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Setting up payroll in Nebraska for the first time
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.
Use the dropdowns below to learn more. Use CMD + F (or CTRL + F) to search for words in the article.
Gusto works with Middesk to help you register with tax agencies in new states.
For now, this includes: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
How to get tax registration help
Once everything below is complete, we can help you register for tax agencies in a new state:
Cost, timeline, and eligibility considerations
Prices vary by state. During the first few steps in Gusto, you can see the cost, process, and estimated turnaround time.
For now, Middesk cannot help these types of companies register:
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, Middesk does not set this up, so you’ll have to do it yourself after registration.
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.
If setting up TPA requires online agency portal access:Prices vary by state. During the first few steps in Gusto, you can see the cost, process, and estimated turnaround time.
If you have questions about answering any of the questions, try Middesk’s Help Center or contact Middesk at [email protected].
When Middesk gets your tax account information back after registering, they'll enter it in Gusto for you.
Each state and agency takes a different amount of time to process a registration. To estimate when your state tax account info will be available, check the Post Submission Questions in Middesk's help article.
Important reminder
When your order is complete, you’ll get emails from Gusto and Middesk. They’ll detail the next steps, which include:
Before your order is done, you can check the order status in your Gusto account:
For most states where tax registration info is sent by physical mail, here's what to expect:
Q: Can I run payroll before my registration is done?
A: Yes. You may be asked to enter tax rates and tax deposit frequencies, but you can use temporary info.
Important reminders
Q: I need to change some of the registration information that was submitted. What do I do?
A: Email Middesk at [email protected].
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, Middesk cannot help with registration. You'll need to work with a tax advisor and state agencies directly.
Q: What if I'm not liable for unemployment tax yet?
A: If you want Middesk to start setting up an unemployment account number before you're liable, you can:
Q: Can Middesk help if the responsible party is international without an ITIN or SSN?
A: No. Middesk cannot help in this scenario, you'll need to register on your own.
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's 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 Middesk 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 Middesk for help at [email protected].
Q: When will my tax account information be available?
A: Each state and agency takes a different amount of time to process a registration. To estimate when your state tax account info will be available, check the Post Submission Questions in Middesk's help article.
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: Does Middesk help with giving Gusto third-party access (TPA) for tax payments?
A: Some state agencies need Gusto to have TPA access to file and pay your taxes. Usually, Middesk does not set this up, so you’ll have to do it yourself after registration.
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.
If setting up TPA requires online agency portal access:
Q: Does Middesk help close state tax accounts?
A: No, you'll need to close the tax account yourself.
Q: Can I cancel my Middesk order?
A: At this time, we cannot support order cancellations or refunds.
Click the dropdowns below to learn how to register with state agencies.
If you register online, you'll get your account ID number the same day. If you register by mail, it will take about 2 weeks. Keep this timing in mind when planning your first Nebraska payroll.
To register online, visit the NE DOR website. You can also watch a video tutorial on how to register online.
If you prefer to register by mail, download and complete the form, then choose one of the options below:
After a work address in Nebraska is assigned to one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:
You should get your unemployment employer account number and tax rate within seven days of registering online. Keep this timing in mind when planning your first payroll in Nebraska.
If you have registration questions, call the DOL at (402) 471-9000.
If you do not have your rate yet, you can enter the new employer rate for Nebraska in Gusto for now. Update the rate once you get it.
Some employers can pay unemployment taxes annually, but they must still file tax returns quarterly. These tax returns must include additional info about hours worked for each employee.
The Nebraska DOL could revoke the annual payment option at any time, and there could be penalties for late payments. Because of this, Gusto does not support the option to pay annually.
We recommend continuing to pay quarterly to avoid any risks.
Action needed
If you’ve chosen to pay unemployment taxes annually, notify the DOL that you will now make quarterly payments. You can email them at [email protected].
After a work address in Nebraska is assigned to one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:
If you do not know your account number or rate, call the agency at (402) 471-9000.
If you've already registered with the state, you'll need to enter your tax account details in Gusto.
You must be registered with one or more of these agencies for Gusto to file and pay taxes for you:
If you still need to register, click the applicable dropdown in this article.
If you're already registered for withholding (income) tax in Nebraska, you can find your Nebraska ID Number by:
If you've run payroll in Nebraska before, you can find your Insurance Tax Account Number on your "Combined Tax Report (Form UI 11T)" or other notices from the Nebraska Department of Labor.
Your Nebraska Combined Tax Rate can be found by:
If you do not have your rate yet, enter the new employer rate for Nebraska in Gusto for now. Update the rate once you get it.
After a work address in Nebraska 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.
You can view forms in Taxes & Compliance > Tax documents. Switch between the tabs to find federal, state, W-2s, and 1099s.
To see what Gusto has paid on your behalf, run the Agency Payments report.
Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts here.