Service §03
State tax registrations, off your plate.
Payroll withholding accounts. Unemployment insurance accounts. The registrations that block payroll from running and that nobody wants to do. We handle them in all 50 states for $197 per account, plus any state fee.
What it is
When your company hires an employee in a state, it usually needs tax accounts with that state before payroll can run: an income tax withholding account, an unemployment insurance account, and sometimes local or specialty accounts. Each state has its own agencies, forms, portals, and waiting periods.
Who needs it
- Companies hiring their first employee
- Companies hiring remote employees in new states
- CPAs, bookkeepers, and payroll providers who need these registrations done for clients but do not want to do them in-house
- Payroll setups stuck in "pending" because an account number is missing
If you run payroll without the right state accounts, the state can assess penalties and your payroll provider may not be able to file your returns. We get the accounts opened so payroll can run.
What we do
- Identify the accounts your hire triggers in that state
- Prepare each registration with the state's agency
- Submit it and track it until the state issues your account numbers
- Deliver the account numbers and details your payroll provider needs, in a format they can use
What you provide
- Company details (legal name, EIN, formation state, addresses)
- Officer or owner information
- Hire date, wages, and work location for the state in question
- A few state-specific details; we tell you exactly what the state asks for
Price and timeline. $197 per account, plus any state registration fee passed through at cost. A typical single-state payroll setup needs two accounts (withholding and unemployment). Timelines vary by state agency. [VERIFY: We typically submit registrations within 2 business days of receiving complete information.]
Questions and answers
What accounts do I need when I hire in a new state?
Most states require an income tax withholding account and an unemployment insurance account. Some states have additional accounts, such as local taxes or paid leave programs. We confirm exactly what your situation triggers in that state before you pay.
Why does my payroll provider need these account numbers?
Payroll providers file your state payroll tax returns under your account numbers. Without them, your filings can be held or rejected and payments cannot be applied to your account.
Can a CPA or payroll company hire you to do this for their clients?
Yes. Much of our work comes from accounting and payroll professionals. Contact us and mention you are a firm; we have partner arrangements for professionals who refer or resell.
Is the $197 per state or per account?
Per account. If a state requires both a withholding account and an unemployment account, that is two registrations. We quote the full number before any work starts.
What if the state asks follow-up questions after we register?
We track each registration until the account number is issued, and we handle agency follow-ups related to the registration itself.
Do you handle every state?
Yes. Our specialist has processed these registrations in all 50 states, including the states with the most difficult agencies.
My payroll is already late. Can you expedite?
Contact us and tell us the state and your deadline. Agency processing times are outside our control, but we will tell you honestly what is possible before you pay.