Washington — RCW 50.29.026

(1)A qualified employer's contribution rate or array calculation factor rate determined under RCW 50.29.025 may be modified as follows:

(a)Subject to the limitations of this subsection, an employer may make a voluntary contribution of an amount equal to part or all of the benefits charged to the employer's account during the two years most recently ended on June 30th that were used for the purpose of computing the employer's contribution rate or array calculation factor rate. On receiving timely payment of a voluntary contribution, the commissioner shall cancel the benefits equal to the amount of the voluntary contribution and compute a new benefit ratio for the employer. The employer shall then be assigned the contribution rate or array calculation factor rate applicable for rate years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, applicable to the rate class within which the recomputed benefit ratio is included. The minimum amount of a voluntary contribution must be an amount that will result in a recomputed benefit ratio that is in a rate class at least two rate classes lower than the rate class that included the employer's original benefit ratio.

(b)Payment of a voluntary contribution is considered timely if received by the department during the period beginning on the date of mailing to the employer the notice of contribution rate required under this title for the rate year for which the employer is seeking a modification of the employer's rate and ending on March 31st of that rate year.

(c)A benefit ratio may not be recomputed nor a rate be reduced under this section as a result of a voluntary contribution received after the payment period prescribed in

(b)of this subsection.

(2)This section does not apply to any employer who has not had an increase of at least eight rate classes from the previous tax rate year.

[ 2024 c 52 s 1 ; 2021 c 2 s 18 ; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 17 ; 2000 c 2 s 5 ; 1995 c 322 s 1 .]

Notes:

Intent — Conflict with federal requirements — Effective date — 2021 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.323 .

Conflict with federal requirements — Severability — Effective date — 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 50.01.010 .

Application — 2000 c 2 ss 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 12-15: See note following RCW 50.22.150 .

Conflict with federal requirements — Severability — Effective date — 2000 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.355 .

Conflict with federal requirements — 1995 c 322: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act.

The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 1995 c 322 s 2 .]

RCW 50.29.026

Modification of contribution rate. (Effective January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2035.)

(1)A qualified employer's contribution rate or array calculation factor rate determined under RCW 50.29.025 may be modified as follows:

(a)Subject to the limitations of this subsection, an employer may make a voluntary contribution of an amount equal to part or all of the benefits charged to the employer's account during the two years most recently ended on June 30th that were used for the purpose of computing the employer's contribution rate or array calculation factor rate. On receiving timely payment of a voluntary contribution, the commissioner shall cancel the benefits equal to the amount of the voluntary contribution and compute a new benefit ratio for the employer. The employer shall then be assigned the contribution rate or array calculation factor rate applicable for rate years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, applicable to the rate class within which the recomputed benefit ratio is included. The minimum amount of a voluntary contribution must be an amount that will result in a recomputed benefit ratio that is in a rate class at least two rate classes lower than the rate class that included the employer's original benefit ratio.

(b)Payment of a voluntary contribution is considered timely if received by the department during the period beginning on the date of mailing to the employer the notice of contribution rate required under this title for the rate year for which the employer is seeking a modification of the employer's rate and ending on March 1st of that rate year.

(c)A benefit ratio may not be recomputed nor a rate be reduced under this section as a result of a voluntary contribution received after the payment period prescribed in

(b)of this subsection.

(2)This section does not apply to any employer who has not had an increase of at least eight rate classes from the previous tax rate year.

(3)If a contribution paying employer is charged benefits due to a strike under RCW 50.29.021 , the department may:

(a)Evaluate whether the employer is eligible to make a voluntary contribution under this section; and

(b)Provide notice to eligible employers of the department's determination of the employer's eligibility to make a voluntary contribution.

[ 2025 c 352 s 4 ; 2024 c 52 s 1 ; 2021 c 2 s 18 ; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 17 ; 2000 c 2 s 5 ; 1995 c 322 s 1 .]

Notes:

Effective date — 2025 c 352 ss 1-7: See note following RCW 50.20.090 .

Expiration date — 2025 c 352 ss 1-4: See note following RCW 50.20.090 .

Conflict with federal requirements — 2025 c 352: See note following RCW 50.20.090 .

Intent — Conflict with federal requirements — Effective date — 2021 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.323 .

Conflict with federal requirements — Severability — Effective date — 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 50.01.010 .

Application — 2000 c 2 ss 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 12-15: See note following RCW 50.22.150 .

Conflict with federal requirements — Severability — Effective date — 2000 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.355 .

Conflict with federal requirements — 1995 c 322: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act.

The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 1995 c 322 s 2 .]

RCW 50.29.026

Modification of contribution rate. (Effective December 31, 2035.)

(1)A qualified employer's contribution rate or array calculation factor rate determined under RCW 50.29.025 may be modified as follows:

(a)Subject to the limitations of this subsection, an employer may make a voluntary contribution of an amount equal to part or all of the benefits charged to the employer's account during the two years most recently ended on June 30th that were used for the purpose of computing the employer's contribution rate or array calculation factor rate. On receiving timely payment of a voluntary contribution, the commissioner shall cancel the benefits equal to the amount of the voluntary contribution and compute a new benefit ratio for the employer. The employer shall then be assigned the contribution rate or array calculation factor rate applicable for rate years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, applicable to the rate class within which the recomputed benefit ratio is included. The minimum amount of a voluntary contribution must be an amount that will result in a recomputed benefit ratio that is in a rate class at least two rate classes lower than the rate class that included the employer's original benefit ratio.

(b)Payment of a voluntary contribution is considered timely if received by the department during the period beginning on the date of mailing to the employer the notice of contribution rate required under this title for the rate year for which the employer is seeking a modification of the employer's rate and ending on March 31st of that rate year.

(c)A benefit ratio may not be recomputed nor a rate be reduced under this section as a result of a voluntary contribution received after the payment period prescribed in

(b)of this subsection.

(2)This section does not apply to any employer who has not had an increase of at least eight rate classes from the previous tax rate year.

[ 2024 c 52 s 1 ; 2021 c 2 s 18 ; 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 17 ; 2000 c 2 s 5 ; 1995 c 322 s 1 .]

Notes:

Intent — Conflict with federal requirements — Effective date — 2021 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.323 .

Conflict with federal requirements — Severability — Effective date — 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 50.01.010 .

Application — 2000 c 2 ss 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 12-15: See note following RCW 50.22.150 .

Conflict with federal requirements — Severability — Effective date — 2000 c 2: See notes following RCW 50.04.355 .

Conflict with federal requirements — 1995 c 322: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act.

The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 1995 c 322 s 2 .]