Before you can pay employees, make sure you've registered for payroll in their applicable work state. This can sometimes take several weeks—the sooner you start the process, the sooner you'll have the tax account info required to pay them. Learn more about paying your first employee in a new state by watching this quick tutorial.
Gusto partners with CorpNet to help you register in the state—learn more below.
Click Register for IA income and unemployment tax on your own or Find account numbers and rate info (if you're already registered) to learn more about:
Once a work address has been added in a new state and a new employee has been hired and assigned a work address in that state, you can get registration assistance in Gusto.
Pricing varies by state—get started below and during step 4, you'll review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.
Here’s a snapshot of the process:
CorpNet can walk you through entering any info that they themselves do not enter in Gusto on your behalf.
After you send your order, we’ll email you with status updates and add your order total to your next monthly invoice.
When your order is complete, you’ll receive emails from both Gusto and CorpNet. They’ll detail the next steps which include:
Before your order is completed, you can use the link in the state registration confirmation email from Gusto to check the status of your order.
You can also check the status in your Gusto account:
If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:
Q: Can I run payroll for my employees before my registration is complete?
A: Not in most cases—you typically need to have a withholding account number and required tax rate(s) in Gusto before you can run payroll.
If you’re registering in a state where there is no income tax withheld, you can use the state-specific “new employer rate” in this article until you receive your company-assigned rate from the agency.
Q: Can I use Gusto to register in a new state if I don't have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) yet, or if the business is undergoing a merger or acquisition?
A: No–you must have a FEIN entered in Gusto to order a state tax registration.
If your company is going through a merger or being acquired, CorpNet cannot assist with registration. Work with your tax advisor and state agencies directly to navigate this change and register your business.
Q: Where can I see all my tax information?
A: You can see all tax details in the following locations:
Gusto’s state tax registration service does not contain tax, legal, financial, or HR advice. Since rules and regulations change over time and can vary by location, consult a lawyer, HR expert, or accountant for specific guidance.
Q: What if I'm not liable for unemployment yet (referring to the minimum wage threshold in some states)?
A: In order for CorpNet to start the registration process for an unemployment account number before you're liable, you can:
Q: Can I register with CorpNet if the responsible party is based internationally and does not have an ITIN/SSN?
A: CorpNet may be able to assist directly—reach out to [email protected] or call 1(888) 449-2638.
Q: My company is a nonprofit—why can't I enter 0% in the responsible party section, or add a commercial owner?
A: Some states have a 1% minimum for the responsible party ownership percentage. Those states are: ID, KS, MN, OH, SC, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, and RI. Registration orders will need to be placed directly through CorpNet, outside of Gusto, or you'll need to register directly with the agency yourself.
Some states require that an individual owner be listed on the account. If you're a non-profit and not sure how to proceed, contact CorpNet directly at [email protected] or call 1(888) 449-2638.
Q: Does CorpNet help with state tax account closures?
A: No—you'll need to close the tax account on your own.
Click the dropdowns below to learn how to register with state agencies and how to give Gusto the Power of Attorney (POA) we'll need to file and pay certain taxes on your behalf.
Before you begin the online registration process, make sure you have your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) available—the FEIN is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Corporations, Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, and Associations must also have each business owner’s full name and Social Security Number (SSN) available.
You'll receive your tax account information in about 4-6 weeks—keep this time frame in mind when planning your first Iowa payroll.
Once registered, you'll receive the below within 4-6 weeks:
Contact the Iowa Department of Revenue at (515) 281-3114 if you have additional questions about registration or want to verify your company-specific information.
Once a valid Iowa work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
Reminder: The Iowa Business eFile Number (BEN) is no longer required to file—if you're prompted to enter this number in Gusto still, enter 11111111.
After registering online, you should receive the below instantly:
If you're unsure of your account number or rate, you can call the agency at (866) 239-0843.
If you need to run payroll and do not yet meet the UI requirements outlined by the agency in the New Business Fact Sheet, Gusto allows it.
We suggest you add the “New employer SUI tax rate” specific to Iowa in the meantime—you can find the new employer rates for each state in the linked article, along with instructions on how to update the rate once you become liable and receive your company-specific agency assigned rate.
Once a valid Iowa work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
Power of Attorney, similar to third party authorization (TPA), is required for the below agency so we can make electronic payments on your behalf:
Some agencies require special authorization for Gusto to pay or file your taxes—for the Iowa WD agency, Gusto will request a 17-digit ACH credit number from the agency on your behalf.
For our request to be successful, you'll want to verify that the following information you have entered in Gusto matches exactly what the agency has on file:
If your state employer registration is incomplete, we may also have trouble getting the ACH Credit code needed to make your payments.
