Having payroll issues? Learn how to troubleshoot blocked payroll.
Before you can pay employees in a new state, you must register with the state’s tax agencies. This lets you file and pay the right taxes.
🎥 Watch a quick video to learn how registering in a new state works
📚 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.
Gusto works with Middesk to register your business for state tax accounts when you hire employees or start working in a new state. We set up state income tax withholding and state unemployment insurance so we can run payroll and file taxes on your behalf.
We can start your registration after all of these are true:
You added a company work address in the new state.
You assigned that address to a new or existing employee.
You checked your Gusto Home page for a registration to-do.
If required, you registered with preliminary state agencies (like the Secretary of State or Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) first and confirmed it's done.
States that require SOS registration before tax setup: Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Vermont.
Middesk cannot help with registration if your business is:
A non-profit that is not a 501(c)(3)
A business that left a PEO
A business that bought another business that was already registered
A business that changed its legal entity type (for example, LLC to Corp)
A Limited Partnership (LP) or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
You must also:
Have a FEIN in Gusto
Not already have a tax account in that state
If you already registered with the state, Middesk will cancel the order and you will not be charged.
Included
Middesk registers your business for:
State income tax withholding
State unemployment insurance (SUI)
Not included
Middesk does not register your business for:
Local tax agency registration
Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) registration
Third-Party Agent (TPA) access
Power of Attorney (POA) authorization
Some states require TPA or POA for Gusto to file and pay taxes. In most cases, you must set this up yourself after registration. If you need to register for local taxes or PFML, or set up TPA or POA, use the state-specific article for step-by-step instructions.
The cost, steps, and timeline depend on the state. Before you submit anything in Gusto, we show you:
The price
What is included
How long registration usually takes
You are not charged until the order is marked as completed. The charge appears on your next Gusto monthly invoice.
You can also visit the Middesk Help Center to see estimated processing times for each state.
Here is what to expect when Middesk handles your registration:
You answer questions about your business, including:
Basic company info
Contact details
Addresses
Owner or officer info
State-specific details
Middesk reviews your information.
Middesk usually submits your registration within two business days.
A state agency may contact you to verify the request.
⚠️ Important: If you do not respond to a verification call or email within 3–5 business days, the order may be canceled and refunded.
After your order is marked as complete, we add the charge to your next Gusto monthly invoice.
When Middesk receives your tax account numbers, they enter them in Gusto (for most states and agencies). You will get emails from Gusto and Middesk with updates and next steps.
For most states, Middesk receives agency mail during registration and adds your tax info to Gusto. You can view this mail in a digital mailbox. After registration is complete, the agency updates its mailing address to your business address. If you need to take action, we will notify you by email or Home page to-do.
States that mail tax account info directly to your business: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington DC, and West Virginia. When you receive the letter, check your email for instructions on how to send the info to Middesk.
You can run payroll before registration finishes. However:
Gusto cannot file or pay taxes until all tax account numbers are added.
You may receive late notices or penalties. These are your responsibility.
For unemployment tax, use your state’s new employer rate until you receive the correct one.
Note: You can cancel orders before they are sent to Middesk. Once an order is submitted to Middesk, it cannot be canceled or refunded.
If you need help with any of the registration questions, check Middesk’s Help Center.
In your web browser:
Go to Taxes & Compliance → Tax setup.
Find [State name] Tax Setup.
Click Learn more under “Let us help you register.”
Review the price, process, and timeline. We do not charge you until after your order is complete.
Click Get started on Middesk.
Review everything carefully before submitting. Mistakes can delay registration.
In the Gusto mobile app:
Open the Gusto mobile app and sign in.
In the bottom-right corner, tap More.
Select Taxes & compliance.
Scroll down to Quick links and choose Setup tax accounts.
Scroll down to [State name] tax setup. Tap Learn more.
Review the process, timeline, and pricing. We do not charge you until after your order is complete.
Tap Get started on Middesk.
Share your business information and review everything carefully before submitting. Mistakes can delay registration.
To check your Middesk registration status in Gusto:
Go to Taxes & Compliance → Tax setup.
Find the state and view the status.
Possible statuses include:
Tax registration in progress
We need more information
The state is working on your order
Your registration is complete
Your order is on hold (often due to state requirements)
You have existing tax accounts
We could not complete your registration
If you entered the wrong eligibility date, email [email protected].
Some states require Gusto to have TPA or POA on file before we can file and pay taxes. Middesk usually does not set this up.
Check the state-specific registration article to see if TPA or POA is required for your state.
If there is no TPA or POA section in the state article, it is not needed right now.
If TPA or POA requires an agency portal:
If Middesk creates the agency account during registration, you will find the login details in Gusto: go to Taxes & Compliance → Tax setup after registration.
If Middesk does not create the account but the state requires portal access, you must create the account yourself.
You can only cancel an order before it is submitted to Middesk. Once submitted, orders cannot be canceled or refunded.
