PENALTIES

RCW 50.36
in effect

RCW 50.36.010 Violations generally.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly give any false information or withhold any material information required under the provisions of this title. (2) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this title which violation is declared to be unlawful, and for which no contrary provision is made, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety days. (3) Any person who in connection with any compromise or offer of compromise willfully conceals from any officer or employee of the state any property belonging to an employing unit which is liable for contributions, interest, or penalties, or receives, destroys, mutilates, or falsifies any book, document, or record, or makes under oath any false statement relating to the financial condition of the employing unit which is liable for contributions, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall upon conviction thereof be fined not more than five thousand dollars or be imprisoned for up to three hundred sixty-four days, or both. (4) The penalty prescribed in this section shall not be deemed exclusive, but any act which shall constitute a crime under any law of this state may be the basis of prosecution under such law notwithstanding that it may also be the basis for prosecution under this section. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly give any false information or withhold any material information required under the provisions of this title. (2) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this title which violation is declared to be unlawful, and for which no contrary provision is made, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety days. (3) Any person who in connection with any compromise or offer of compromise willfully conceals from any officer or employee of the state any property belonging to an employing unit which is liable for contributions, interest, or penalties, or receives, destroys, mutilates, or falsifies any book, document, or record, or makes under oath any false statement relating to the financial condition of the employing unit which is liable for contributions, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall upon conviction thereof be fined not more than five thousand dollars or be imprisoned for up to three hundred sixty-four days, or both. (4) The penalty prescribed in this section shall not be deemed exclusive, but any act which shall constitute a crime under any law of this state may be the basis of prosecution under such law notwithstanding that it may also be the basis for prosecution under this section.

RCW 50.36.020 Violations by employers.

(1) Any person required under this title to collect, account for and pay over any contributions imposed by this title, who willfully fails to collect or truthfully account for and pay over such contributions, and any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any contributions imposed by this title or the payment thereof, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned for up to three hundred sixty-four days, or both, together with the costs of prosecution. (2) The term "person" as used in this section includes an officer or individual in the employment of a corporation, or a member or individual in the employment of a partnership, who as such officer, individual or member is under a duty to perform the act in respect of which the violation occurs. A corporation may likewise be prosecuted under this section and may be subjected to fine and payment of costs of prosecution as prescribed herein for a person. (1) Any person required under this title to collect, account for and pay over any contributions imposed by this title, who willfully fails to collect or truthfully account for and pay over such contributions, and any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any contributions imposed by this title or the payment thereof, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned for up to three hundred sixty-four days, or both, together with the costs of prosecution. (2) The term "person" as used in this section includes an officer or individual in the employment of a corporation, or a member or individual in the employment of a partnership, who as such officer, individual or member is under a duty to perform the act in respect of which the violation occurs. A corporation may likewise be prosecuted under this section and may be subjected to fine and payment of costs of prosecution as prescribed herein for a person.

RCW 50.36.030 Concealing cause of discharge.

Employing units or agents thereof supplying information to the employment security department pertaining to the cause of a benefit claimant's separation from work, which cause stated to the department is contrary to that given the benefit claimant by such employing unit or agent thereof at the time of his or her separation from the employing unit's employ, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety days. Employing units or agents thereof supplying information to the employment security department pertaining to the cause of a benefit claimant's separation from work, which cause stated to the department is contrary to that given the benefit claimant by such employing unit or agent thereof at the time of his or her separation from the employing unit's employ, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety days.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=50.36&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026