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Before you can pay employees in a new state, you must register with the stateβs tax agencies. This lets you file and pay the right taxes.
π₯ Watch a quick video to learn how registering in a new state works
π 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.
Let Gusto Business Compliance register your business in this state and keep you compliant after that. We'll register you with the state, act as your registered agent, file your annual reports, watch your government mail, and give you a concierge team. Learn more about Gusto Business Compliance.
Prefer not to use Business Compliance? We can still help you register in this state through our partner Middesk, with no monthly subscription. Order a one-time state tax registration.
Expand the sections below to see if you qualify, what's covered, how to sign up, and what happens next.
You can add Business Compliance if all of these are true:
You run payroll with Gusto. Business Compliance is not sold on its own.
You're on the Solo, Simple, Plus, or Premium plan. It's included with Premium at no extra cost.
Your business is a corporation or an LLC. Corporations include S corporations and nonprofit corporations. An LLC qualifies however it's taxed.
New sign-ups are not available for professional entities, including professional corporations and professional limited liability companies (PLLCs). If you already have a Business Compliance subscription as a professional entity, your coverage continues as it is.
Business Compliance is not available yet for sole proprietors, general partnerships, limited partnerships, or limited liability partnerships (LLPs). It's also not available for cannabis-related businesses, on any plan.
Not sure if you qualify? Chat with us before you sign up.
Business Compliance works state by state. Each state you add includes:
Registered agent β we accept legal and government mail for your business in that state.
Change of registered agent β we file the change so your mail comes to us.
Foreign qualification β we register your business with the Secretary of State so you can legally work there.
State tax registration β we register you with the state's tax agencies when you hire or start working there, including local tax agencies and Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) agencies wherever Gusto is able to register with them.
Annual report filing β we file the yearly report that keeps your business in good standing.
Government mail monitoring β we scan mail from state agencies into Gusto. Each notice comes with a plain-language summary of what it means and what to do next.
Proactive alerts β we tell you about deadlines before they're due.
You also get a compliance concierge team, no matter how many states you cover.
Cost: $85 per state, per month, billed monthly. Adding a state commits you to 12 months of coverage in that state. It's included with Premium at no extra cost. State filing fees are charged at cost, vary by state and business type, and show on your invoice.
Local tax and PFML coverage follows what Gusto's state tax registration supports, and not every agency can be registered through Gusto. Delaware and Maine do not allow a third party to register for Paid Family and Medical Leave, so you'll register with those agencies yourself. If we cannot register one of your agencies, we'll show it on your registration page under what you'll complete on your own. See Let Gusto help you with state tax registration.
Sign in to Gusto.
Go to Taxes & Compliance.
Select Business compliance.
Answer the questions about your business and the states where you work.
Review the price and what's included, then confirm.
After your first state is set up, you'll see its registrations and anything left to do.
When you add an employee or work location in a new state, that state shows up under Your states as Setup in progress, with your next step. Steps often include telling us more about your business there and moving your registered agent to us.
Select Start on a task to finish it, or View state details to see everything for that state. When every step is done, the state changes to Active.
To be your registered agent in a state, we file a change of registered agent with that state.
When a state needs this, you'll see a task on that state's card under Your states. Select Start to begin.
Keep your current registered agent until we confirm the transfer is done. A gap in coverage can put your business out of good standing in that state.
Once a state is active, we take over the ongoing work. We review your government mail, track your deadlines, and give you a concierge team to ask about any of it.
Your Business compliance page also shows your Compliance documents and Tax account details for each state.
Because we're your registered agent, legal mail for your business comes to us.
Other mail from state agencies is scanned into Agency notices on your Business compliance page. Each notice shows the state it came from, when it arrived, and a plain-language summary of what it means and what to do next. Select Unread or State to filter the list.
Still not sure what a notice means? Select Ask concierge about this mail on that notice. Your concierge team will follow up and explain what, if anything, you need to do.
If a notice is about your state payroll taxes, your concierge team brings in our tax resolution team. Learn more in How to handle a tax notice from an agency.
When you sign up, you get a compliance concierge team. They'll:
Learn about your business and the states where you work.
Check in regularly to make sure your filings are on track.
Explain any government mail you're unsure about.
Answer questions about your account.
To reach them, select Talk to a compliance concierge on your Business compliance page, or email [email protected].
We track filing and renewal deadlines for the states you cover. This includes annual reports, franchise tax filings, and business license renewals.
You'll get a notice in Gusto and by email before each deadline.
We file what we can for you. If a filing needs your approval, we'll send it to you with time to review.
Go to Taxes & Compliance β Business compliance β Manage subscription.
To stop coverage in one state, select Remove next to that state.
To cancel Business Compliance, select Leave Business Compliance.
Each state you add runs for a 12-month term, and you're billed monthly over that term. If you want to remove a state or leave Business Compliance before that term is up, email your compliance concierge team at [email protected] first. They'll tell you what happens to the rest of the term.
