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AbstractOps State Registration Guide

Every time you hire an employee in a new state, you have to open payroll tax “accounts” with the state.

Usually, you have to register with Department of Labor (so that unemployment insurance is deducted), and the Department of Revenue (so that income tax for the state is deducted), along with some combination of a Secretary of State (because you’re applying to “do business” in the state), Registered Agent (who serves as a point of contact for the state — this is an archaic requirement in the age of virtual mailboxes, but still an active requirement)… and sometimes a Paid Family Leave policy, and sometimes local municipalities and city governments like San Francisco or Denver...

This is often a 5-10 hour process, navigating labyrinthine requirements, account creation, confusing state websites, and more. It can take anywhere from a couple hours to a few months(!) to get approved. If you don’t do it, you literally cannot run payroll for employees in that state.

If you're an AO customer, this process takes ~5 minutes. But if not, you might be wondering what the lead-times are, or how much it's going to cost you to register in a state, or... wait, what agencies? Where do you even need to go to register?!

Of course, we think it's not a good use of time for operators or founders to do this in-house... just like you don't write out paychecks anymore, you shouldn't be logging into state sites or sending in faxes (yes, some states really require that). But if you're in a pinch, we thought this free, public guide might help you out.

(But really... you should just sign up. Our automated system handles this for you.)

Sign up for AO

(No? You really really want to learn about ~200 agencies and try to do this all yourself, instead of running your business? Okay, we did our best to warn you...)

If you'd like to find the text with a Ctrl+F or Cmd+F in your browser, see below!
Agency
Required?
ETA
Run payroll without it?
Website
Phone Number
Alabama Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(334) 242-1300
Alabama Secretary of State
Depends
Link
Alabama Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(334) 954-4741
Alabama Registered Agent
Depends
Alabama Municipality
Depends
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
✅
2 weeks
Link
(888) 448-2937
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Depends
Link
(907) 465-2500
Arizona Corporation Commission
✅
2 weeks
Link
(602) 542-3026
Arizona Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(602) 255-3381
Arizona Department of Economic Security
✅
2 weeks
Link
(602) 771-6601
Arizona Registered Agent
✅
Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(501) 682-7290
Arkansas Department of Workforce Services
✅
2 weeks
Link
(501) 682-2121
California Department of Revenue
Depends
Link
1-800-400-7115
California Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(916) 653-6814
California City / Municipality
Depends
California Employment Development Department
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(888) 745-3886
Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI)
✅
Link
(303) 318-8000
Colorado Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(303) 894-2200
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(800) 480-8299
Colorado Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(303) 238-7378
Colorado Worker's Compensation
✅
Link
(303) 318-8000
Colorado City / Municipality
Depends
Colorado Registered Agent
✅
Connecticut Registered Agent
Depends
Connecticut Secretary of State
✅
3 weeks
Link
(860) 509-6002
Connecticut Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(860) 263-6470
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(860) 297-5962
Delaware Division of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
Link
(302) 577-8779
Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance
✅
2 weeks
Link
(302) 761-8482
Delaware Division of Corporations
Depends
Link
(302) 739-3073
Delaware Registered Agent
Depends
Florida Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(850) 717-6628
Florida Dept of Revenue - Child Support Program
✅
Link
(850) 617-8989
Florida Registered Agent
✅
Florida Division of Corporations
✅
1 week or less
Link
(850) 245-6000
Georgia Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(404) 656-2817
Georgia Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(877) 423-6711
Georgia Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(855) 436-7365
Georgia Registered Agent
Depends
Hawaii Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
Depends
Link
(808) 586-9151
Hawaii Business Registration Division, Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs
✅
Link
(808) 586-2727
Hawaii Registered Agent
✅
Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relationships (UI Division)
✅
1 week or less
Link
(808) 586-8915
Hawaii Department of Taxation
✅
1 week or less
Link
(808) 587-4242
Idaho State Tax Commission
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(208) 334-7660
Idaho Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less
Link
(208) 332-3570
Idaho Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(208) 334-2301
Idaho Registered Agent
✅
Illinois Department of Employment Security
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(800) 247-4984
Illinois Registered Agent
Depends
Illinois Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(312) 793-3380
Illinois Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
Link
(217) 782-3336
Indiana Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(800) 457-8283
Indiana Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(317) 232-2240
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
✅
1 week or less after 1st payroll
Link
(800) 891-6499
Indiana Registered Agent
Depends
Iowa Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(888) 767-8683
Iowa Workforce Development
✅
2 weeks
Link
(888) 848-7442
Iowa Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(515) 281-3114
Iowa Registered Agent
✅
Kansas Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(785) 296-4564
Kansas Registered Agent
Depends
Kansas Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(785) 368-8222
Kansas Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(785) 296-5000
Kentucky Secretary of State
✅
3 weeks
Link
(502) 564-3490
Kentucky Registered Agent
✅
Kentucky Department of Revenue
✅
3 weeks
❌
Link
(502) 564-7287
Kentucky Division of Unemployment Insurance
✅
3 weeks
Link
(502) 564-2168
Louisiana Registered Agent
✅
Louisiana Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(225) 925-4704
Louisiana Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less after 1st payroll
Link
(855) 307-3893
Louisiana Workforce Commission
✅
1 week or less
Link
(833) 708-2866
Maine Secretary of State
Depends
Link
Maine Revenue Services
✅
3 weeks
❌
Link
(207) 626-8475
Maine Dept of Labor Bureau of Unemployment Compensation (Employer's Services Division)
✅
3 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(207) 621-5120
Maine Registered Agent
Depends
Maryland Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(410) 767-1184
Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
✅
2 weeks
Link
(410) 767-2412
Comptroller of Maryland
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(800) 638-2937
Maryland Registered Agent
✅
Link
Massachusetts Department of Revenue
✅
3 weeks
❌
Link
(617) 887-6367
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
✅
3 weeks
Link
(617) 727-9640
Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance
✅
3 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(877) 626-6800
Massachusetts Registered Agent
✅
Michigan Registered Agent
Depends
Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
✅
2 weeks
Link
(855) 484-2636
Michigan Department of Treasury
✅
2 weeks
Link
(517) 636-6925
Michigan Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(888)-767-6424
Minnesota Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(651) 296-2803
Minnesota Unemployment Insurance
✅
1 week or less
Link
(651) 296-6141
Minnesota Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(800) 657-3594
Minnesota Registered Agent
✅
Mississippi Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(601) 359-1633
Mississippi Department of Employment Security
✅
2 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(601) 321-6000
Mississippi Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(601) 923-7700
Mississippi Registered Agent
✅
Missouri Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(573) 751-4936
Missouri Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(573) 751-8750
Missouri Registered Agent