To cancel your order:
Go to Taxes & Compliance, select Tax Setup, and scroll to the applicable state.
In the Finish your [state] registration order banner, select Cancel order.
Q: Do I need a FEIN to use Gusto’s registration service?
A: Yes. You must have a FEIN to register through Gusto. If your business is merging or being acquired, Middesk cannot help with registration.
Q: Why can’t I enter 0% ownership or add a commercial owner?
A: Some states require a minimum ownership percentage or an individual owner. If your situation does not meet state rules, you will need to register outside of Gusto.
Q: What if the responsible party is international without an SSN or ITIN?
A: Middesk cannot help in this case. You will need to register directly with the state.
Q: What if I’m not liable for unemployment tax yet?
A: Use today’s date or the expected liability date. Use the new employer rate until you get your company-specific rate.
Q: I need to change information I already submitted. What do I do?
A: Email [email protected].
Q: What if the tax agency contacts me?
A: Respond right away, within 3–5 business days. Missing a verification call or email can cancel your registration order.
Q: When will my tax account numbers be available?
A: Timelines vary by state. Check Middesk’s guidance for estimates.
Q: Can Middesk close my state tax accounts?
A: No. You must close accounts directly with the state.
Visit the Middesk Help Center for help with registration-specific questions.
Contact Gusto from the ( ? ) in your account for all other payroll or tax setup help.
Expand the sections below to learn how to register with state agencies.
You'll work with the following Indiana agencies when registering for payroll taxes:
Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR): Handles income tax withholding.
Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD): Handles unemployment tax.
Indiana does not have a single, comprehensive business license. However, all businesses operating in Indiana are subject to regulatory requirements that may involve several state agencies.
INBiz is Indiana's one-stop resource for registering and managing your business and ensuring it complies with state laws and regulations. After you set up an INBiz account and file with the Secretary of State (if necessary), you can register with:
The Department of Revenue
The Department of Workforce Development
About 2–3 business days after you register online, you'll receive a 10-digit Taxpayer ID and a 3-digit location code.
Gather the information needed to register your business. Use Indiana's BT-1 checklist to get ready.
Go to the INBiz website.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Register Now.
Find Tax Registration and click Register Now.
Complete any remaining steps.
If you have questions about registration, call the Indiana Department of Revenue at (317) 232-2240.
Most companies become liable for Indiana unemployment insurance tax once you've paid one Indiana employee at least $1.00. This threshold varies by business type (general, nonprofit, and similar), so contact the Department of Workforce Development at (800) 891-6499 to confirm when your company will be liable.
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 Indiana in Gusto for now, and update the rate once you receive it.
You should receive your unemployment account number instantly after registering online. Your unemployment tax rate (total premium rate) will be on the notice you receive from the Indiana DWD.
Go to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development website.
Find the Resources section and click First Time User.
Make sure Employer is selected, enter your FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number), and click Next.
Complete any remaining prompts.
You'll also need to enter Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes for your employees in Indiana.
Once you complete registration, take these steps:
Give Gusto third-party access (TPA) so we can help manage your taxes with the agency.
Enter your tax account information in Gusto once you add a valid Indiana work address for one or more employees.
Set up employee county withholding for Indiana county taxes.
If you've already registered in Indiana, 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:
Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR): Handles income tax withholding.
Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD): Handles unemployment tax.
If you still need to register, see the Register for IN income and unemployment tax on your own section earlier in this article.
Once you add a valid Indiana work address in Gusto for one or more employees, you can enter your state tax account information.
To add your Indiana tax account information:
Go to Taxes & compliance, then select Tax setup.
Find Indiana 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 Taxpayer ID, click Edit to enter your 10-digit Taxpayer ID (TID).
Note: For Gusto to pay and file your taxes successfully, your FEIN and Taxpayer ID in Gusto must exactly match what the agency has on record. Sign in to your INTIME account to confirm that the FEIN, Taxpayer ID, and account status all match what's in Gusto. You can find the FEIN in the top-left corner of your INTIME account.
Your INTIME account: The Taxpayer ID appears on your welcome screen.
Notices from the Indiana Department of Revenue
If you cannot find your Taxpayer ID, contact the agency at (317) 232-2240.
Next to Location Code, click Edit to enter your 3-digit location code.
If there is only one location, most employers will have a location code of 001.
If you have a consolidated account, you'll typically have a location code of 900.
If you see consolidated filing account instead of a number in INTIME, use 000 as the location code in Gusto.
Your INTIME account: Go to the Summary tab and check each tax account box for the associated Location Number.
If you cannot find your location code, contact the agency at (317) 232-2240.
Next to Unemployment Account Number, click Edit to enter your unemployment account number.
Notices from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Your Uplink account
If you cannot find your account number, contact the agency at (800) 437-9136.
Next to Unemployment Tax Rate, click Edit to enter your total premium rate. Make sure to enter the total or applied rate, which includes the interest surcharge.
