Washington ESD unemployment tax rate - how much is being taken from my benefits?

Thanks! I'll log into my SAW account and check. Didn't realize there might be other deductions besides federal tax.

wait washington doesn't have state income tax so it should just be federal

Oh no, that's exactly my situation. My husband is still working so we file jointly. Should I have them withhold more?

Probably a good idea to withhold extra or set aside money for taxes. We ended up owing like $800 because the 10% wasn't enough with his income too.

Perfect, exactly what I needed to know! Going to increase it to be safe.

I tried finding this option but couldn't locate it in my account. Is it under a specific menu?

Is that one of those paid services? I'm already tight on money with unemployment.

It does cost something but honestly saved me so much time and frustration trying to reach Washington ESD on my own. Sometimes worth it when you need answers quickly.

You might be right. I need to look at the detailed breakdown. I don't have child support but maybe there's something else.

Could be unemployment overpayment from a previous claim being recovered. That would show up as a deduction.

When do they usually mail out the 1099-G forms? I need it for my tax prep.

Washington ESD typically mails 1099-G forms by January 31st. You can also access it electronically through your SecureAccess Washington account.

I get the frustration but it's considered income replacement so it makes sense it's taxed like regular wages. At least the withholding is optional.

Still feels wrong when you're barely getting by. The whole system is messed up.

That can happen if you have other deductions or if there were adjustments to your benefit amount. Check your payment history for the exact calculation.

I'll have to call them to figure it out. The online account doesn't show enough detail.

That's where Claimyr really helped me - got through to someone who could explain the deduction breakdown in detail. Worth checking out if you're having trouble getting through.

This is exactly my situation. Going to change my withholding to 15% or maybe 20% to be safe.

Good advice. We got hit with penalties for underpaying estimated taxes because of this exact scenario.

The 1099-G shows gross benefits paid in Box 1 and federal taxes withheld in Box 4. You report the full gross amount as income and get credit for taxes withheld.

Thanks! That makes sense. So I report the full amount even though they already took taxes out.

Better late than never! At least you can adjust it going forward.

True. Just annoying that it's not more clearly explained when you first file for benefits.

Yes, all unemployment compensation is taxable regardless of the type - regular UI, standby, partial benefits, etc. The withholding options are the same for all benefit types.

Good to know. I'm on standby and wasn't sure if it was different.

You're right, I checked and there's a separate line for 'recovery of overpayment' - $16 per week. So $31 for taxes plus $16 for overpayment equals the $47.

Mystery solved! That overpayment recovery will continue until it's fully repaid. You can contact Washington ESD if you want to dispute it or set up a different payment plan.

How much does that service cost? Is it worth it for basic questions?

They focus on the value of getting through quickly rather than the cost. For me it was worth it because I had a complicated overpayment issue that needed immediate attention.

How do you request a specific percentage? Is there a form to fill out?

You can do it through your SecureAccess Washington account or by calling Washington ESD. They can set up any percentage you want.

Yeah I made that mistake my first time on unemployment. Ended up with a big tax bill the next year.

The IRS doesn't care if taxes were withheld or not - unemployment is taxable income either way.

Does it work for all types of Washington ESD calls or just certain issues?

From what I understand, it helps with getting through to agents for any unemployment-related calls. Really useful when you need to speak with someone but can't get through on your own.

That's a really good point. I'm going to calculate what I might owe on the benefits I've already received and start saving for that too.

Smart thinking. It's better to be prepared than get surprised at tax time.