Depends
Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(573) 751-3215
Montana Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(406) 444-2034
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
✅
2 weeks
Link
(406) 444-3834
Montana Registered Agent
Depends
Montana Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
Link
(406) 444-6900
Nebraska Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(402) 471-2554
Nebraska Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(402) 471-9898
Nebraska Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
Link
(800) 742-7474
Nevada Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(866) 962-3707
Nevada Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(775) 684-5708
Nevada Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less after 1st payroll
Link
(775) 684-6310
Nevada Municipality
✅
Nevada Registered Agent
✅
New Hampshire Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(800) 852-3400
New Hampshire Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(603) 271-3246
New Jersey Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(609) 777-2581
New Jersey Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less
Link
(609) 633-6400
New Jersey Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
Link
(609) 292-6400
New Jersey Registered Agent
✅
New Mexico Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(505) 827-3600
New Mexico Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
Link
(505) 827-0700
New Mexico Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less after 1st payroll
Link
(877) 664-6984
New York Secretary of State
✅
5 weeks
Link
(518) 473-2492
New York Department of Labor
✅
6 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(888) 899-8810
New York Department of Revenue
✅
6 weeks
❌
Link
(518) 485-6654
Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI)
Depends
Link
(844) 337-6303
New York Registered Agent
✅
North Carolina Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(919) 814-5400
North Carolina Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less
Link
(919) 289-5424
North Carolina Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(877) 252-3052
North Carolina Registered Agent
✅
North Dakota Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(701) 328-2900
North Dakota Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(877) 328-7088
North Dakota Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(701) 328-2814
North Dakota Registered Agent
Depends
Ohio Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(614) 466-2655
Ohio Registered Agent
✅
Ohio Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(614) 466-2319
Ohio Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(888) 405-4039
Ohio Municpality
Depends
Oklahoma Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(405) 522-2520
Oklahoma Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(405) 557-5330
Oklahoma Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
Link
(800) 522-8165
Oklahoma Registered Agent
✅
Oregon Secretary of State
✅
Link
503-986-2200
Oregon Department of Revenue
✅
4 weeks
❌
Link
(800) 356-4222
Oregon Registered Agent
✅
4 weeks
Oregon Department of Labor
✅
4 weeks
Link
(503) 947-1394
Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI)
Depends
Link
Pennsylvania Secretary of State
✅
3 weeks
Link
(717) 787-1057
Pennsylvania Registered Agent
✅
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
✅
3 weeks
❌
Link
(888) 728-2937
Pennsylvania Department of Labor
✅
3 weeks
Link
(866) 403-6163
Pennsylvania Municipality
Depends
Puerto Rico Department of Revenue
✅
Link
(787) 620-2323
Puerto Rico Department of Labor
✅
Link
(787) 754-2120
Rhode Island Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(401) 222-3983
Rhode Island Department of Labor
Depends
Link
(401) 574-8700
Rhode Island Registered Agent
✅
2 weeks
Rhode Island Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
Link
(401) 574-8829
South Carolina Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(803) 734-2170
South Carolina Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
Link
(803) 898-5000
South Carolina Registered Agent
✅
South Carolina Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(803) 737-2400
Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI)
Depends
South Dakota Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(605) 773-4845
South Dakota Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(605) 626-2312
South Dakota Registered Agent
Depends
Tennessee Department of Labor
✅
3 weeks
Link
(844) 224-5818
Tennessee Secretary of State
✅
3 weeks
Link
(615) 741-2286
Tennessee Registered Agent
✅
Tennessee Department of Revenue
Depends
Link
(615) 253-0600
Texas Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(512) 463-5555
Texas Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less after 1st payroll
❌
Link
(512) 463-2699
Texas Registered Agent
✅
Utah Department of Revenue
✅
3 weeks
❌
Link
(800) 662-4335
Utah Secretary of State
✅
3 weeks
Link
(801) 530-4849
Utah Department of Labor
✅
3 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(801) 526-9235
Utah Registered Agent
✅
Vermont Secretary of State
✅
1 week or less
Link
(802) 828-2386
Vermont Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(802) 828-2551
Vermont Registered Agent
✅
Vermont Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less
Link
(802) 828-4344
Virginia Secretary of State
Depends
Link
(804) 786-2441
Virginia Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(804) 367-8037
Virginia Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(866) 832-2363
Virginia Registered Agent
Depends
Washington Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(360) 725-0377
Washington Department of Labor
✅
18 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(360) 902-5800
Washington Department of Revenue
✅
4 weeks
❌
Link
(360) 705-6741
Washington Worker's Compensation
✅
Link
(855) 829-9243
Washington Registered Agent
✅
Washington Municipality
Depends
Washington DC Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(202) 727-3117
Washington DC Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(202) 698-7550
Washington DC Registered Agent
Depends
Washington DC Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks after 1st payroll
Link
(202) 727-4829
West Virginia Secretary of State
✅
2 weeks
Link
(304) 558-6000
West Virginia Department of Labor
✅
2 weeks
Link
(304) 558-2676
West Virginia Department of Revenue
✅
2 weeks
❌
Link
(800) 982-8297
West Virginia Registered Agent
Depends
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
✅
1 week or less
❌
Link
(608) 266-2776
Wisconsin Department of Labor
✅
1 week or less
Link
(608) 261-6700
Wyoming Department of Labor
✅
4 weeks
❌
Link
(307) 235-3264

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