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Before you can pay employees in a new state, you must register with the state’s tax agencies. This lets you file and pay the right taxes.
🎥 Watch a quick video to learn how registering in a new state works
📖 See our blog for full state business guides
Expand the sections below to learn more. Use CMD + F (or CTRL + F) to search for words in the article.
Gusto works with Middesk to register your business for state tax accounts when you hire employees or start working in a new state. We set up state income tax withholding and state unemployment insurance so we can run payroll and file taxes on your behalf.
We can start your registration after all of these are true:
You added a company work address in the new state.
You assigned that address to a new or existing employee.
You checked your Gusto Home page for a registration to-do.
If required, you registered with preliminary state agencies (like the Secretary of State or Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) first and confirmed it's done.
States that require SOS registration before tax setup: Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Vermont.
Middesk cannot help with registration if your business is:
A non-profit that is not a 501(c)(3)
A business that left a PEO
A business that bought another business that was already registered
A business that changed its legal entity type (for example, LLC to Corp)
A Limited Partnership (LP) or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
You must also:
Have a FEIN in Gusto
Not already have a tax account in that state
If you already registered with the state, Middesk will cancel the order and you will not be charged.
Included
Middesk registers your business for:
State income tax withholding
State unemployment insurance (SUI)
Not included
Middesk does not register your business for:
Local tax agency registration
Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) registration
Third-Party Agent (TPA) access
Power of Attorney (POA) authorization
Some states require TPA or POA for Gusto to file and pay taxes. In most cases, you must set this up yourself after registration. If you need to register for local taxes or PFML, or set up TPA or POA, use the state-specific article for step-by-step instructions.
The cost, steps, and timeline depend on the state. Before you submit anything in Gusto, we show you:
The price
What is included
How long registration usually takes
You are not charged until the order is marked as completed. The charge appears on your next Gusto monthly invoice.
You can also visit the Middesk Help Center to see estimated processing times for each state.
Here is what to expect when Middesk handles your registration:
You answer questions about your business, including:
Basic company info
Contact details
Addresses
Owner or officer info
State-specific details
Middesk reviews your information.
Middesk usually submits your registration within two business days.
A state agency may contact you to verify the request.
⚠️ Important: If you do not respond to a verification call or email within 3–5 business days, the order may be canceled and refunded.
After your order is marked as complete, we add the charge to your next Gusto monthly invoice.
When Middesk receives your tax account numbers, they enter them in Gusto (for most states and agencies). You will get emails from Gusto and Middesk with updates and next steps.
For most states, Middesk receives agency mail during registration and adds your tax info to Gusto. You can view this mail in a digital mailbox. After registration is complete, the agency updates its mailing address to your business address. If you need to take action, we will notify you by email or Home page to-do.
States that mail tax account info directly to your business: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington DC, and West Virginia. When you receive the letter, check your email for instructions on how to send the info to Middesk.
You can run payroll before registration finishes. However:
Gusto cannot file or pay taxes until all tax account numbers are added.
You may receive late notices or penalties. These are your responsibility.
For unemployment tax, use your state’s new employer rate until you receive the correct one.
Note: You can cancel orders before they are sent to Middesk. Once an order is submitted to Middesk, it cannot be canceled or refunded.
If you need help with any of the registration questions, check Middesk’s Help Center.
In your web browser:
Go to Taxes & Compliance → Tax setup.
Find [State name] Tax Setup.
Click Learn more under “Let us help you register.”
Review the price, process, and timeline. We do not charge you until after your order is complete.
Click Get started on Middesk.
Review everything carefully before submitting. Mistakes can delay registration.
In the Gusto mobile app:
Open the Gusto mobile app and sign in.
In the bottom-right corner, tap More.
Select Taxes & compliance.
Scroll down to Quick links and choose Setup tax accounts.
Scroll down to [State name] tax setup. Tap Learn more.
Review the process, timeline, and pricing. We do not charge you until after your order is complete.
Tap Get started on Middesk.
Share your business information and review everything carefully before submitting. Mistakes can delay registration.
To check your Middesk registration status in Gusto:
Go to Taxes & Compliance → Tax setup.
Find the state and view the status.
Possible statuses include:
Tax registration in progress
We need more information
The state is working on your order
Your registration is complete
Your order is on hold (often due to state requirements)
You have existing tax accounts
We could not complete your registration
If you entered the wrong eligibility date, email [email protected].
Some states require Gusto to have TPA or POA on file before we can file and pay taxes. Middesk usually does not set this up.
Check the state-specific registration article to see if TPA or POA is required for your state.
If there is no TPA or POA section in the state article, it is not needed right now.
If TPA or POA requires an agency portal:
If Middesk creates the agency account during registration, you will find the login details in Gusto: go to Taxes & Compliance → Tax setup after registration.
If Middesk does not create the account but the state requires portal access, you must create the account yourself.
You can only cancel an order before it is submitted to Middesk. Once submitted, orders cannot be canceled or refunded.
To cancel your order:
Go to Taxes & Compliance, select Tax Setup, and scroll to the applicable state.
In the Finish your [state] registration order banner, select Cancel order.
Q: Do I need a FEIN to use Gusto’s registration service?
A: Yes. You must have a FEIN to register through Gusto. If your business is merging or being acquired, Middesk cannot help with registration.
Q: Why can’t I enter 0% ownership or add a commercial owner?
A: Some states require a minimum ownership percentage or an individual owner. If your situation does not meet state rules, you will need to register outside of Gusto.
Q: What if the responsible party is international without an SSN or ITIN?
A: Middesk cannot help in this case. You will need to register directly with the state.
Q: What if I’m not liable for unemployment tax yet?
A: Use today’s date or the expected liability date. Use the new employer rate until you get your company-specific rate.
Q: I need to change information I already submitted. What do I do?
A: Email [email protected].
Q: What if the tax agency contacts me?
A: Respond right away, within 3–5 business days. Missing a verification call or email can cancel your registration order.
Q: When will my tax account numbers be available?
A: Timelines vary by state. Check Middesk’s guidance for estimates.
Q: Can Middesk close my state tax accounts?
A: No. You must close accounts directly with the state.
Visit the Middesk Help Center for help with registration-specific questions.
Contact Gusto from the ( ? ) in your account for all other payroll or tax setup help.
Expand the sections below to learn how to register with D.C. agencies.
You'll work with the following Washington D.C. agencies when registering for payroll taxes:
Washington D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR): Handles income tax withholding.
Washington D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES): Handles unemployment tax and paid family leave.
Registering online with the WA DC Office of Tax Revenue takes up to 10 business days to receive your account number and tax deposit schedule. Keep this time frame in mind when planning your first Washington D.C. payroll.
Go to the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue website.
Find the Businesses tile and click Register a New Business - Form FR-500.
Before completing the FR-500, visit the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection to complete any licensing requirements.
Make sure you have all the information needed to complete the registration. The agency lists requirements on this page.
When you're ready to begin, scroll to the bottom of the page and click Next.
Complete all remaining prompts.
If you cannot find your account number or tax deposit schedule after registering, contact the agency at (202) 759-1946 or email the Office of Tax and Revenue e-Services Unit at [email protected].
Your company usually becomes liable for unemployment insurance tax once the company has:
Paid any wages to employees working in Washington D.C., or
Had at least one employee working in Washington D.C. for any part of a day
If you need to run payroll but do not yet meet the above requirements, you can still do so. Enter the new employer rate for Washington D.C. in Gusto for now, and update the rate once you receive it.
Once you register online, you should receive your unemployment account number and tax rate instantly.
Go to the D.C. DOES employer registration portal.
Important: Make sure your screen resolution is between 70–85% or you will not see the full screen and will not be able to proceed.
Review the What is needed to register information.
Scroll down and click Next.
Complete all remaining prompts.
If you cannot find your unemployment account number or rate after registering, call the agency at (202) 724-7000.
Note: Gusto also uses your D.C. DOES account number when paying and reporting your Paid Family Leave tax. Learn more in the Paid Family Leave section below.
Once you complete registration, take these steps:
Give Gusto third-party access (TPA) so we can help manage your taxes with the agency.
Enter your tax account information in Gusto once you add a valid Washington D.C. work address for one or more employees.
Washington, D.C.'s Paid Family Leave benefits and related taxes apply to all private-sector employers in D.C., with few exceptions.
Employers fund the tax through a quarterly employer-only tax that is based on employees' wages. Benefits are offered to workers who qualify.
Gusto supports Washington D.C.'s paid family leave (PFL) tax in that we'll:
Collect the employer contribution toward this tax
Report and pay PFL taxes for Washington D.C. employers.
There is no separate account number for this program. Use your D.C. DOES account number (also used for unemployment insurance tax).
