Alaska workers may be eligible to receive 2004 tax refunds

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

JUNEAU - Alaska's labor commissioner announced Friday that some workers in the state may be eligible for unemployment tax refunds if they worked for more than one employer last year.

"An employee who worked for more than one employer in 2004 may be eligible for a refund," Greg O'Claray stated through a press release.

Workers who had more than $135.50 in unemployment taxes deducted for the year can apply to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development for a refund of any overcharge.

The commissioner said these taxes are usually designated as ESC, ESD, UI or SI on an employee's W-2 form. The labor department's Employment Security Division collects taxes for the unemployment insurance program.

Alaska is one of only three states in which both the employer and the worker contribute to the fund from which unemployment benefits are paid. State statutes provide for a refund to any worker who contributes in excess of $135.50, the per-employee annual contribution maximum.

Forms to apply for a refund are available from the Employment Security Tax Office in Juneau at (907) 465-2757 or toll free at (888) 448-3527. Requests may also be sent via mail to: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Employment Security Tax Office, P.O. Box 25509, Juneau, AK 99802-5509.

Refund form requests may also be e-mailed to esd_tax@labor.state.ak.us or downloaded from the department's Web site at http://www.labor.state.ak.us/estax/forms/toc_forms.htm.

Requests for refunds must be made by Dec. 31, 2005.