Before you can pay employees, make sure you've registered for payroll in their applicable work state. This can sometimes take several weeks—the sooner you start the process, the sooner you'll have the tax account info required to pay them. Learn more about paying your first employee in a new state by watching this quick tutorial.
Gusto partners with CorpNet to help you register in the state—learn more below.
Click Register for WI income and unemployment tax on your own or Find account numbers and rate info (if you're already registered) to learn more about:
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:
CorpNet can walk you through entering any info that they themselves do not enter in Gusto on your behalf.
After you send your order, we’ll email you with status updates and add your order total to your next monthly invoice.
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 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:
If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:
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’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:
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.
You should receive your Withholding Account Number in 24 hours after registering online, or 3-4 days if registering by mail. Keep this time frame in mind when planning your first Wisconsin payroll.
If you've misplaced your withholding account number, you can locate it by following these steps:
Enter the tax account information in Gusto
Once a valid Wisconsin work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
Most companies are liable for state unemployment if they pay $1500 in a quarter in any calendar year or have one or more employees per day in 20 or more weeks of any calendar year. You can find out if your company is liable and register online.
You should receive the account number and rate instantly after registering online, or in 1-2 weeks if registering by mail.
Unemployment tax rate
Those in the construction industry or with an annual payroll over $500,000 should review this page to find their rate. If you're unsure of your rate, please call the agency at (608) 261-6700.
Click here to view state-by-state new employer rates and wage bases (not company-specific).
Enter the tax account information in Gusto
Once a valid Wisconsin work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
If Gusto is filing an amended return on your behalf, the agency requires that Gusto have third-party access to your online Wisconsin My Tax Account—amendments often call for a different filing method than original returns
If we've let you know we need TPA, we'll start the process on our end by requesting the necessary access on your WI Tax Account portal. Choose one of the options below to finalize granting Gusto the access we'll need.
Option 1: Grant access in your My Tax Account online
Option 2: Fill out and send a physical form
This form allows us to access your WI My Tax Account and submit amendments on your behalf.
If you've run payroll in Wisconsin previously, you can find your Withholding Account Number by:
If you've misplaced the letter, follow these steps to locate your number:
You can find your Employer UI Account Number by:
Unemployment tax rate
Businesses that have previously run payroll in WI can find their Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate on your most recent tax notice from the DWD. Only enter in the total rate in Gusto.
If you're unsure of your rate, call the agency at (608) 261-6700.
Click here to view state-by-state UI rates and wage bases (not company-specific).
Once a valid Wisconsin work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:
Third party authorization is required for the Wisconsin DOR (withholding tax) if Gusto is filing an amended return on your behalf.
Amendments often call for a different filing method than original returns—this agency requires that Gusto have third party access to your online Wisconsin My Tax Account in order to submit an amendment on your behalf.
We've started the process on our end by requesting the necessary TPA on your WI Tax Account portal—choose one of the options below to finalize granting Gusto the access we'll need.
Option 1: Grant access in your My Tax Account online
Option 2: Fill out and send a physical form
This form allows us to access your WI My Tax Account and submit amendments on your behalf.
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.