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To pay employees in a new state, where you’ve never operated or paid people, you must register with the state tax agencies there. This lets you pay and file the taxes you and your employees are liable for.
Watch this quick tutorial to learn more.
Registering for taxes may not be the only to-do when starting or running a business in a new state. Go to our blog for complete guides on starting and running a business in each state.
Gusto works with CorpNet to help you register your business in new states.
What you need to do
Cost and timeline
Prices vary by state. You can see the cost, process, and how long it takes in step four below.
What the process looks like
Third-Party Agent (TPA) authorization reminder
Some state agencies need Gusto to have TPA access to file and pay your taxes. Usually, CorpNet does not set this up, so you’ll have to do it yourself after registration. Work with CorpNet directly to see if they’ve set up TPA for any specific agency.
Check the state registration articles to see if TPA is needed and how to set it up. If there's no “Authorize Gusto” section, then TPA is not needed right now.
Prices vary by state. You can see the cost, process, and how long it takes in step four below.
Some reminders
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 done, use the link in the state registration email from Gusto to check your order's status.
You can also check the status in your Gusto account:
If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:
If you were already charged, you'll get a refund in a few business days.
If you canceled your order but would like to re-open it, contact CorpNet directly at (888) 449-2638. Or email them at [email protected].
Q: Can I run payroll before my registration is done?
A: Yes, you can usually run payroll before all state tax info is added in Gusto. You may be asked to enter tax rates and tax deposit frequencies, but can use temporary info.
Important reminders
Q: Can I use Gusto to register in a new state without a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)? What if my business is merging or being acquired?
A: No, you need a FEIN in Gusto to get registration help for state taxes.
If your business is merging or being acquired, CorpNet cannot help with registration. You'll need to work with a tax advisor and state agencies directly.
Q: Where can I find my tax information?
A: You can find your tax info in several places:
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 tax yet?
A: If you want CorpNet to start setting up an unemployment account number before you're liable, you can:
Q: Can CorpNet help if the responsible party is international without an ITIN or SSN?
A: CorpNet might be able to help. Contact them at [email protected] or 1(888) 449-2638.
Q: Why am I unable to enter 0% ownership for the responsible party or add a commercial owner?
A: Some states have a 1% minimum for the responsible party ownership percentage. These states include ID, KS, MN, OH, SC, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, and RI.
You’ll need to place registration orders directly with CorpNet outside of Gusto or register directly with the agency.
Some states require an individual owner to be listed. If you’re a non-profit or unsure, contact CorpNet for help at [email protected] or 1(888) 449-2638.
Q: Does CorpNet help with giving Gusto third-party access (TPA) for tax payments?
A: In most cases, you need to give Gusto third-party access (TPA) to your tax accounts.
Q: Does CorpNet help close state tax accounts?
A: No, you'll need to close the tax account yourself.
Click the dropdowns below to learn how to register with state agencies. Do not forget to give Gusto the third-party access (also called Power of Attorney) we recommend for certain agencies.
After you register online the agency will mail you a letter with your withholding account number in ~20 days.
If you have questions about registration, contact the agency at (207) 624-9784.
Once a valid Maine work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
Most companies become liable for unemployment insurance tax once the company has:
If you need to run payroll and do not yet meet the above requirements, Gusto allows it—we suggest you add Maine's "New employer SUI tax rate" in the meantime. Update the rate once you get it.
You'll get your unemployment “Employer Account Number” and "Contribution Rate” about 5–7 business days after you register.
Once a valid Maine work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
Starting Jan 1, 2025, Maine employers must join the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. Gusto will handle PFML by calculating and withholding employer contributions, and sending payments and filings to the state.
Contributions are based on Maine-employees who worked 20+ weeks between Oct 2023 and Sep 2024.
The amount a business must pay depends on its number of employees—learn how to count them here.
Note: Gusto does not currently support optional employee contributions to Maine PFML.
For more information about the program, check out the complete employer's guide to Maine PFML.
Gusto starts withholding contributions Jan 1, 2025, and you'll need to register for PFML by April 7 so payments and filings can be applied to your company account. You can sign up for updates on Maine’s website under “Get notified.” We’ll also remind you to register and share your account info with us.
What you need to register
Steps to register
Get answers to frequently asked questions in this PFML resource, or contact the PFML division directly at (207) 621-5024.
If you've already registered in the state, you'll need to enter your tax account details in Gusto.
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 to learn more.
Your Maine Revenue Services (MRS) account number is an 8-digit withholding “Account ID” (ex. 1234-5678).
You can find your Account ID by:
If you cannot find it:
Enter your “Account ID” as the “Withholding Account Number” in Gusto.
If you've run payroll in Maine before, you can find your “Employer Account Number” by:
The Maine Department of Labor sends you a "Notice of Contribution Rate" that includes your “Experience Rate".
When you enter the rate in Gusto, do not include the rates below, we already account for them:
If you do not have your assigned rate yet, you can enter Maine's new employer rate in Gusto in the meantime—update the rate once you receive it.
We recommend giving Gusto third-party access (also called Power of Attorney) for this agency so we can help troubleshoot tax issues.
Here's how to find your 10-digit Paid Family and Medical Leave account number and total rate (aka "Premium Rate"):
If you have questions about your account number, or are having trouble signing in to the Maine PFML portal, call the agency at (207) 621-5024.
After a work address in Maine is assigned to one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:
If you edit a tax account number after payments or filings have already 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.
Third-party authorization (TPA), or Power of Attorney (POA), is recommended for the agencies below:
We'll request access to your PFML account.
You can approve Gusto's PFML access request by following the steps below:
You’ll see a confirmation screen once it’s done.
Add Gusto as your POA for the Maine Department of Labor's Bureau of Unemployment Insurance——this allows us to file amendments on your behalf and help troubleshoot tax issues.
Gusto will ask to access your company’s account using your 8-digit withholding tax account number. To approve this request, follow these steps:
Once approved, Gusto will be able to file amended returns and fix tax issues for you.
How to find forms in your account
Asterisk info (if applicable)
If a form has a star (*) next to it, it will not show up in your tax documents in Gusto. These forms are usually payment vouchers or other forms (ex. coupons) filed electronically.
You can check if tax payments were made by running an "Agency Payments" report.