The WA Cares team is always working to improve the features and information available on our website. Recently, we launched a new tool that allows users to view our content in 16 languages. You can find this tool under the “Languages” header on any page.

Available languages now include: English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (simplified), German, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Nepali, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Did you know the Paid Leave premium rate can change each year? By law, we recalculate the Paid Leave premium rate annually on Sept. 30. The premium rate is adjusted based on medical and family leave use during the previous year. Premiums — collected from employees and employers through quarterly reporting — fund the Paid Leave program.

We’ll share more information about the 2023 premium rate,  the premium split between the employer and employee, and the Social Security wage cap this fall.

Consider a deferred payment contract if you can’t pay 

If you can’t pay the balance owed, you can still protect your tax rate by getting a deferred payment contract. Start by emailing Employment Security Department’s Collections unit at ESCtax@esd.wa.gov. 

Our payment addresses have changed 

Starting July 1, the Employment Security Department (ESD) changed to U.S. Bank for unemployment taxes and benefits.  

As a result of the bank change, ESD’s state unemployment payment addresses for employers also changed on July 1. Please make sure you update any processes, forms, files or software with these new addresses. 

For a complete list of address changes, check out our recent message to employers. 

Additional SOC code webinars scheduled 

Do you have questions about Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes? Due to popular demand, we have scheduled additional SOC code webinars this summer. 

SOC is a federal coding system that helps government agencies and private businesses compare occupational data. 

All employers will be required to report SOC codes when they submit their quarterly tax reports starting with their fourth quarter 2022 report.