MADISON — The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is reminding state residents who received Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits last year that they must report UI benefits as taxable income on their 2024 tax returns, and that their 1099-G income tax statements for the year are easily accessible through UI’s secure and confidential claimant portal.

Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income for both federal and state income taxes, and the 1099-G form shows the amount of UI benefits a claimant received during the previous year.

To access 1099-G tax statements, claimants can log on to their claimant portal account and follow a few easy steps to obtain an electronic copy of their 2024 benefit payment records. In some cases, individuals may need to verify their identity to access to their tax statements.

In response to customer service trends favoring online self-service, claimants who have accessed the UI claimant portal will be notified that their 1099-G statements for 2024 will be available online and that they should not expect paper copies by mail. Claimants who have been granted a long-term exception to using online services will receive their 1099-G statements by mail. DWD will continue to mail paper copies upon request.

By accessing UI’s secure, confidential claimant portal and obtaining 1099-G forms electronically, claimants will have immediate access to their tax information for UI. Additionally, the transition from paper mailings to e-copies of 1099-G forms saves the public tens of thousands of dollars in annual processing, printing, and mailing costs.

DWD securely stores 1099-G forms online, allowing all claimants to access and print them for their records. Claimants can access their online statements for the past six years, a helpful feature for claimants who need to file amended tax returns. The UI Division is required to send 1099-G information to both the Internal Revenue Service and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

For more information, visit the 1099-G Tax Information page.