If you've already registered in Washington D.C., you need to enter your tax account details in Gusto. You need to be registered with one or more of the following agencies for Gusto to file and pay taxes on your behalf:
Washington D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR): Handles income tax withholding.
Washington D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES): Handles unemployment tax and paid family leave.
If you still need to register, see the Register for DC income, unemployment, and paid family leave tax on your own section earlier in this article.
Once you add a valid Washington D.C. work address in Gusto for one or more employees, you can enter your tax account information.
To add your Washington D.C. tax account information:
Go to Taxes & compliance, then select Tax setup.
Find Washington D.C. Tax Setup and select Manage taxes.
Follow the instructions below for each tax type.
Important: If you edit a tax account number after payments or filings have been made, there may be tax implications. Learn how to pull reports in Gusto that can help you correct any historical tax issues related to tax account number updates.
Next to Withholding Account Number, click Edit to enter your withholding account number.
Notices from the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue
Your MyTax.DC.gov account
If you cannot find your account number, contact the agency at (202) 759-1946 or email [email protected].
Next to Filing Frequency, click Edit to enter the tax deposit schedule the agency assigned you.
Your registration confirmation from the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue
Your MyTax.DC.gov account
If you cannot find your filing frequency, contact the agency at (202) 759-1946.
Next to Unemployment Account Number, click Edit to enter your unemployment account number.
Contribution Rate Notice or Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report (Form DOES-UC30) from the D.C. Department of Employment Services
If you cannot find your account number, contact the agency at (202) 724-7000.
Next to Unemployment Tax Rate, click Edit to enter your unemployment rate.
Important: Do not include the Administrative Assessment. This is a fixed rate, and Gusto includes it automatically.
Your annual Rate Notice from the D.C. Department of Employment Services
If you cannot find your rate, contact the agency at (202) 698-7550.
If you do not have your assigned rate yet, enter the new employer rate for Washington D.C. in Gusto in the meantime. Update the rate once you receive it.
Washington D.C.'s Paid Family Leave benefits and related tax apply to all private sector employers in D.C., with few exceptions.
Employers fund the tax through a quarterly, employer-only tax based on employees' wages. Benefits are offered to workers who qualify.
Gusto supports Washington D.C.'s Paid Family Leave (PFL) tax. Gusto will:
Collect the employer contribution toward this tax
Report and pay PFL taxes for Washington D.C. employers
There is no separate account number for this program. Gusto uses your D.C. DOES account number (also used for unemployment insurance tax).
Third-party authorization is needed for the agency below.
Gusto needs Power of Attorney (POA) access to your D.C. Department of Employment Services account to help troubleshoot tax issues.
To become your POA for this agency, a notarized form authorizing Gusto as your payroll provider must be submitted to the agency. To make this easy, Gusto will prepare the necessary document for you to e-sign in Gusto, then submit the form directly to the agency.
This form will only populate once you've assigned a D.C. work address to your first D.C. employee.
Have the company signatory sign in to their profile in Gusto.
Click the applicable D.C. to-do item from your Home page.
Gusto will submit the form directly to the agency on your behalf.
To review the form outside of Gusto, visit the D.C. DOES website.
Verify that the following information entered in Gusto matches what the agency has on file:
Official company name and address
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
Unemployment Account Number
If Gusto is still having trouble gaining access to your account, call the agency at (202) 724-7000.
FR900A* (Employer's Withholding Tax - Annual Return)
FR900M (Employer's Withholding Tax - Monthly Return)
FR900Q (Employer's Withholding Tax - Quarterly Return)
FR-900P* (District of Columbia Payment Voucher for Withholding Tax)
DC UC-30 and DOES PFL-30 (Employer's Quarterly Contribution and Wage Reports)
One form is used to report both unemployment and paid family leave info.
State W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement)
DC New Hire Report
You can view forms in Taxes & Compliance, then Tax documents. Switch between the tabs to find federal, state, W-2s, and 1099s.
Some forms show an asterisk (*). Forms like payment vouchers or coupons that were filed electronically may not show in your Gusto account. Sign in to the agency's portal to view filings and payments.
To see what Gusto has paid for you, run the Agency Payments report.
Revenue Agency: District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (DOTR)
Phone: (202) 727-4829
Workforce or Labor Agency: D.C. Department of Employment Services, Office of Unemployment Compensation (DOES)
Phone: (202) 698-7550
Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts.