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To pay employees in a state where you’ve never operated or paid people before, you must register with the relevant state tax agencies. This lets you pay and file the taxes you and your employees are liable for.
Watch this quick tutorial to learn more.
Gusto works with CorpNet to help you register your business in new states.
What you need to do
Cost and timeline
Prices vary by state. You can see the cost, process, and how long it takes in step four below.
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, CorpNet 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.
Prices vary by state. You can see the cost, process, and how long it takes in step four below.
Some reminders
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 done, use the link in the state registration email from Gusto to check your order's status.
You can also check the status in your Gusto account:
If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:
If you were already charged, you'll get a refund in a few business days.
If you canceled your order but would like to re-open it, contact CorpNet directly at (888) 449-2638. Or email them at [email protected].
Q: Can I run payroll before my registration is done?
A: Yes, you can usually run payroll before all state tax info is added in Gusto. You may be asked to enter tax rates and tax deposit frequencies, but can use temporary info.
Important reminders
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, CorpNet cannot help with registration. You'll need to work with a tax advisor and state agencies directly.
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: What if I'm not liable for unemployment tax yet?
A: If you want CorpNet to start setting up an unemployment account number before you're liable, you can:
Q: Can CorpNet help if the responsible party is international without an ITIN or SSN?
A: CorpNet might be able to help. Contact them at [email protected] or 1(888) 449-2638.
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 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 CorpNet 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 CorpNet for help at [email protected] or 1(888) 449-2638.
Q: Does CorpNet 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, CorpNet 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.
Q: Does CorpNet help close state tax accounts?
A: No, you'll need to close the tax account yourself.
Click the dropdowns below to learn how to register with state agencies—don't forget to give Gusto the third-party authorization (TPA) we'll need to file and pay certain taxes on your behalf.
Register for both income tax withholding and unemployment tax through the Illinois Department of Revenue (DOR) website.
Learn what to expect for each tax type below, and where to enter your tax information in Gusto.
After you register, you'll get your “Taxpayer ID”—this is a combination of your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and a Sequence Number. You'll need to enter your company-assigned Sequence Number in Gusto.
The Sequence Number is usually ”-000”, but can sometimes be “-001.”
If you do not know your Sequence Number, call the IL DOR at (800) 732-8866.
Most companies become liable for state unemployment insurance tax once the company has:
If you need to run payroll and do not yet meet the requirements above, Gusto allows it. Add the Illinois “New employer rate” in Gusto in the meantime—update the rate once you receive it.
If considered liable, you'll instantly be issued an:
Monthly wage reporting requirement—Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES)
The IL DES requires that employers with more than 25 Illinois-employees file monthly wage reports—Gusto files this monthly report on behalf of all of our customers (regardless of the number of employees you have).
Once a valid Illinois work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), 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.
If you've already registered in the state, you'll need to enter your tax account details in Gusto.
You'll need to be registered with one or more of the below agencies in order for Gusto to file and pay taxes on your behalf:
If you still need to register, click the applicable dropdown above in this article.
If you've run payroll in Illinois previously, you can find your Taxpayer ID:
Your Taxpayer ID is a combination of your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and a Sequence Number.
The Sequence Number is usually ”-000”, but can sometimes be “-001.”
Don't forget to give Gusto the third-party authorization (TPA) we'll need to file and pay certain taxes on your behalf.
Employers receive their account number and rates after completing registration, and can view that information by:
Entering your unemployment account number
Gusto only requires the first seven (7) digits of the number, do not include the eighth digit (if present).
Entering your unemployment (experience) tax rate
Enter both your experience rate and the "Fund Builder Rate" as the total tax rate in Gusto.
Once a valid Illinois address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), 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.
For Gusto to file and pay certain taxes, we'll need third-party authorization for the Illinois Department of Revenue (DOR).
You'll need to give Gusto access to your MyTax Illinois account for us to file and pay your Illinois withholding taxes.
To change these settings, click the blue link to toggle to the designations above.
Once these settings are saved, we'll have the access we need (unless notified otherwise).
How to find forms in your account
Asterisk info (if applicable)
If a form has a star (*) next to it, it will not show up in your tax documents in Gusto. These forms are usually payment vouchers or other forms (ex. coupons) filed electronically.
You can check if tax payments were made by running an "Agency Payments" report.