If Business Compliance is included with your Premium plan, you'll see a note on this page.
Before you remove a state: We'll stop being your registered agent there. Most states require one, so appoint a new agent to stay in good standing. We'll also stop tracking that state's mail and deadlines.
These services are charged separately from your subscription, on your regular Gusto invoice. Order them from your Business compliance page when you need them:
Certificate of good standing β $99 per certificate. Official proof that your business can operate and is in good standing. You may need one for a loan, a contract, or investors.
State account closure β $549 per order. We close your state tax accounts when you stop working in a state.
State filing fees are charged on top of these prices, at cost. They vary by state and by business type, so you'll see your total before you confirm the order. The filing fee appears as its own charge, separate from the service itself.
Legal and tax advice. We do not give legal or tax advice. For advice about your business, talk to a lawyer or an accountant.
Payroll taxes. Gusto payroll already handles the taxes tied to paying your team. Business Compliance covers what your business owes as a business.
Forming a new business. We register an existing business in a new state. We do not form new businesses.
Sales tax. We do not register you for sales tax or file sales tax returns.
Professional and industry licenses. We do not get or renew licenses for your profession or industry, or handle their reporting.
Reinstatements and reopened accounts. We do not reinstate a business with the Secretary of State or reopen closed payroll tax accounts.
General mail. We monitor payroll and compliance notices from government agencies, not your other mail.
Q: Why does my business need to register in a state?
A: Once you have an employee, a location, or other business in a state, that state's rules apply to you. This includes registration, filings, taxes, and renewals. It's separate from registering to run payroll there.
Q: How is this different from the payroll taxes Gusto already handles?
A: Gusto payroll handles the taxes tied to paying your team. Business Compliance covers what your business owes as a business, like Secretary of State registration, annual reports, and registered agent service.
Q: I'm already registered in my state. Do I still need this?
A: Registering is just the first step. Staying in good standing is ongoing. We keep you there by acting as your registered agent, watching your mail, filing your annual reports, and alerting you before deadlines.
Q: How much does Business Compliance cost?
A: $85 per state, per month, billed monthly. When you add a state, you are committing to 12 months of coverage in that state. It's included with Premium at no extra cost. State filing fees are charged at cost, and they vary by state and business type. One-time services are charged separately from your subscription. You'll see the price before you confirm.
Q: How do Business Compliance charges show up on my bill?
A: They appear on your regular Gusto invoice, not a separate bill. Your subscription, each one-time service you order, and state filing fees show up as their own charges, with the state named, so you can see what each one is for.
Q: I already paid for a one-time registration. What happens if I add Business Compliance?
A: Email your compliance concierge team at [email protected]. They'll review your account and share your options.
Expand the sections below to learn how to register with state agencies.
You'll work with the following Utah agencies when registering for payroll taxes:
Utah State Tax Commission: Handles income tax withholding.
Utah Department of Workforce Services: Handles unemployment tax.
You'll need a UtahID to register your business with most other state agencies. Create a UtahID before registering with any other agencies.
If you get stuck, use the agency's account creation guide or contact them directly.
Go to Utah.gov.
Click Create an account.
Type your email and click Submit. You'll need to validate the email you entered is yours.
Check your email for a message titled "Register new UtahID account". Copy the code from the email.
If you do not see the email, check your spam folder, and wait up to 15 minutes.
Paste the code into the Validate email page on the agency website to confirm your email.
After the email is validated, you'll be asked to enter some more info:
First name
Last name
If you have more than one last name, include all of them with a space between each.
Unique username of your choice
Create a strong password (use upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols). Type it twice and click Submit.
You'll be taken to the UtahID login screen.
Enter your unique username (or email and password) to sign in. Click Sign in.
On your UtahID profile page, click Continue to get a new-user tour (recommended), or click End Tour to explore on your own.
Most companies need to register with the Utah Department of Commerce. If you're not sure, check with the Department of Commerce.
It typically takes 7β10 business days for new registrations to be processed. Keep this time frame in mind, as you'll need this ID to register with other agencies.
If you get stuck at any point, use the agency's instructions to help you register.
Go to the Utah Department of Commerce website and sign in with your UtahID.
On the left menu, click Formations & Registrations, then choose your business (entity) type.
Fill out the required info. Some types need a purpose statement.
Add a registered agent (you can be the agent). Do not make Gusto your agent.
Add business owner and manager info.
Upload any required documents.
Complete the signature section.
Review your info, fix any errors, and add to your Shopping Cart.
Go to your Shopping Cart (top-right corner) to pay for registration.
After payment, you'll get an email once your registration is approved (typically in 7β10 business days). The email will include confirmation in the form of an attached document.
If you have questions, call the Department of Commerce at (801) 530-4849.
To register for withholding income tax, complete these steps in order:
Create a UtahID (instructions above).
Register with the Utah Department of Commerce (instructions above).
Most companies need to register with the Utah Department of Commerce. If you're not sure, check with the Department of Commerce.
