State guide
How to Register for Kansas Payroll Taxes
Let a dedicated tax manager file your Kansas registrations with you, or use the step-by-step guide below.
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At a glance
2 accounts: Revenue and Labor
$15,100 UI wage base in 2026
1.75% new employer UI rate in 2026
New hires due within 20 days
Done for you
Kansas accounts, filed right
Skip the paperwork. Your dedicated PayAdvisors tax manager registers you with the state and gets your tax IDs for you. In Kansas that means a withholding account with the Kansas Department of Revenue and an unemployment insurance account with the Kansas Department of Labor.
- One tax manager who owns your file
- Revenue and Labor registrations filed with you
- New hire reporting set up for the 20-day rule
- Account numbers confirmed before payroll
Hands-on help from a real person who knows Kansas employer accounts. Use it alone or with managed payroll.
Quick answer
Kansas payroll tax registration at a glance
Kansas employers usually open two accounts. The Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) handles income tax withholding, and you apply online through the KDOR Customer Service Center at ksrevenue.gov. The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) handles unemployment insurance, and you register in its Employer Self Service Portal. New businesses file a Status Report with KDOL within 15 days of paying their first employee.
In 2026, unemployment tax applies to the first $15,100 of each employee's wages, up from $14,000. KDOL lists a 1.75% new employer rate and 5.55% for new construction employers. New hires and rehires go to the Kansas New Hire Directory within 20 days.
Who must register
Who registers in Kansas
Most employers need both accounts.
| Situation | Kansas requirement |
|---|---|
| You are an employer or payer that withholds Kansas tax | Register with KDOR for withholding |
| Your employees work in Kansas, including remotely | Their wages are subject to Kansas withholding |
| You begin business operations in Kansas | File the K-CNS 010 Status Report with KDOL within 15 days of paying your first employee |
| You paid $1,500 in a quarter or had a worker in 20 different weeks | You are liable for Kansas unemployment tax |
| You hire, rehire or recall employees from an extended layoff | Report them to the Kansas New Hire Directory |
| You have employees | Carry workers' compensation unless an exception applies |
Registration steps
How to register in Kansas
Two online registrations, then new hire reporting.
- Get your federal EIN. Your Kansas withholding account number is built from it.
- Register for withholding with KDOR in the KDOR Customer Service Center at ksrevenue.gov. Paper applications by mail or fax should go in 3 to 4 weeks before your first withholding payment.
- Register with KDOL in the Employer Self Service Portal and file the K-CNS 010 Status Report within 15 days of paying your first employee.
- Collect Form K-4 from each new employee as soon as they're hired. If an employee doesn't complete one, withhold at the single rate with no allowances.
- Report each new hire to the Kansas New Hire Directory within 20 days. Electronic reporting is encouraged.
- Note your filing frequency. KDOR sets it by your annual withholding, from annual to quad-monthly.
More than withholding
Withholding, UI and new hires
Kansas runs withholding and unemployment through two agencies and two portals.
On your own
- Separate KDOR and KDOL sign-ups
- Five possible deposit schedules
- A 15-day Status Report and a 20-day new hire rule
With your PayAdvisors tax manager
- Your tax manager files both with you
- You get one calendar for every filing
- We set up both from day one
Handled by your tax manager.
Prepare
What to collect first
Have these ready before you apply.
- Your federal EIN
- The date you first paid wages in Kansas
- Your expected annual Kansas withholding, which sets your deposit schedule
- Form K-4 from each new employee
- Each new hire's name, address, Social Security number and hire date for the new hire report
Accounts
What you end up with
Two accounts, two numbers.
- A KDOR withholding account. The number has a 036 tax type, your EIN and an account suffix, such as 036 481234578 F01.
- A KDOL unemployment account with a ten-digit employer account number for quarterly K-CNS 100 reports.
Rates
Kansas 2026 payroll tax numbers
Figures published for 2026.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| UI taxable wage base | First $15,100 per employee (2026, up from $14,000) |
| New employer UI rate | 1.75% (2026) as listed by KDOL; check the rate KDOL assigns your account |
| New construction employer UI rate | 5.55% (2026) |
| Experienced UI rate range | 0% to 6.95% (2026, Schedule C) |
| When experience rating starts | After three years, or four if liability starts after June 30 |
| Withholding with no K-4 | Single rate with no allowances |
Pitfalls
Kansas mistakes to avoid
Most problems come from missed reports.
