Set up your Gusto account (for employees)

Summary

Employees can learn how to set up their Gusto account and get a glimpse into what actions they'll be able to take in Gusto.

Users Intent

Context Variations

Content

Employers must give you access before you can set up, complete, and access your Gusto profile—reach out to your current, or previous employer, to confirm which email they added to your Gusto profile if you're not sure.

Once your employer has added you to Gusto, you'll get an email asking you to fill out your personal details to get you on payroll. You'll also be asked to sign a few forms electronically, including:

Form W-4,
Direct deposit authorization, and;
Form I-9.

Reminders

If you have more than one Gusto account set up under the same email, you may need to switch between your accounts.
If you cannot sign in, confirm the email address your employer set up your account with, and get help signing in here.

Use the dropdowns below to learn more. Use CMD + F (or CTRL + F) to search for words in the article.

Get started setting up your account—enter your personal details

Sign in to Gusto using the link in your welcome email.
- If you cannot find your welcome email: Verify the email address your employer used and get help signing in here.
- If you have not set up a password yet and get asked to enter one, click Forgot password? to reset it.
Click Let's Get Started.
Enter your Social Security number (SSN), birthday, and home address.
- Once entered, your name, SSN, and birthday can only be updated by an admin at the company. Reach out to your employer if these needed to be edited.
Select your employment eligibility, which will be used to fill out Form I-9. Refer to this article if you need help making your selection.
Click Save and Continue.
Enter your federal and state filing statuses.
- As of January 1, 2020, the IRS has a new Form W-4. Check out our blog to learn more about how to fill out the new form.
- The IRS’ worksheet, withholding estimator, and FAQs can also be used as helpful resources when determining your federal tax withholding.
Click Save.
Enter your information for direct deposit payments. If you do not want to be paid through direct deposit, update the Payment Method to Check.
Click Save and Continue.
Click Sign Form next to the following forms:
- Form W-4: Employee Tax Withholding. This form determines your income tax withholding.
- Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification, if applicable. This form determines your eligibility to work in the U.S.
- Employee Direct Deposit Authorization, if applicable. This form allows us to transfer money to your bank account (for when you get paid) and from your bank account (for the rare occasion we correct or reverse a payment).
Click Save and Continue.

Your payroll administrator will receive an email once you've completed the above steps. Once they have reviewed and approved your information, log into your Gusto account to view your paystubs, download forms, and update other details.

Use the Gusto mobile app to set up your account

Check your email and look for an invitation from Gusto—make sure it’s the email your employer used for you when onboarding.
- If you cannot find your welcome email: Verify the email address your employer used and get help signing in here.
Click Get started.
Click Get the app.
- If you don’t want to download the app, click the Get started on web hyperlink below the button.
Once in your app store, click Download next to the Gusto mobile app.
Click Create an account.
Enter the email you gave your employer—it’s the same email that Gusto invited you to onboard through.
Click Continue.
We’re going to verify your email by sending a link to the email entered if it’s on file with the employer.
- Not seeing the email?
  - Double-check it’s the email address you gave your employee or contact the employer to make sure they have the correct email on file.
  - Check your inbox or spam folder and wait 5-10 minutes before resending the email.
Click Open my inbox or open your email another way.
Click Verify email.
- The verification link only lasts 24 hours. If the link expired, you can request a new link in the email you received.
Click Let’s get started.
Set a secure password at least 8 characters long, re-enter the password, and click Set my password.
Review the onboarding checklist and follow the steps in each section to complete onboarding:
- Enter your personal details
- Select tax withholdings
- Set up your paycheck
- Sign your documents
- Introduce yourself

Click the additional dropdowns below to move through the onboarding checklist.

