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August 14, 2026/Issue 78 

In this issue

• Deferred payment contracts.
• Tips for the Requests for Separation Information form.
• How SharedWork can help your business during tough economic times.
• Working with Employment Security during an emergency.
• Paid Leave will calculate your business size next month.
• Paid Leave late fees take effect.
• Building your business: free webinars, join us at BizFair in Puyallup!

Unemployment Insurance

A deferred payment contract can help if you cannot pay unemployment taxes

Are you unable to pay the balance you owe? We can help. Protect your tax rate by getting a deferred payment contract.

To get started, email our Collections Unit at ESCtax@esd.wa.gov. 

Remember, if you have a delinquent account, we charge: 

• At least one percentage point more on your regular tax rate for the first year you are delinquent. 

• Two-percentage points more if you are late two years in a row. 

• The maximum social tax rate.

Tips for filling out “Requests for Separation Information” forms

After one of your workers applies for unemployment benefits, we send you a Request for Separation Information (RSI) form. When you return it, double-check that you fill in all the required information. This is important even when you agree with the worker’s stated separation reason. 

Your thorough response to the RSI means we do not have to reach out to you again with follow-up requests. Running your business is a lot of work and takes a lot of your time. To reduce the burden on you, be sure your RSI response includes: 

• The name and number of the person you want us to contact if we need more information. 

• Any supporting documents you have. For example: warnings, policies, signed acknowledgements, witness statements, and termination or resignation letters. 

If you have questions about an RSI, please call the employer line at the Unemployment Claims Center at 877-504-5607. Be ready to enter your 12-digit ESD employer account number so we can route your call properly. 

Learn more on our website about when a former employee files for unemployment.

Learn how SharedWork can get you through tough economic times

SharedWork can prevent layoffs with the flexibility to retain employees at reduced hours during economic downturns. SharedWork lets you tighten your belt and keep your employees.

If your business is facing an uncertain economic reality, SharedWork is here to help. We know employers need to keep their organizations running during tough times. You also need to look after your workers. These may seem like competing priorities, but they do not have to be.

Learn more on our website about SharedWork and how to apply for SharedWork.

Working with Employment Security following an emergency

If you have been impacted by the Washington wildfires, Employment Security may be able to help you and your employees.

Help for impacted employers 

• Some taxable employers may qualify for relief of benefit charges and a waiver of penalties from Employment Security following an emergency. If you think you qualify for relief of benefit charges, send us a request in writing. Learn more on the Employment Security website about how and when to request relief.  

• If you are late filing your quarterly report and payment due to a disaster, you may be entitled to have penalties waived. Go to the Employment Security website to read how to follow the standard process for requesting a waiver. 

• The SharedWork program can help you retain employees at reduced hours. Employees may be eligible to receive partial unemployment to help bridge the gap in pay. Go to the Employment Security website to learn how to apply for SharedWork. 

Help for impacted workers 

Employment Security can make allowances for workers who cannot get to their employer due to the fires. Go to the temporary layoffs and furloughs page of our website to learn about:

• Temporary layoffs: If a business is closed due to the disaster, Employment Security can ensure employees receive unemployment benefits and reduce the financial burden on employers.

• Standby: Individuals and employers impacted by a natural disaster can request to be placed on standby. 

Help fight disaster scams and fraud 

Disasters are notorious for attracting scams and frauds. You can help by carefully reviewing information we share with you whenever workers apply for benefits. If you don’t recognize the claimant or what they submitted in their application, please use Employment Security's fraud report form for employers. 

Paid Leave

Submit missing reports, end-of-quarter employee counts to Paid Leave

On Sept. 30, Paid Leave will calculate your 2027 business size by averaging your employee headcount from your previous four quarterly wage reports.

For the most accurate calculation, make sure you have submitted a report for every quarter (2025 Q3 and Q4, and 2026 Q1 and Q2), including quarters with no payroll. You also have the option to provide end-of-quarter employee counts on your processed reports, beginning with 2026 Q1.

Bring your reports up to date

Log into your employer account. The Account Alerts banner will show if you have a task pending, such as filing a missing report. 

Check the Quarterly Report Status table. Each quarterly reporting period should be marked as “Processed.”

• If the status of any report is “rejected,” we found an issue with your submission. Correct any errors or warnings in your file and resubmit.
• If the status shows “Past Due,” you are missing that report. To fix this:
  1. Select “Submit Now” for the reporting period and choose your filing method.
  2. Depending on which filing method you selected, upload your file, manually enter your employee wage data or file a “No payroll” report.
  3. Submit.

If the report submission is successful, the status will change to “Processed” in 24 to 48 hours.

Optional: Add an end-of-quarter employee count

Providing your end-of-quarter employee count is optional. It may help us more accurately calculate your business size if you have high staff turnover or seasonal staffing changes. You do not need to submit your end-of-quarter count if it is the same number of employees as on your wage report. If you give us counts, we will use this information when we calculate your business size on Sept. 30.

Business size determines whether you remit the employer portion of premiums or qualify for small-business assistance grants. Find more information for small businesses on the Paid Leave website.

If our calculations show that your business size changes, we will send you a letter in late October.

Go to the Paid Leave website to learn how to file reports and pay premiums.

Paid Leave late fees take effect

Starting August 2026

A 1% monthly interest charge applies to overdue premium balances starting from Q2 2026. Note: Transaction date shown on billing statements may be different than settlement date.

Upcoming

We’ll start assessing penalties on late reports in the near future. Check the status of your wage reports to ensure each quarter is successfully processed.

Read more about billing statements and late fees on the Paid Leave website.

Building your business

Attend a WA Cares webinar

Knowing there is money set aside for care in the future gives employees peace of mind today. WA Cares makes long-term care insurance accessible for all Washington workers. As a Washington employer, you are required to report your employees’ wages and hours and pay premiums every quarter. WA Cares for employers from 1-2 p.m. on Sept. 16. In the webinar, presenters from Employment Security and the Department of Social & Health Services will cover: Who contributes to the fund. How workers meet contribution requirements. Who can get an exemption. Tracking employee exemptions. Employer reporting requirements. What kinds of benefits will be available.

Free webinar for small businesses

Join Washington's Small Business Liaison Team for a free webinar for small businesses. Representatives from several state agencies will cover: Main regulatory requirements for starting a small business in Washington state. Many free or low-cost resources available to you. Join us from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Learn about other webinars offered by the state's Small Business Liaison Team on the business.wa.gov website.

Join us at BizFair Puyallup!

BizFair is Washington state’s largest and longest-running small business resource fair. It is open to the public and features free small business resources and education from federal and state agencies and local nonprofits. Connect with local entrepreneurs, learn from industry experts and discover new ways to improve your business.

Employment Security will attend BizFair with partners from the statewide WorkSource system. Stop by our resource table to discover how we can support your team! We will share valuable business information about recruiting, workforce training, labor market data, Unemployment Insurance and Paid Leave.

Join us

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Where: College Center Building, Pierce Community College, 1601 39th Ave SE, Puyallup, WA 98374

Find our contact information

Any time you need to respond to a notice from Employment Security, please use the phone number on that notice to reach the right team. If you do not contact the right team, we are not able to forward your call. Instead, we will give you the correct number to call.

If you have other questions related to unemployment taxes or benefits, about Paid Leave or WA Cares reporting, SharedWork and more, reach out!

Find contact information by topic on the Employment Security website. 

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