- Missing the 15-day Status Report. KDOL wants the K-CNS 010 within 15 days of your first payroll.
- Skipping zero filings. File a KW-5 for every period even with no Kansas tax withheld, and file the K-CNS 100 even with no wages.
- Using last year's wage base. It rose to $15,100 on January 1, 2026.
- Filing late with KDOL. The penalty is 0.05% of the quarter's wages per month, at least $25 and up to $200 a quarter, plus 1.0% monthly interest.
- Paying on paper. Kansas withholding reports and payments must be made electronically.
Related duties
Other Kansas employer obligations
These run alongside the tax accounts.
- New hire reporting. Report each new hire, rehire or employee returning from an extended layoff to the Kansas New Hire Directory within 20 days, under K.S.A. 75-5743.
- Workers' compensation. Kansas law covers all employers regardless of size, except employers in agricultural pursuits and employers with an estimated annual payroll under $20,000, unless they are a subcontractor.
- Remote and multistate workers. Wages for work performed in Kansas are subject to Kansas withholding, including remote work.
Filing calendar
Kansas deadlines after registration
Electronic filing for everything.
- Annual filers ($200 or less a year): KW-5 by January 25.
- Quarterly filers ($200.01 to $1,200): by April 25, July 25, October 25 and January 25.
- Monthly filers ($1,200.01 to $8,000): by the 15th of the next month.
- Semi-monthly filers ($8,000.01 to $100,000): by the 25th for the 1st through 15th and by the 10th of the next month for the rest.
- Quad-monthly filers (over $100,000): within three banking days of the 7th, 15th, 21st and last day of the month.
- KW-3, W-2s and 1099s: filed electronically by January 31.
- KDOL K-CNS 100: by the last day of the month after each quarter. Employers with 25 or more employees must file and pay online.
Official links
Kansas agency links
Official forms, rates and guidance.
- Kansas Department of Revenue: KW-100 Kansas Withholding Tax Guide
- Kansas Department of Revenue: Withholding Tax FAQs
- Kansas Department of Labor: Employer Services
- Kansas Department of Labor: Unemployment Insurance Employer Handbook
- Kansas Department of Labor: 2026 taxable wage base notice
Kansas registration questions
How do I register for Kansas payroll taxes?
Register for withholding with the Kansas Department of Revenue through the KDOR Customer Service Center, and register with the Kansas Department of Labor in its Employer Self Service Portal, filing the Status Report within 15 days of your first payroll.
What is the Kansas new employer unemployment rate?
For 2026 KDOL lists 1.75% for most new employers and 5.55% for new construction employers, applied to the first $15,100 of each employee's wages. Check the rate KDOL assigns your account.
How fast must I report new hires in Kansas?
Within 20 days of the hire, rehire or return from an extended layoff.
How often do I pay Kansas withholding?
It depends on your annual withholding. Schedules run from annual (up to $200) to quad-monthly (over $100,000). A KW-5 is due every period, even with nothing withheld.
What if an employee doesn't give me a K-4?
Withhold at the single rate with no allowances.
Does every Kansas employer need workers' compensation?
Nearly all do. The exceptions are agricultural employers and employers with an estimated annual payroll under $20,000, unless they are a subcontractor.
I am the only employee of my S corporation. What do I need in Kansas?
If you pay yourself wages, you need the KDOR withholding account. KDOL liability depends on payroll and weeks worked, so check the $1,500 and 20-week tests. A dedicated tax manager can complete the registrations with you as part of our S corp payroll package.
How is registration priced?
Most states issue two IDs, one for withholding and one for unemployment insurance. 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 Kansas state agencies. Ask your CPA or tax advisor about your own facts.
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Next step
Let us set up Kansas with you
A dedicated tax manager files your Kansas Department of Revenue and Kansas Department of Labor registrations with you, sets up new hire reporting and confirms your accounts 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 Kansas 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
- Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR), KW-100 Kansas Withholding Tax Guide (Rev. 10-24, PDF; newest revision found 10/30/2026: PDF Last-Modified 16 Oct 2024, KDOR forms page links no newer version, HTML version at https://www.ksrevenue.gov/kw100.html matches)
- KDOR, Withholding Tax FAQs
- Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL), Employer Services
- KDOL, Unemployment Insurance Employer Handbook, K-CNS 430 (10-26)
- KDOL, employer bulletin on the 2026 taxable wage base (KDOL's official GovDelivery bulletin)