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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 Wisconsin agencies when registering for payroll taxes:
Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR): Handles withholding income tax.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development: Handles unemployment tax.
You'll get your Withholding Account Number within 24 hours if you register online, or 3β4 days if you do it by mail. Keep this in mind when planning your first payroll in Wisconsin.
Click the Register with Department of Revenue link.
Use the agency's Withholding Tax Guide if you get stuck during registration. You can also get answers to common questions or live chat with the agency.
Read the Filing Tips section.
Answer yes or no to the question: "Are you registering this business for the first time?"
Finish all other questions.
Important: The company name you use for registration must exactly match the name you entered in Gusto (which should match IRS records). Even small differences in letters or punctuation can cause problems when paying taxes or filing forms.
Most companies in Wisconsin must start paying unemployment insurance tax once they have:
Paid $1,500 in wages during a calendar quarter
Had at least one Wisconsin employee working for any part of the week for 20 or more different weeks during a calendar year
Your business type (general, nonprofit, and similar) can affect when the company is responsible for paying this tax. Contact the agency to confirm when the company will be liable.
If you need to run payroll but do not yet meet the above requirements, enter the new employer rate for Wisconsin in Gusto in the meantime. Update the rate once you receive it.
You'll get your unemployment account number and tax rate instantly if you register online, or in 1β2 weeks if you do it by mail.
Go to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development website.
Scroll to the New Users headline. Next to Don't have a username?, click Sign up.
Create a logon by entering some basic information.
Click Next.
Finish all other questions.
If you need help registering, or need to verify your tax account info, call the agency at (608) 261-6700.
New employers in construction or with an annual payroll of $500,000 or more can learn more on the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) website.
Once you complete registration and add a valid Wisconsin work address for one or more employees, enter your tax account information in Gusto.Β
If you've already registered in Wisconsin, 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:
Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR): Handles withholding income tax.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development: Handles unemployment tax.
If you still need to register, see the Register for WI income and unemployment tax on your own section earlier in this article.
Once you add a valid Wisconsin work address in Gusto for one or more employees, you can enter your state tax account information.
To add your Wisconsin tax account information:
Go to Taxes & compliance, then select Tax setup.
Find Wisconsin 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 Tax Account Number, click Edit to enter your withholding account number.
The Form WT-6 withholding coupon or welcome letter (labeled "Filing Number") from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
If you cannot find your account number, contact the agency at (608) 266-2776.
If you cannot find your withholding account number, you can get it online:
Click QuickLinks.
Under "Business Taxes", click Search Account Number/Filing Frequency.
In the first dropdown, select "Withholding Tax".
Under "ID Type", select "Federal Employer ID Number".
In the ID field, enter your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
Enter your business name.
Enter your zip code of the address you used to register in Wisconsin.
Click Next.
Next to UI Account Number, click Edit to enter your unemployment insurance account number.
Your latest tax rate notice or Quarterly Wage Report (Form UCT-101) from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
If you cannot find your account number, contact the agency at (608) 261-6700.
Next to Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate, click Edit to enter your total unemployment insurance tax rate.
Your most recent tax rate notice from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
If you cannot find your rate, contact the agency at (608) 261-6700.
If you do not have your assigned rate yet, enter the new employer rate for Wisconsin in Gusto in the meantime. Update the rate once you receive it.
If Gusto needs to file a corrected (amended) tax return for you, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) requires that Gusto have third-party access to your My Tax Account. Amended returns sometimes need a different filing method than original ones.
If Gusto needs third-party access (TPA), Gusto will start the process by requesting access to your WI Tax Account. You'll need to finish granting access using one of the two options below:
Sign in to My Tax Account.
If you do not have an account, register using this helpful guide from the agency.
From the homepage, select View My Profile.
Click the Manage Usernames tab to see a list of usernames.
Find and select Gusto's TPA username: Gusto, [email protected].
Click Manage Access.
Click Grant Access.
Choose File and Pay (the minimum access needed to file amendments) or All Access.
Enter the time period for which Gusto needs access. Usually, this is the beginning of the quarter that you first ran payroll with Gusto in Wisconsin.
Fill in your company information at the top:
Taxpayer Name: Use your official company name, not your trade name or DBA name.
Social Security Number: Enter your FEIN (not your personal SSN).
Address, City, State, Zip Code: Use your business filing address.
WTN: Enter your Wisconsin Tax Account Number, found in Gusto under Taxes & compliance, then Tax setup, in the Wisconsin Tax Setup section.
Telephone Number: Use your business number.
Email Address: Use your Gusto Primary Administrator's email.
Under Authorizes the following individual(s), enter Gusto's details:
Name: Gusto, Inc. (dba Gusto)
Telephone Number: (415) 907-9391
Address: 1201 16th St Mall, Ste #350 Denver, CO 80202
Sign the form and add your title and date.
Mail the completed form to:
ATTN: Tax Ops - Audit Team Gusto 1201 16th Street, Suite 350 Denver, CO 80202
This form lets Gusto access your Wisconsin My Tax Account and file amendments for you.
Use this list to find Wisconsin's tax forms and where to view each one.
WI WT-7 (Wisconsin Annual W/H Reconciliation)
WI UCT-101 (Wisconsin Quarterly Contribution)
Unemployment tax
WI State W-2 (Wisconsin State W-2)
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.
WI WT-6 (Wisconsin Tax Deposit Report)
To view these filings, sign in to the Wisconsin agency portal.
To see what we've paid for you, run the Agency payments report.
Use this list to reach Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR): (608) 266-2776
Unemployment insurance β Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Insurance (DWD): (608) 261-6700
Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts.