Why Did I Receive a 1099-G Tax Form?

The article was updated January 12, 2023.

Why did I get a 1099-G tax form from the Idaho Department of Labor?

A 1099-G form is a summary of your unemployment insurance benefit payments. You were mailed this form if you collected or repaid benefits the prior year. The 1099-G form shows you the total taxable amount on the benefits you were paid in that calendar year.

Are unemployment insurance benefits taxable as income?

Yes, unemployment insurance benefits are taxable. Benefit payments are reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Are unemployment benefits provided through the CARES Act taxable as income?  

Yes, CARES Act benefits are taxable income. You will owe taxes on these benefits to the IRS and Idaho. For more details, visit the Idaho Tax Commission website at https://tax.idaho.gov.

Can I access my 1099-G information online?

Yes. Your IRS 1099-G information will be available online by Jan. 31 at https://www2.labor.idaho.gov/ClaimantPortal.

To view your Form 1099-G:

  1. Sign into your account with ID.me. This is a secure identity verification process that makes sure you’re you. Everyone who files for unemployment benefits online must log in with ID.me.
  2. Click on the HISTORY tab.
  3. Click the Details link in the 1099-G reporting tile.
  4. Open the 1099-G Doc link for the year.

I collected or repaid unemployment insurance benefits and have not received my 1099-G tax form yet. Where is it?

The department mails 1099-G forms at the end of January to the address on your Claimant Portal account. If you move and do not update your address, the U.S. Post Office may return a Form 1099-G as undeliverable.

You must make sure the Idaho Department of Labor has your most recent and correct address. If your address has changed:

  1. Log into your Claimant Portal account.
  2. Click the ACCOUNT tab.
  3. Click the Edit Profile link.
  4. Check and update your Address Information if necessary.

You can also download your 1099-G form online through your Claimant Portal.

IMPORTANT:

  1. If you don’t update your mailing address, your 1099-G tax form could go to the wrong address. This would put your identity at risk! Your 1099-G includes your entire Social Security number, as required by the IRS.
  2. DO NOT print your 1099-G on a public printer.

How do I request a 1099-G if I lost it or never received one?

Go to the Claimant Portal. Verify your identity with ID.me. Then, you can access the last 5 years of your 1099-G forms. To access and download these documents, click on the HISTORY tab. Then select Details in the 1099-G Reporting tile.

*Note: You must verify your identity through ID.me. First, set up an ID.me account if you don’t have one. There is a link to an ID.me guide on the Claimant Portal.

Can I change my tax withholdings on my unemployment insurance payments?

Yes. You may choose to have 10% of your benefit payment withheld for federal taxes. Idaho Labor can’t withhold state taxes. To change your federal tax withholdings, log into your Claimant Portal account, select ACCOUNT and click the Change Tax Withholding link.

What if I disagree with the amount listed on my 1099-G?

Benefits are reported based on the date the payment is sent, not the week ending dates. Before contacting us, view your payments by logging in to the Claimant Portal. Click on MANAGE CLAIMS. Then view payment information in the Weekly Certifications table. Review your payment summary. If you still disagree with your 1099-G or you didn’t apply for benefits, call us at (208) 332-8942.

What if I re-paid an overpayment?

A 1099-G was mailed to you. This will include any repayments you made in the past year, excluding penalties and interest. Penalties and interest are not included because they are not paid benefits.

How do I request a Form 1099-G for prior years?

You can view 1099-Gs for the past 5 years online on the Claimant Portal.

What if I did not receive a W-2 from my employer? Can you give me that information? 

No. The Idaho Department of Labor is not allowed to give out employer tax identification numbers. For help obtaining your W-2, please contact the IRS at (800) 829-1040. 

What if I already filed my taxes by the time I received my 1099-G form?

We are not allowed to instruct you on how unemployment insurance affects your taxes. Please contact the Idaho State Tax Commission. Go online or contact them locally at (208) 334-7660. Call toll-free at (800) 972-7660. Or call the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040.

What if I have other questions about my taxes?

We are not allowed to instruct you on how unemployment insurance affects your taxes. Please contact the Idaho State Tax Commission. Go online or contact them locally at (208) 334-7660. Call toll-free at (800) 972-7660. Or call the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040.

I thought I already paid my taxes for unemployment benefits through my paycheck. Why am I being taxed again?

Employers pay for former employee unemployment insurance benefits through quarterly payroll taxes. Employees don’t pay these taxes. Your benefits are considered income and are taxable.

I owe a balance for unemployment insurance benefits that were overpaid. Will my refund be taken?

If you have an overpayment balance, part or all of your state and/or federal tax refunds may be taken. The amount you owe will go to paying your overpayment. If you have questions about your overpayment, please contact the Collections Enforcement Unit at (208) 332-3573 ext. 2896.