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