Gusto will then complete your ACH Credit enrollment process. There is no need for you to complete Form 53-0110 (Application for ACH Credit Transfer) if provided by the agency, we complete this process for you.
If Gusto does not have a signed POA on file, or our previous attempts to gain access to your online account were unsuccessful, you may need to grant us access directly in your MyIowaUI account.
Authorize Gusto to view your Iowa Workforce Department account
Troubleshoot POA/TPA issues related to accountants/partners
If both Gusto and your accountant (or partner) are completing the same third party authorization form, we may inadvertently override each other's access.
If your accountant or partner selected "All Roles" on their authorization form (Power of Attorney form), this will remove Gusto's access.
Accountants should only select:
These two roles should give them the access they need to support your company without impacting Gusto's access. If you're not sure the type of access you want your accountant or partner to have, you can find a list of what each role means in this Agent FAQ, or you can call the agency at (888) 848-7442 for more information.
If you've already registered in the state, you'll need to enter your tax account details in Gusto in order to pay employees.
You'll need to be registered with one or more of the below agencies in order for Gusto to file and pay taxes on your behalf:
If you still need to register, click the applicable dropdown above in this article.
If you've run payroll in Iowa previously, you can find your Withholding Permit Number, tax deposit schedule, and Business eFile Number (BEN) by following the steps below.
As a current Iowa tax permit holder, your tax accounts have been migrated to the agency's new system, GovConnectIowa, but you'll be required to set up new logon credentials and enter an access code to access your existing accounts. Note: Your prior eFile & Pay login cannot be used in the new GovConnectIowa system.
You can request access to your accounts by following these steps:
After completing the steps to create your logon and request access to your accounts, an access code and instructions will be mailed to the primary address on file. Letters are typically mailed the following business day. After receiving the code, log back into your GovConnectIowa account and enter the access code. If you have trouble, you can call the agency at (515) 281-3114 or (800) 367-3388.
You'll be given a nine-digit withholding account number that starts with a 3. This number must be entered in Gusto. Learn where to enter the information in Gusto in the Enter the tax account information in Gusto dropdown below.
UI Account Number
You can find your UI Account Number by:
Unemployment tax rate (contribution rate)
Your Iowa Contribution Rate appears on the Notice of UI Contribution Rate Form 65-5306 that you receive from Iowa Workforce Development. Rates are updated annually and new rates are sent out the November before a new rate goes into effect, typically effective January 1.
If you're unsure of your rate, call the agency at (888) 848-7442.
Learn where to enter the information in Gusto in the Enter the tax account information in Gusto dropdown below.
Don't have an agency-assigned UI rate yet?
You can add the "New employer SUI tax rate" specific to Iowa in Gusto for the meantime—find the new employer rates for each state in the linked article, along with instructions on how to update the rate once you've received your company-specific rate.
Power of Attorney, similar to third party authorization (TPA), is required for the below agency so we can make electronic payments on your behalf:
Some agencies require special authorization for Gusto to pay or file your taxes—for the Iowa WD agency, Gusto will request a 17-digit ACH credit number from the agency on your behalf.
For our request to be successful, you'll want to verify that the following information you have entered in Gusto matches exactly what the agency has on file:
If your state employer registration is incomplete, we may also have trouble getting the ACH Credit code needed to make your payments.
Gusto will then complete your ACH Credit enrollment process. There is no need for you to complete Form 53-0110 (Application for ACH Credit Transfer) if provided by the agency, we complete this process for you.
If Gusto does not have a signed POA on file, or our previous attempts to gain access to your online account were unsuccessful, you may need to grant us access directly in your MyIowaUI account.
Authorize Gusto to view your Iowa Workforce Department account
Troubleshoot POA/TPA issues related to accountants/partners
If both Gusto and your accountant (or partner) are completing the same third party authorization form, we may inadvertently override each other's access.
If your accountant or partner selected "All Roles" on their authorization form (Power of Attorney form), this will remove Gusto's access.
Accountants should only select:
These two roles should give them the access they need to support your company without impacting Gusto's access. If you're not sure the type of access you want your accountant or partner to have, you can find a list of what each role means in this Agent FAQ, or you can call the agency at (888) 848-7442 for more information.
Once a valid Iowa address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
Where to find the forms available in your account
Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax documents.
Use the tabs on the page to toggle between federal, state, W-2, and 1099 forms.
Asterisk info—only if applicable
Filings marked with an asterisk (*) will not appear in your Tax documents tab—these are coupons, payment vouchers, or other forms that are filed electronically.
You can confirm tax payments were made by running an agency payments report.