State guide
How to Register for Alaska Payroll Taxes
Let a dedicated tax manager file your Alaska registrations with you, or use the step-by-step guide below.
Last updated:
At a glance
No state income tax withholding
$54,200 UI wage base in 2026
1.50% new employer total rate in 2026
New hires due within 20 days
Done for you
Alaska accounts, filed right
Skip the paperwork. Your dedicated PayAdvisors tax manager registers you with the state and gets your tax IDs for you. In Alaska that means an Employment Security Tax account with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. There's no state income tax withholding account.
- One tax manager who owns your file
- Employment Security Tax registration filed with you
- Employee UI deductions set up from day one
- New hire reporting set up for the 20-day rule
Hands-on help from a real person who knows Alaska employer accounts. Use it alone or with managed payroll.
Quick answer
Alaska payroll tax registration at a glance
Alaska employers register for one payroll tax account: an Employment Security Tax account with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), filed online through myAlaska. Alaska repealed its individual income tax in 1980, so there's no state income tax withholding account.
In 2026, unemployment tax applies to the first $54,200 of each employee's wages. New employers use a total rate of 1.50%, made up of a 0.50% employee share deducted from wages and an employer share of up to 1%. New hires go to the Child Support Enforcement Division within 20 days.
Who must register
Who registers in Alaska
Most employers need just the one account.
| Situation | Alaska requirement |
|---|---|
| You start paying wages to employees in Alaska | Register the new business for an Employment Security Tax account online |
| You pay Alaska wages | No state income tax withholding account; Alaska repealed its individual income tax |
| You complete a W-2 for an employee | Report each new hire or rehire to CSED within 20 days |
| You have one or more employees in Alaska | Carry Alaska workers' compensation insurance or be an approved self-insurer |
Registration steps
How to register in Alaska
One registration, then payroll setup.
- Create a myAlaska account and choose Employment Security Tax, then New Registration under Employer Maintenance.
- Have your FEIN and business details ready. If you have employees, DOLWD requires an FEIN, not a Social Security number. The registration also asks for your legal business name, first Alaska payroll date, worksite and what you do in Alaska.
- Set up the employee UI deduction. Alaska employees pay a share of unemployment insurance, deducted from wages.
- Report each new hire and rehire to CSED through its Business Portal within 20 days.
- File your first quarterly contribution report online, even before your account number arrives (use "Applied For").
More than withholding
UI with an employee share
Alaska has no withholding account, but its unemployment tax is split between you and your employees.
On your own
- A myAlaska registration and quarterly reports
- An employee UI deduction on every paycheck
- A 20-day new hire deadline
With your PayAdvisors tax manager
- Your tax manager files them with you
- You get one calendar for every filing
- We set up reporting from day one
Handled by your tax manager.
Prepare
What to collect first
Have these ready before you register.
- Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- A contact person's name, address, email and phone
- Your myAlaska enrollment
- Bank routing and account numbers for electronic payments
Accounts
What you end up with
One account, one portal.
- An Employment Security Tax account with DOLWD for quarterly contribution reports and payments, filed through Online Employer Services.
- No Alaska withholding account, because Alaska has no individual income tax.
Rates
Alaska 2026 payroll tax numbers
Figures published for 2026.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| UI taxable wage base | First $54,200 per employee (2026) |
| New employer total UI rate | 1.50% (2026) |
| Employee share (deducted from wages) | 0.50% (2026) |
| Employer share, new employers | Up to 1% (2026) |
Pitfalls
Alaska mistakes to avoid
Most problems come from Alaska's employee share and its quarterly reports.
- Forgetting the employee deduction. Alaska employees pay part of unemployment insurance; deduct it from wages.
- Skipping zero-wage quarters. File a "no wage" report even when no payroll was issued, if you expect future employees.
- Waiting for an account number. You can file with "Applied For" and pay at the standard rate.
- Buying out-of-state workers' comp. Coverage must come from an insurer authorized in Alaska; there's no state fund.
Related duties
Other Alaska employer obligations
These run alongside the tax account.
- New hire reporting. Report new hires and rehires to the Alaska Child Support Enforcement Division within 20 days, online through its Business Portal.
- Workers' compensation. Employers with one or more employees in Alaska must carry coverage or be approved to self-insure.
- Required notices. DOLWD's Employer Packet includes a mandatory poster and a notice for separated employees.
Filing calendar
Alaska deadlines after registration
Quarterly contribution reports, due the month after each quarter.
- Q1 report and payment: April 30.
- Q2: July 31.
- Q3: October 31.
- Q4: January 31.
- New hire reports: within 20 days of hire or rehire.
Official links
Alaska agency links
Official forms, rates and guidance.
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Employer Registration (AER)
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Rate and Taxable Wage Base
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: First Time Filers (2026)
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Employment Security Tax FAQs
- Alaska Child Support Enforcement Division: Employer's Guide to New Hire Reporting
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Workers' Compensation Requirements for Employers
Alaska registration questions
How do I register for Alaska payroll taxes?
Register for an Employment Security Tax account with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development through myAlaska.
Does Alaska have state income tax withholding?
No. Alaska repealed its individual income tax in 1980, so there's no state withholding account.
What is the Alaska new employer unemployment rate?
For 2026 the total is 1.50% on the first $54,200 of each employee's wages: a 0.50% employee share and an employer share of up to 1%.
Do Alaska employees pay unemployment tax?
Yes. The employee share is 0.50% in 2026, deducted from wages.
When are Alaska quarterly reports due?
By the last day of the month after each quarter: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31.
How fast must I report new hires in Alaska?
Within 20 days of the date of hire or rehire, to the Child Support Enforcement Division.
I am the only employee of my S corporation. What do I need in Alaska?
It depends on how your business is organized. DOLWD says officer wages of corporations formed under Alaska Statute 10.06 aren't covered for unemployment unless you elect coverage, and LLC member wages aren't covered even if the LLC files as an S corporation. A dedicated tax manager can complete the registration with you as part of our S corp payroll package.
How is registration priced?
Alaska needs one ID, an Employment Security Tax account, because there's no state withholding. Pricing depends on the states and accounts involved. We'll quote it on a quick consultation.
Is this tax advice?
No. It summarizes official guidance from Alaska state agencies. Ask your CPA or tax advisor about your own facts.
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Next step
Let us set up Alaska with you
A dedicated tax manager files your Alaska Employment Security Tax registration with you, sets up the employee UI deduction and new hire reporting, and confirms your account before your first payroll. Pricing depends on the states and accounts involved. We'll quote it on a quick consultation.
About this guide
Last verified and sources
Last verified October 30, 2026 against Alaska state agency pages. This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice.
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- Payroll setup for new businesses
- Payroll tax filing and compliance
- S corp payroll
- S corp payroll setup checklist
- Payroll processing
- Our services
Sources
- DOLWD Employment Security Tax, Alaska Employer Registration (AER, PDF)
- DOLWD, Employment Security Tax FAQ: Rate/Taxable Wage Base
- DOLWD, First Time Filers (2026, TQ01 Rev. 1/26, PDF)
- DOLWD, Employment Security Tax FAQ: Account Status
- DOLWD, Alaska Employer newsletter (January 2026, PDF)
- Alaska Child Support Enforcement Division, Employer's Guide to New Hire Reporting (09-2025, PDF)
- DOLWD Workers' Compensation, Requirements for Employers
- Alaska Department of Revenue, Tax Division Annual Report 2025 (history)
- DOLWD, Alaska Employer Packet
- DOLWD, Employment Security Tax FAQ: Wages and Deductions