


Ask the community...
this thread is super helpful... wish i had found something like this when i first filed. would have saved me a lot of confusion and stress
Make sure to apply as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's no benefit to waiting, and you want to get the process started.
Just remember that each claim has its own benefit year and maximum benefit amount. They don't carry over from previous claims.
this whole thread has been really educational. i'm in a similar situation with washington esd unemployment and taxes so thanks everyone for sharing your experiences
Just wanted to add that if you received unemployment from multiple states (like if you moved), the tax situation gets more complicated. But since you only dealt with Washington ESD, you're in good shape.
For future reference, you can also check your payment history in your ESD account. It shows when payments were issued and when they should hit your bank account. Super helpful for tracking the timeline.
Bottom line - if you just got approved and this is your first weekly claim, expect to wait until your second week of filing to see your first payment. After that, it's typically 2-3 business days from when you file your weekly claim.
Edison Estevez
Just to add - if you end up owing more than $1,000 when you file and didn't pay enough during the year, you might get hit with an underpayment penalty. It's usually not huge but something to be aware of.
0 coins
Myles Regis
•How much is the penalty usually? I'm starting to think I should definitely set up withholding or make a payment soon.
0 coins
Edison Estevez
•It varies but usually a few hundred dollars depending on how much you owe and when you pay it. Better to just start withholding now and avoid the penalty altogether.
0 coins
Emily Nguyen-Smith
I had a similar situation and ended up talking to a tax preparer about it. They said the safest approach is to withhold 10% federal and then make a small estimated payment each quarter if you think you'll still owe more. Covers your bases without overwithholding.
0 coins
James Johnson
•That sounds like a good strategy. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to taxes.
0 coins
Myles Regis
•Yeah I think I'm going to start having them withhold 10% immediately and then maybe make a quarterly payment to be extra safe. Thanks everyone for all the advice!
0 coins