California Employment Development Department (EDD) Payroll Taxes Phone Number

When calling California’s Employment Development Department’s customer service line, you’re directed to the Taxpayer Assistance Center, which addresses issues related to tax services, paid family leave, disability/unemployment insurance and employer account details. However, expect to experience a long wait and receive a lot of information all at once. An automated system directs you to press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish and follows with a brief update about a recent Senate Bill 951, which is related to taxable wages and withholdings. There is no way to bypass this message.

The automated system continues with a notice stating that tax representatives cannot assist customers with unemployment or disability claim questions and instead directs callers to visit the website for guidance. I thought this was a helpful piece of information so callers know right away whether they need to stay on the phone for other services or go online. In addition, the automated system reminds callers that they can file for disability benefits online or by calling another number. However, for some callers wishing to speak with a representative, this might be frustrating.

I remained on the phone call and was offered a menu of options ranging from help accessing employer tax statements to gathering information about unemployment/disability insurance. You can also find details about which tax documents you may need to file and/or request from your employer. If you miss the choice, the menu automatically repeats until you choose a number. There appears to be no selection for direct access to a customer service representative.

After 15 minutes on the phone, I listened to a recording about unemployment/disability insurance and how to access the necessary documents on the website. I was told that the fastest way to file a claim and set up an account is on the website, as I was not given an option over the phone to do either of these. The department has been working toward making the website more user-friendly and secure to ensure customers can benefit from all the services the state department provides.

While the website contains everything needed for these services with clear instructions on how to proceed with your specific request, those customers attempting a phone call will need to exercise some patience. Recorded messages are wordy, and it’s easy to miss something vital. It’s also ideal to know exactly what you need when calling; otherwise, expect to spend a lot of time on the phone hopping from recorded message to recorded message. I found this ineffective use of my time and am grateful for the repeated reminders to go to their website. I did not see an option to contact anyone via email. However, you can follow the Employment Development Department on social media platforms and perhaps even interact with a representative there.