Tennessee registration and tax info

Gusto partners with CorpNet to help you register your business in new states. 

How it works

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:

1. We’ll collect some basic business information from you.
2. Gusto and CorpNet will check the information for accuracy.
3. Your registration application(s) are usually submitted within 3-5 business days.
4. Check the mail for registration info—the state will typically send your tax account numbers and rates to you directly.

CorpNet can walk you through entering any info that they themselves do not enter in Gusto on your behalf.

Get started with state tax registration

1. Sign in to Gusto as an admin.
2. Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
3. Under “[State name] Tax Setup”, click Have us register for you.
   • The state you want to register in will only appear in this location once a work address has been added in a new state and an employee has been assigned a work address in that state.
4. Review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.
   • We will not charge you the registration service fee until you send us your order.
5. Click Continue.
6. Answer a couple eligibility questions.
   • Note: Gusto can only register for you if you don't yet have a state account already.
7. Click Save & continue.
8. Enter some company information.
   • We’ll pre-populate the information we already have.
9. Click Save & continue.
10. Tell us about your responsible party–this is the person who is to be held accountable for the company’s good standing and a point of contact within the organization for tax purposes.
    • If you're a nonprofit and run into any issues, check out our FAQ section below for more information.
11. Click Save & continue.
12. Enter some state-specific operational information.
13. Click Save and continue.
14. Review all information thoroughly–if any information is incorrect, it may delay the process.
    • Heads up: State and local agencies may charge additional fees and increase the estimated turnaround time shown. CorpNet will let you know if that happens.
15. Check the box to acknowledge all info is accurate and you agree to the Terms of Service.
16. Click Send registration order.

After you send your order, we’ll email you with status updates and add your order total to your next monthly invoice.

Check the status of your order

When your order is complete, you’ll receive emails from both Gusto and CorpNet. They’ll detail the next steps which include:

• Reviewing registration details
• Any other state-specific instructions

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:

1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the state's headline.
3. Click Check the status of your registration.

Cancel your order

If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:

1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the state's headline.
3. Click Check the status of your registration.
4. On the right-side of the page, under "Changed your mind?", click Cancel your order.
5. Let us know why you're canceling.
6. Click Cancel your order.

If you were already charged, you'll automatically receive a refund within a few business days.

FAQs

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–head to the Taxes & compliance and select Tax setup, and scroll to the applicable state tax setup.
• CorpNet–create a CorpNet account and login at any time to review information.
• State online account–once you’ve gained access to your agency accounts, your tax details will also be available there.
• Some agencies issue tax details by mail. If this is the case, CorpNet will notify you, and you'll need to enter this information into Gusto directly.

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:

• Use today’s date as the first date the employee(s) in the new state will be paid. 
• Enter the start date of the quarter you expect the employee(s) to first make $1500.

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.

Unemployment tax

Every employer in Tennessee is required to fill out a Report to Determine Status, Application for Employer Number (LB-0441) and mail it in. If they determine you are liable, the Department of Labor & Workforce Development will send you an eight digit employer account number that will appear as XXXX-XXX X. You should receive this number in 2-3 weeks after registering.

Unemployment insurance rate

New employers in the state of Tennessee will generally have a tax rate of 2.7%. New construction employers in certain North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) sectors may be assessed a higher rate. New construction employers classified under NAICS 23 are assessed a tax rate of 6%. Each year your rate may potentially change twice—it generally changes each year, effective July 1st.

When you receive a new rate from Tennessee, be sure to update your rate in Gusto with the correct effective date. If you're unsure of your rate, call the agency at (615) 741-2486.

Click here to view state-by-state new employer rates and wage bases (not company-specific).

Unemployment tax

You can find your Employer Account Number (EAN) on notices you've received from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development such as the Premium Report or Wage Report.

Pay special attention to the effective date of the rates, as rates can change twice per year in Tennessee, effective January 1 and again effective July 1—make sure to use the correct rate and effective date for the rate when entering it in Gusto.

Unemployment insurance rate

You can find your Employer Tax Rate on your Notice of Premium Rate. If you're having trouble finding your account number or rate, you should call the agency at (615) 741-2486.

Click here to view state-by-state new employer rates and wage bases (not company-specific).

• Premium Report (LB-0456)
• Wage Report (LB-0851)
• New Hire Report

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.

• Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (844) 224-5818