Enter your personal details

Click Enter your personal info.
Click Continue.
Enter your official, legal first, and last name, as well as any other preferred names or pronouns, and click Continue.
Enter your phone number, let us know if you want coworkers to see your number, and then click Continue.
Enter your birthday, let us know if you want coworkers to see the month and date (never the year), and click Continue.
Enter your Social Security number and click Continue—make sure this is 100% accurate.
Enter your permanent US home address (this can’t be a PO box) and click Continue.
Confirm your work address and click Continue—if the address is wrong, let your employer know immediately.
- Your work address should be the address where you physically do the work (or clock in). If the address listed is not where you do your work, your employer may need to take additional action to make sure you’re taxed properly.
(Optional) Enter your emergency contact information and click Continue.
- To skip this step, click the hyperlink I’ll set this up later below the button.
Click the dropdown to let us know about your work eligibility, and then click Continue.
Review all of the personal information to make sure it’s 100% accurate—click the pencil icon if you need to edit anything.
Click Save.

Once you've set up your account, you can edit your personal details later.

Select tax withholdings

Time to select your tax withholdings. A portion of each paycheck is withheld to pay employee income taxes. To determine your withholdings, you can go to the IRS calculator. You can also use the Gusto paycheck calculator(s) to calculate your take-home pay and withholdings—we have one for salaried employees, and one for hourly employees.

Enter your withholdings.
Click Continue.

Set up your paycheck

Pick how you’d like to be paid for your work. Have your account and routing numbers ready if you choose direct deposit to your bank.

Click Continue.
Once you’ve watched the video, click Skip.
Let us know how you’d like to be paid:
- Choose to get paid to a Gusto Wallet debit card—learn more in this article by clicking the dropdown titled How the spending account and debit card work.
  - While you wait for your card, we’ll ask how you want to be paid in the meantime (direct deposit or by paper check)
- Direct deposit to your existing bank account
- Paper check
Enter your routing and account number and click Continue.
- You can add additional bank accounts later.
Let us know what type of account this is (checking or savings) and click Continue.
Give the bank account a name and click Add account—this will show on things like your paystub so you can identify the account.
Choose if you’d like to set up a Gusto savings goal for rainy days, vacations, and more.
- If you choose to set this up: you’ll have the ability to enter the details on the next screens or set it up later.
Click Continue.
Review the paycheck expectations and click Continue.
Review your personal information for accuracy—if everything looks good, click Continue.
Accept the terms and agreements by clicking Accept terms.

Sign employee docs

From the onboarding checklist, click Sign employee docs.
View and sign all documents waiting for you. These usually include an employee direct deposit authorization form, a Form I-9 (employee work eligibility), and Form W-4 (tax withholding elections).
There may be additional documents to sign like offer letters, employee handbooks, etc.
Click Continue.

Introduce yourself

From the onboarding checklist, click Introduce yourself.
Write a note to your new coworkers if you’d like, we’ll share the message with them on your first day of work.
- If you don’t want to leave a note, click Skip.
Share some fun facts about yourself with the team.
- You can always leave the answers blank and click Skip if you don’t want to share.
Once everything in the checklist is complete, click Finish.
Your account will be reviewed by an admin at the company.
Click Continue.

You’re all done, but an admin still needs to approve your employee account in Gusto. Once approved, you’ll have full app access to manage your paystubs and more.

Actions you can take in Gusto (some, not all)

View your paystubs
View your payroll and year-end forms
View your employee details
Change your home address
Edit your bank account details
Change your payment method to direct deposit or check
Change your state and federal withholding allowances
Clock in and out
Change your password
Update your email address
Add or update your profile photo
- Head to the Personal details section of your employee profile, and click the circle icon next to your name to upload a photo or import one from your LinkedIn.
Enable private payday emails
Set up two-step verification
Donate to charities
Refer business owners
*Request vacation or sick time off (if time off is managed by Gusto)
*View your benefits (if benefits are managed by Gusto)
*View your company org chart (available to companies on the Plus or Premium plan)

*Check with your payroll administrator if you're unsure which of these features your company uses Gusto to manage.

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