Register with the Utah State Tax Commission and create a TAP account (see below).
Before you get started, you'll need:
Your business type (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.)
Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): get it at irs.gov
Names, addresses, and Social Security numbers of all owners and officers
Your Utah Entity Number (from the Department of Commerce)
If you get stuck, use the agency's instructions and walkthrough video to help.
Go to the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP).
Scroll to the Apply Online section and click Apply for a tax account(s) - TC-69.
Answer the questions about your business.
On the Type of Registration page, select Yes next to Employer Withholding License, and any other tax account you're applying for.
Finish the registration and print the confirmation page.
What happens next:
You'll receive your Utah Tax Account ID and Business License by email. The Account ID is 14 characters: 11 digits and 3 letters (for example, 12345678-002-STC).
A PIN letter will be mailed to you within 15 days. If you do not receive your PIN, email [email protected] or call (801) 297-3996.
Once you have your 14-character Account ID and PIN, complete the steps below:
Go to the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) and click Sign Up.
Choose Access my business account(s) and click Next.
Fill in your business info.
Use your Account ID and PIN to add tax accounts to your TAP account.
Be sure to add the Employer Withholding License.
If you have more than one tax account to manage, click Add additional tax accounts under I want to.
New to TAP? Visit the TAP training and information page. If you have questions about setting up your profile, call the State Tax Commission at (801) 297-3996.
Most companies in Utah must start paying unemployment insurance tax once they have:
Paid $1,500 in wages during a calendar quarter
Had at least one Utah employee working for any part of the week for 20 or more different weeks during a calendar year
If your company only needs to pay state withholding taxes and not unemployment taxes, you can register directly with the Utah State Tax Commission.
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 Utah in Gusto for now, and update the rate once you receive it.
Go to the Department of Workforce Services website.
Hover over Sign In at the top right and click Employer Tax/New Hire.
Sign in with your UtahID.
You must have a UtahID to register with the DWS. Use the instructions above to create one if you have not already.
The first time you sign in, you'll be asked to link your UtahID to an existing DWS account or create a new profile.
To create a new profile, click New Users: If you are a first time user or need to create a new Unemployment Insurance and New Hire reporting profile, click here.
Fill in your name, email, title, and phone number. Click Submit.
If asked, answer the questions about your business.
From your homepage, click the Registration tab, then select Create a New UI Account For My Business.
Complete the remaining fields to set up your unemployment tax account.
Once you register, you'll receive your:
Employer Registration Number, starting with either R- (for reimbursable employers) or C- (for regular employers)
Unemployment Tax Rate (also called the Contribution Rate)
If you have questions, call the DWS at (801) 526-9675.
Once you complete registration, enter your tax account information in Gusto after you add a valid Utah work address for one or more employees.
If you've already registered in Utah, 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:
Utah State Tax Commission: Handles income tax withholding.
Utah Department of Workforce Services: Handles unemployment tax.
If you still need to register, see the Register with Utah agencies on your own section earlier in this article.
Once you add a valid Utah work address in Gusto for one or more employees, you can enter your state tax account information.
To add your Utah tax account information:
Go to Taxes & compliance, then select Tax setup.
Find Utah 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 Utah State Tax Commission
If you cannot find your account number, contact the agency at (800) 662-4335.
Next to Deposit Schedule, click Edit to enter your withholding tax deposit schedule.
Notices from the Utah State Tax Commission
If you cannot find your deposit schedule, contact the agency at (800) 662-4335.
Next to Unemployment Insurance ID, click Edit to enter your unemployment account number. This number starts with either R- (for reimbursable employers) or C- (for regular employers).
Your Contribution Rate Notice from the Utah Department of Workforce Services (top-right of the notice)
If you cannot find your account number, contact the agency at (801) 526-9235, option 3.
Next to Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate, click Edit to enter your Assigned Contribution Rate from your Contribution Rate Notice.
Important: Do not enter the social cost rate of 0.3%. Gusto already includes it.
Your Contribution Rate Notice from the Utah Department of Workforce Services
If you cannot find your rate, contact the agency at (801) 526-9235, option 3.
If you do not have your assigned rate yet, enter the new employer rate for Utah in Gusto in the meantime. Update the rate once you receive it.
Use this list to find Utah's tax forms and where to view each one.
TC-941R (Annual Withholding Reconciliation)
33H (Employer's Contribution Report)
33HA (Employer's Quarterly Wage List)
State W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement)
New Hire Report
To view these forms, go to Taxes & compliance, then Tax documents, and select the State tab.
TC-941 (Utah Withholding Return)
To view these filings, sign in to the Utah agency portal.
To see what we've paid for you, run the Agency payments report.
Use this list to reach Utah's payroll tax agencies by phone or website. It covers income tax withholding and unemployment insurance.
Phone numbers and links can change. If one does not work, search the agency's official website for the latest contact info.
Income tax withholding β Utah State Tax Commission (STC): (800) 662-4335
Unemployment insurance β Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS): (801) 526-9235
Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts.