Service
State Payroll Tax Registration: Withholding and Unemployment Accounts
A team of payroll professionals registers your state withholding and unemployment accounts, and closes the ones you no longer need. Use it on its own or with managed payroll.
Or send us your details
At a glance
A full payroll team behind you
Withholding and unemployment accounts in every state
Closures when you leave a state
Every account number tracked until issued
State registration
What is state payroll tax registration?
State payroll tax registration means getting tax account numbers from each state where you employ people: a withholding account and an unemployment insurance account. States require them before you withhold payroll taxes, file returns or make payments.
Requirements differ from state to state, and a missed registration can mean penalties. We handle the applications and the follow-up for you.
What we register and close:
State income tax withholding accounts
State unemployment insurance accounts
Local and city payroll taxes where required
Paid family and medical leave programs where required
New accounts when you hire in a new state
Account updates when your business changes
Closures when you no longer have employees in a state
Accounts for a company leaving a PEO
Already ran payroll without an account?
See payroll tax filing and complianceHow it works
How does state payroll tax registration work?
We handle the applications and the follow-up, so your account numbers are ready before your first payroll in the state.
Tell us the states where your employees work and your first payroll date in each.
Step by step
1.
We identify every state and local account you need, based on where your employees work.
2.
We gather your business details and complete each application for you.
3.
We follow up with each agency until your account numbers are issued.
4.
We send you every account number for your records and your payroll system.
5.
When you leave a state, we close the accounts you no longer need.
States
Which states do you register employers in?
We handle payroll tax registration for employers, including these high-volume and high-complexity states.
State
Agencies and accounts
California
Employment Development Department (EDD) registration for state income tax withholding and State Disability Insurance (SDI), which includes California Paid Family Leave
Texas
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) registration for state unemployment insurance. Texas has no state income tax withholding.
New York
Department of Taxation and Finance registration for withholding, plus the Department of Labor for unemployment insurance; New York City local tax if applicable
Florida
Reemployment Tax (state unemployment) registration with the Florida Department of Revenue. Florida has no state income tax withholding.
Illinois
Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) for unemployment and Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) for withholding
Washington
Department of Labor & Industries for workers’ comp and Employment Security Department for unemployment; Washington paid family and medical leave registration also required
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania withholding plus local earned income tax (EIT)
Colorado
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment registration for paid family and medical leave, in addition to unemployment and withholding
Expanding to a state not listed above? We register employers in all 50 states.
Get startedWhat we need from you
The details each application asks for
Your business details
Your federal employer identification number (EIN), legal name, address and entity type.
Your owners and officers
Owner and officer information for each application.
Your first payroll date
The date you first pay employees in each state, so the accounts are ready in time.
More from your payroll team
After your accounts are open
Registration can be the start of more help:
Ongoing managed payroll
Every pay run, tax filing and paycheck question handled by your payroll team.
Payroll tax filing
Federal, state and local payroll tax filings on time, and help with agency notices.
A check on your setup
A thorough audit catches missed accounts and settings, with a clear remediation roadmap.
Our team
Why PayAdvisors
PayAdvisors is a team of 25+ payroll and HR professionals. Businesses bring us in when payroll has outgrown one person, and we become their payroll department.
Decades of combined payroll experience
Three support levels: about 5, 10 or 20 hours a week
A dedicated Client Success Manager
What our clients say
“It’s been great to see how PayAdvisors was able to quickly adapt to meet our needs. They have been super responsive.”
Rachel M.
Vice President, Human Resources
State registration questions
What is state payroll tax registration?
It is how you get a state withholding account and a state unemployment insurance account in each state where you employ people. You need them before you run payroll there. States with no income tax do not issue a withholding account.
Can you register us without running our payroll?
Yes. Registration is available on its own. We send you the account numbers to set up in your payroll system.
Do you close state payroll tax accounts?
Yes. When you no longer have employees in a state, we close the withholding and unemployment accounts you no longer need.
How long does registration take?
It depends on the state. Some issue account numbers right after online registration; others take several weeks. We track each one until it is issued.
Do we need to register where we have remote employees?
Generally, yes. Registration follows where your employees work, so a remote employee in a new state usually means new accounts there.
What information do you need from us?
Your federal employer identification number (EIN), legal business name and address, entity type, first payroll date in the state, and owner and officer information.
What if we already ran payroll before registering?
Running payroll without the accounts can bring penalties and interest. We can register you and help clean up what was missed.
Are withholding and unemployment registered separately?
In most states, yes: different agencies handle each one, with separate applications. We handle both.
Keep reading
Related payroll services
PEO exit payroll help
Leaving a PEO that managed your payroll? We register your accounts and run your payroll after the PEO.
Payroll startup package
A new business? We register your accounts, set up payroll and run it for you.
Emergency payroll support
For an unplanned problem that puts your next payday at risk: a system failure, a resignation or a missed deadline.
Have our team contact you
Tell us your states and first payroll dates.
What happens next
1.
Send the form with your name, email, phone, company and company website.
2.
We will contact you soon.
3.
If payroll cannot wait, call 866-839-3322, Monday through Friday.
Other ways to reach us
Monday through Friday
Send your details
Next step
Get your state accounts registered
Tell us your states and first payroll dates. There is no obligation.