You can do it online at irs.gov. There's a small setup fee and they do charge interest, but it's better than ignoring the problem.
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Aaliyah Jackson
washington esd really should make this more clear when people sign up for unemployment. i had no idea about the tax implications until i got my 1099-G
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•They actually do mention it in the handbook and during the initial claim process, but it's easy to miss when you're focused on just getting benefits approved.
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KylieRose
I tried calling Washington ESD about my 1099-G but gave up after 2 hours on hold. Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got through to an agent in 15 minutes. Worth every penny for avoiding the phone maze.
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Sienna Gomez
•I might have to try that. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for three days about a tax document issue.
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Miguel Hernández
Bottom line: unemployment benefits are taxable income. Period. Washington ESD sends 1099-G forms by January 31st. If you didn't get yours, log into your ESD account online or request a duplicate. Don't skip filing your taxes - the IRS already knows about your benefits.
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Sienna Gomez
•Thanks for the clear summary. I'm going to download my 1099-G today and start working on my taxes this weekend.
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Toot-n-Mighty
•yeah this thread convinced me to stop procrastinating and deal with my taxes too
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Sasha Ivanov
One more thing - if you're currently receiving unemployment benefits, you can change your tax withholding at any time through your weekly claim. Just update your preferences in the Washington ESD system. Better late than never!
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•I'm definitely doing this. Don't want to be in the same situation next year.
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Aiden O'Connor
•Smart move. Having taxes withheld makes tax season much less stressful.
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