Your rate notice from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development: The rate appears in the Total Premium box.
Your Uplink account
If you cannot find your rate, contact the agency at (800) 437-9136.
If you do not have your assigned rate yet, enter the new employer rate for Indiana in Gusto in the meantime. Update the rate once you receive it.
Indiana requires SOC codes for unemployment tax reporting. Enter SOC codes for your employees in Indiana.
For information about Indiana county taxes, see the Employee withholding setup (local county taxes) section below.
Indiana county taxes are based on employee withholding elections using Form WH-4. Gusto uses Form WH-4, which your employees fill out, to determine how much state income tax is withheld and to determine the amount of county taxes for the year.
Employers are required to withhold taxes in the county where an employee lives. This is based on the address the employee lived at on January 1 of each calendar year.
If an employee lives in a taxing county on January 1, they're subject to that county's resident rate for the entire year.
If an employee lives in a county that does not have a tax (including out-of-state employees), the employee pays taxes to the county of their work location at the nonresident tax rate.
County taxes are paid directly to the state and allocated to the appropriate counties. You can find a list of Indiana counties with active tax rates from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
Employers must report each employee's county in Gusto. Gusto will remind you with a to-do item on your Home page at the end of each year.
If an employee moves, the county does not change until January 1 of the following year. The employee will see their previous Indiana county tax on their paystubs for the remainder of that year.
If an employee did not live in Indiana on January 1 of the current year, enter Out of State.
To enter an employee's county of residence (as of January 1, according to Form WH-4):
Go to People, then select Team members.
Click the employee's name.
From the Taxes tab, find the Indiana Taxes section.
Click Edit.
Change the county.
Click Save.
If an employee plans to move on or before January 1, you can update their work address and home address in Gusto. Make sure their county is correct as well.
You do not need to fix prior-year payroll. Indiana law locks the county of residence as of January 1. If the WH-4 had the wrong county from the start, the employee fixes it on their personal tax return — not through a payroll correction.
Files Indiana Form IT-40 with Schedule CT-40, using the correct county of residence as of January 1.
Gets credit on the return for the tax that was withheld, even if it was under the wrong county code.
Sees any rate difference as a refund or a balance due on their personal return.
Amend Form WH-1.
Amend Form WH-3.
Issue a W-2c (corrected W-2).
Indiana's INTIME guidance confirms a corrected W-2 may be issued, but it is not required.
If you catch the error in the same tax year, update the WH-4 county in Gusto so future paychecks use the right county. You do not need to go back and catch up prior pay periods in that same year.
Third-party authorization is required for the agencies below:
Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD): Required for payments and filings.
Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR): Required for amended returns (as needed).
To give Gusto access to submit payments and filings to this agency:
In the left menu, click Maintain Account, then click Third Party/Agent Info.
On the Third Party Administrator screen, click Add TPA.
Find Gusto in the search by entering one of the following:
Agent Number: 116975
Business Name: ZenPayroll, Inc.
Click TPA Search.
Select the authorization level: Tax TPA.
Add Gusto as an External Account User. Do not add Gusto as a Correspondence Agent.
Sign back in to Gusto to confirm you've granted access.
On your Home page under Things to do, click Give Gusto access to Indiana Department of Workforce Development account.
Check the box to confirm you've completed the task in your tax account.
Click Submit.
The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) requires Gusto to have Power of Attorney (POA) access to your INTIME account to:
File amended returns on your behalf
Help keep your tax information up to date
Troubleshoot tax issues
To grant access:
Gusto will request access to your INTIME account.
On your Home page in Gusto, look for the task Give Gusto access to Indiana Department of Revenue account.
Once the task appears in Gusto, sign in to your INTIME portal and approve Gusto's POA access.
If you do not have an INTIME account yet, use the INTIME user guide to create one. Then sign in to your INTIME portal and approve Gusto's POA access.
Go back to Gusto:
On your Home page, click the same task.
Check the box to confirm you gave Gusto access in INTIME.
Click Submit.
If Gusto has trouble getting authorization, we will notify you.
If you cannot grant access in the INTIME portal:
Complete the pre-filled IN POA-1 form that the Indiana DOR sent by mail when Gusto requested access.
Mail the form back to the DOR to authorize Gusto.
WH-1* (Withholding Tax Voucher)
WH-3 (Annual Withholding Tax)
UC-5A (Quarterly Wage and Employment Report)
State W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement)
New Hire Report
You can view forms in Taxes & Compliance, then Tax documents. Switch between the tabs to find federal, state, W-2s, and 1099s.
Some forms show an asterisk (*). Forms like payment vouchers or coupons that were filed electronically may not show in your Gusto account. Sign in to the agency's portal to view filings and payments.
To see what Gusto has paid for you, run the Agency Payments report.
Revenue Agency: Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR)
Phone: (317) 232-2240
Workforce or Labor Agency: Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD)
Phone: (800) 891-6499
Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts.