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Colorado registration and tax info

Updated 10/28/2025 07:06:00 PM by caitlin.halligan@gusto.com
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Summary

Learn how to register a company in Colorado, find account numbers and rate info (if you're already registered), calculate FAMLI taxes, authorize Gusto with agencies, view what forms/taxes Gusto handles, view agency contact information, set up SecureSavings, or close a tax account.

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Content

Having payroll issues? Learn how to troubleshoot blocked payroll.

Setting up payroll in Colorado for the first time

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
  • 🤝 Let Gusto register for you

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

Let us register for you

Gusto works with Middesk to help you register with tax agencies in new states.

How it works—an overview

Get help registering for state taxes

We can help you register for state tax accounts after you:

  1. Add a work address in the new state in Gusto.
  2. Assign that work address to a new or existing employee.
  3. Check your Home page for a to-do. If the state requires it, register with the Secretary of State (SOS) and tell us when it's done.
    • States where you need to register with the SOS first: Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Vermont.

Cost, timeline, and who can register

The cost, steps, and turnaround time depend on the state. Gusto will show you these details when you start the registration process.

Middesk cannot help if your company is:

  • A non-profit that’s not a 501(c)(3)
  • A business that left a PEO (Professional Employer Organization)
  • A business that bought another business already registered
  • A business that changed its legal entity type (like from LLC to Corp)
  • A Limited Partnership (LP) or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

What the process looks like

  1. You give us some basic business information.
  2. Middesk will check your info.
  3. Your registration is usually submitted within two business days.
    • State registration with Middesk includes:
      • State income tax (withholding)
      • State unemployment insurance
    • What's not included:
      • Local agency registration
      • Third-Party Agent (TPA) access or Power of Attorney (POA) authorization.
        • If setting up TPA requires online agency portal access:
          • If Middesk has to create an agency account to register your business, you can find the agency portal login details on the Taxes & Compliance > Tax setup page in Gusto once registration is complete.
          • If Middesk does not need to create an account, but the agency requires TPA to be set up through their portal, you need to set up the agency portal accounts on your own.
    • After we submit your registration, you may need to answer a verification call from the agency to confirm that the registration request is legitimate.
  4. When Middesk gets your tax account information back after registering, they'll enter it in Gusto for you. 
    • Exceptions: If your business is in Nevada or Rhode Island, the tax info will be mailed to your company. Once you get the letter, check your email for instructions on how to send the info back to Middesk.

Third-Party Access (TPA) and Power of Attorney (POA) reminder

Some state agencies need Gusto to have TPA or a POA on file to file and pay your taxes. Usually, Middesk does not set this up, so you’ll have to do it yourself after registration.

  • If you're on the state tax registration article, look for a dropdown about TPA or POA in this article.
  • If you're not on the state-specific registration article, check the state registration articles to see if TPA or POA is needed and how to set it up. 

If there's no TPA or POA section, it's not needed right now.

If setting up TPA requires online agency portal access

  • If Middesk has to create an agency account to register your business, you can find the agency portal login details on the Taxes & Compliance > Tax setup page in Gusto once registration is complete.
  • If Middesk does not need to create an account, but the agency requires TPA to be set up through their portal, you need to set up the agency portal accounts on your own.
Get started with state tax registration in Gusto

The cost, steps, and turnaround time depend on the state. Gusto will show you these details when you start the registration process.

Need help with registration questions?

If you’re not sure how to answer one of the registration questions, check Middesk’s Help Center or email them at taxregistrations@middesk.com.

How to get started with state tax registration in Gusto:

  1. Sign in to Gusto.
  2. Go to Taxes & Compliance and select Tax setup.
  3. Under “[State name] Tax Setup”, find the "Let us help you register" banner and click Learn more.
    • The state will only show up if you’ve added a company work address there and assigned an employee to it.
  4. Review the price, process, and how long it'll take. We will not charge you until you send in your order.
    • State registration with Middesk includes:
      • State income tax (withholding)
      • State unemployment insurance
    • What's not included:
      • Local agency registration
      • Third-Party Agent (TPA) access or Power of Attorney (POA) authorization.
        • If setting up TPA or POA requires online agency portal access:
          • If Middesk has to create an agency account to register your business, you can find the agency portal login details on the Taxes & Compliance > Tax setup page in Gusto once registration is complete.
          • If Middesk does not need to create an account, but the agency requires TPA to be set up through their portal, you need to set up the agency portal accounts on your own.
  5. Click Get started on Middesk.
    • Reminder: We can only register for you if you do not already have a state account.
  6. Answer some questions about your business, like:
    • Basic info
    • Contact info
    • Company details
    • Address details
    • Officer/owner info
    • State-specific details
  7. After you've entered the information, review all the info carefully on the “Review Information” page. Mistakes can delay things.
    • Heads up: State agencies might add fees or take longer than expected. Middesk will notify you if that happens.
  8. If everything looks good, click Continue to Gusto.
  9. Before you submit the order, review the cost breakdown and total amount again.
    • Middesk will start to process your order after you submit it. They'll email you with order updates, and we'll add the cost to your monthly bill after the order is completed.
    • At this time, we cannot support order cancellations or refunds.
  10. Click Submit.
    • Heads up: After we submit your registration, you may need to respond to a verification call or email from the agency to confirm that the registration request is legitimate. If you do not complete this within 3–5 business days, the order will be canceled and refunded.
What to expect next
  • When Middesk gets your tax account information back after registering, they'll enter it in Gusto for you.
    • Exceptions: If your business is in Nevada or Rhode Island, the tax info will be mailed to your company. Once you get the letter, check your email for instructions on how to send the info back to Middesk.
  • Each state and agency takes a different amount of time to process a registration. To estimate when your state tax account info will be available, check the Post Submission Questions in Middesk's help article.

Third-Party Access (TPA) and Power of Attorney (POA) reminder

Some state agencies need Gusto to have TPA or a POA on file to file and pay your taxes. Usually, Middesk does not set this up, so you’ll have to do it yourself after registration.

  • If you're on the state tax registration article, Look for a dropdown about TPA or POA in this article.
  • If you're not on the state-specific registration article, check the state registration articles to see if TPA or POA is needed and how to set it up. 

If there's no TPA or POA section, it's not needed right now.

If setting up TPA requires online agency portal access

  • If Middesk has to create an agency account to register your business, you can find the agency portal login details on the Taxes & Compliance > Tax setup page in Gusto once registration is complete.
  • If Middesk does not need to create an account, but the agency requires TPA to be set up through their portal, you need to set up the agency portal accounts on your own.

Need to make a change?

If you already submitted your info but need to fix something, email taxregistrations@middesk.com to update it.

Check the status of your order

When your order is complete, you’ll get emails from Gusto and Middesk. They’ll detail the next steps, which include:

  • Reviewing registration details
  • Any other state-specific instructions

Before your order is done, you can check the order status in your Gusto account:

  1. Sign in to Gusto.
  2. Go to Taxes & Compliance and select Tax setup.
  3. Find the state headline, and just below it, view the order status. It could be:
    • Tax registration in progress (not yet submitted to the state)
    • We need more information
    • The state is working on your order
    • You have existing tax accounts
      • If we find you've already registered for taxes in the state, Middesk will cancel and refund the registration order. Work with the agency to find your tax account details and enter them in Gusto. 
    • Your registration has been completed
    • Your order is on hold 
      • This usually means you have not met the state’s requirements yet (this often happens with unemployment agencies).
      • Your order is paused until the date you entered during sign-up—this is your eligibility date (like the date of your first payroll in the state). Once that date arrives, your order will move forward.
        • If you entered the wrong date, email taxregistrations@middesk.com.
    • We could not complete your tax registration. 
  4. If there is action required, check your email for next steps. 
How Gusto handles tax registration mail

For most states where tax registration info is sent by physical mail, here's what to expect:

  1. Middesk receives agency mail during registration to collect tax details. Your tax account info is later sent to Gusto.
    • Exceptions: If your business is in Nevada or Rhode Island, the tax info will be mailed to your company. Once you get the letter, check your email for instructions on how to send the info back to Middesk.
  2. Gusto provides a digital mailbox where agency mail that was sent during registration can be viewed.
  3. After registration is complete, the agency updates its mailing address to your business address for future mail.
    • Important: In some cases, you'll need to take action to help update the address. We'll send an email or Home page to-do if any action is needed from you.

States—supported by Middesk—that send physical registration mail 

Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington DC,  and West Virginia.

How to view your digital mailbox or tax account credentials

  1. Sign in to your admin profile in Gusto.
  2. Go to Taxes & Compliance and click Tax Setup. 
  3. Find the state where a registration order has been completed, and click Visit Middesk.
  4. Here's what you can see in the digital mailbox:
    • Communications: View mail and other agency communication sent during registration or right after.
    • Accounts: View tax account credentials by agency.
FAQs

Q: Can I run payroll before my registration is done?

A: Yes. You may be asked to enter tax rates and tax deposit frequencies, but you can use temporary info.

Important reminders

  • We cannot submit tax payments or filings until all tax account numbers are added in Gusto.
  • If you run payroll before finishing registration, you might get notices about late tax payments or filings. Any penalties are your responsibility.
  • If you’re only registering for unemployment tax and do not have your rate yet, use the new employer rate for your state in Gusto until you get the correct one. Update the rate once you get it.

Q: I need to change some of the registration information that was submitted. What do I do?

A: Email Middesk at taxregistrations@middesk.com.

Q: Can I use Gusto to register in a new state without a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)? What if my business is merging or being acquired?

A: No, you need a FEIN in Gusto to get registration help for state taxes. If your business is merging or being acquired, Middesk cannot help with registration. You'll need to work with a tax advisor and state agencies directly.

Q: What if I'm not liable for unemployment tax yet?

A: If you want Middesk to start setting up an unemployment account number before you're liable, you can:

  • Use today’s date as the first date the employee(s) in the new state will be paid. 
  • Enter the start date of the quarter you expect to meet the liability threshold.
    • Check the state’s liability info in the Register on your own section (go to the SUI dropdown). If there’s no info, contact the state agency directly.

Q: What do I do if the tax agency contacts me after the registration is submitted?

A: Respond to them. For some agencies (like in CA and IA), you may need to answer a verification call or email to confirm that the registration request is legitimate. If you do not complete this within 3–5 business days, the order may be canceled and refunded.

Q: Can Middesk help if the responsible party is international without an ITIN or SSN?

A: No. Middesk cannot help in this scenario, you'll need to register on your own. 

Q: Why am I unable to enter 0% ownership for the responsible party or add a commercial owner?

A: Some states have a 1% minimum for the responsible party's ownership percentage. These states include ID, KS, MN, OH, SC, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, and RI.

You’ll need to place registration orders directly with Middesk outside of Gusto or register directly with the agency.

Some states require an individual owner to be listed. If you’re a non-profit or unsure, contact Middesk for help at taxregistrations@middesk.com.

Q: When will my tax account information be available?

A: Each state and agency takes a different amount of time to process a registration. To estimate when your state tax account info will be available, check the Post Submission Questions in Middesk's help article.

Q: Where can I find my tax information?

A: You can find your tax info in several places: 

  • In Gusto: Click the Taxes & Compliance section and select Tax setup, then scroll to state tax setup.
  • In your state’s online portal: Find your account details there.
    • You may need to create accounts on your own, but Middesk does this when it's required to register. Go to the Post Submission Questions in the Middesk help article to see which agencies they'll create credentials for.  
      • If Middesk has to create an agency account to register your business, you can find the agency portal login details on the Taxes & compliance > Tax setup page in Gusto once registration is complete.
  • By mail: Some agencies send tax info by mail. If that happens, Middesk will let you know, and you'll need to enter this info in Gusto.

Gusto’s state tax registration service does not contain tax, legal, financial, or HR advice. Since rules and regulations change over time and can vary by location, consult a lawyer, HR expert, or accountant for specific guidance.

Q: Does Middesk help with giving Gusto third-party access (TPA) or Power of Attorney (POA) for tax payments?

A: Some state agencies need Gusto to have TPA or POA access to file and pay your taxes. Usually, Middesk does not set this up, so you’ll have to do it yourself after registration.

Check the state registration articles to see if TPA or POA is needed and how to set it up. If there's no “Authorize Gusto” section, then TPA is not needed right now.

If setting up TPA or POA requires online agency portal access:

  • If Middesk has to create an agency account to register your business, you can find the agency portal login details on the Taxes & compliance > Tax setup page in Gusto once registration is complete.
  • If Middesk does not need to create an account, but the agency requires TPA to be set up through their portal, you need to set up the agency portal accounts on your own.

Q: Does Middesk help close state tax accounts?

A: No, you'll need to close the tax account yourself.

Q: Can I cancel my Middesk order?

A: At this time, we do not support order cancellations or refunds.

Q: What is Middesk's phone number?

A: To get support from Middesk, you must email them at taxregistrations@middesk.com. They can help with registration-specific questions, or changing info that's already been submitted. For all other questions, you can message Gusto. 

Register for CO income and unemployment tax on your own

Click the dropdowns below to learn how to register for income and unemployment tax in Colorado—includes information about local taxes.

Colorado tax agencies
  • Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) – income tax withholding
  • Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) 
    • Unemployment tax
    • Family and Medical Leave (FAMLI)
  • Local Colorado tax agencies – various
Income and unemployment account registration

If you're starting a new business in Colorado, you'll need to register with the Colorado Secretary of State before registering with other agencies.

Before you start, make sure you have:

  • Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
  • A designated registered agent.

For companies formed outside the state of Colorado, you'll want to double-check whether you need to register with, or provide documentation to, the Secretary of State. For more information about foreign business entities, check out the agency's FAQs.

Register for income tax and unemployment tax

  1. Apply for both tax types online using MyBizColorado. 
    • Before you get started, check out the overview of the registration process from the agency.
  2. Click Start when you're ready to begin the registration. 
    • This will get you registered with:
      • The Department of Revenue (DOR)
      • The Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)
        • If your company is not yet liable for unemployment tax, your CDLE account won’t be activated just yet. Learn more below about what's required when you become liable. 

Once you complete the registration online, you'll receive instant confirmation on MyBizColorado, and the agency will also send a letter in the mail.

Running payroll in Gusto before you're liable for SUI

Your company becomes liable for state unemployment insurance tax once the company has:

  • Paid $1500 in wages during a calendar quarter or;
  • Had at least one Colorado-employee working for any part of the week, for 20 or more different weeks during a calendar year.

If you need to run payroll and do not yet meet the above requirements, Gusto allows it—enter the new employer rate for your state in Gusto in the meantime. Then, update the rate once you get the official rate notice from the state.

Once you exceed $1,500 in wages, you’ll need to register for a new UI employer account, and the agency will send you a Notice of Employer's Tax Rates (Form UITR-7) in the mail. 

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Once a valid Colorado work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:

  1. Go to Taxes & Compliance and click Tax setup.
  2. Scroll to the “Colorado Tax Setup” headline and select Manage taxes.
  3. For withholding tax, enter your Colorado Account Number (CAN) issued by the Department of Revenue—this is typically an 8-digit number.
    • You can find your CAN by:
      • Reviewing any letter sent to you from the agency (about withholding tax), or;
      • Signing in to Colorado Revenue Online, referencing your Wage Withholding account, and looking for the account number formatted “########-###-WTH"—Gusto only needs the first eight digits.
  4. Enter your withholding tax filing frequency.
    • You can find your filing frequency on your registration letter, or in your Colorado Revenue Online account in the Wage Withholding account section. 
  5. Enter your CDLE unemployment account number—this is a 7 or 8-digit account number. 
    • If you were issued a 7-digit account number: Add a leading “0” in Gusto, we'll ask for 8 digits.
    • If you were previously issued a 9-digit number (formatted “123456.00-7”), the agency has automatically changed the formatting and converted it to an 8-digit number.
      • They removed the 7th and 8th digits, then added a leading 0.
      • Using the example account number above, the number is converted to this 8-digit format: “01234567.”
  6. Enter your unemployment rates—you'll need to enter three different rates in Gusto (as percentages): The "Base rate", the Support rate (a combined total of four other state-run funds), and the Solvency Surcharge rate.
    • If you're viewing a mailed rate note, or in the Viewing Correspondences tab of your online portal: 
      • Base rate—item 6 on the mailed rate notice.
      • Support rate—item 7 on the mailed rate notice.
        • The "Support rate" covers four state-run funds (listed below), and those funds do not need to be listed separately in Gusto. If the state changes any of the four funds, the "Support rate" will update automatically. 
          • Employment Support Fund (ESF) Surcharge
          • UI Program Support Fund Surcharge
          • Benefit Recovery Fund (BRF) Surcharge
          • Workforce Development Fund (WDF) Surcharge
      • Solvency surcharge rate—item 8 on the mailed rate notice.
    • If you're in the View Rate Notice tab of your online portal, enter the following in Gusto:
      • Base Rate
      • Support rate, combine the:
        • ESF Surcharge
        • BRF Surcharge
        • UI Program Support Fund Surcharge
        • WDF Surcharge
      • Solvency Surcharge Rate

If you edit a tax account number after payments or filings have already 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.

Local tax registration—Occupational Privilege Taxes (OPT)

If you have employees working in one of the following locations, you or your employees may be liable for an Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT):

  • Aurora (this tax has been repealed as of January 1st, 2025)
  • Denver
  • Glendale
  • Greenwood Village
  • Sheridan

Scroll below to get registration information.

What is an Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT)?

This is a uniform tax that includes both an employee and employer tax.

  • Employees who make over a certain amount per month are taxed per month (based on an agency set threshold)—wage thresholds vary by agency.
  • Employers are taxed a flat amount per month for each employee—the employer tax per employee applies even if you do not run payroll.

Some Colorado cities also require employers to pay OPT for business owners and officers who are not included on payroll. In your Gusto account, we'll ask you to include how many business owners/officers are not considered employees but are subject to OPT taxes—do not include owners or officers that you are paying taxable wages to.

Denver OPT registration and tax info

Who is subject to the tax?

The following are subject to the Denver OPT:

  • Employees who earn equal to or greater than $500/per month, and;
  • Owners and officers (even if they aren't on payroll), and;
    • You'll need to let Gusto know about your owners and officers—find instructions below. 
  • Partners or managers of businesses who perform business in Denver.

Certain employers, such as governmental or charitable entities whose employees are performing duties consistent with the organization's exempt status, may be exempt from the employer-portion of the tax (employees are never exempt). If you've confirmed an employer-exemption, contact us to let us know.

Let Gusto know how many business owners you have that are not considered employees, but are responsible for paying Denver OPT:

  1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax Setup.
  2. Scroll to the “Colorado Tax Setup” headline and click Manage taxes.
  3. Edit the applicable field to tell us how many owners are subject to the tax. 

How is the tax calculated, and when does it get withheld?

We'll usually withhold the tax on the first payroll of each month—while we calculate and withhold the tax monthly, it'll be deposited to the agency based on your company's agency-assigned deposit schedule. 

  • The employee portion of the tax is $5.75
  • The employer portion of the tax is $4.00—aka the “business operations” portion.
  • The total monthly assessment is $9.75/per employee (or owner/partner)

For months when there are no subject employees, employers still owe a $4 minimum for the “business operations” portion of the tax. 

Because the tax liability, in part, is based on employees' earned income, it's processed in arrears—this way we know how much they earned the prior month.

  • Example: If you join Gusto in January, the Denver OPT liability for the month of January will be withheld at the beginning of February, once all January-wages have been processed.

How do I register for the Denver OPT?

  1. Register a new business here. 
  2. Scroll to the “Access & Registration” section and click Register a New Business.
  3. If the agency required the company to file quarterly or annually, contact them at excisetax.research@denvergov.org to request that your filing frequency be changed to monthly.
    • Gusto defaults to the monthly deposit schedule, which is recommended to avoid late payments and filings—we'll attempt to file monthly and if the filing fails, we'll update the schedule to the one assigned by the agency.

You can learn more about how taxation for Denver OPT works here.

Sheridan OPT registration and tax info

The Sheridan OPT is withheld on payroll each month and has an employee-portion and employer-match—both are $3.

All employers engaged in business (as an owner, operator, or agent) within the city must pay this tax for each employee who:

  • Performs all or part of their services within the city for any period of time in a calendar month and;
  • Receives gross compensation of at least $500 for the month.

How do I register for the Sheridan OPT?

  1. Register your business with the city.
  2. Contact the city directly to request that your deposit frequency be set to monthly by calling (303) 762-2200.
    • Gusto pays Sheridan OPT taxes monthly, the most frequent schedule, to minimize potential penalty or interest.

Glendale OPT registration and tax info

Glendale OPT is withheld monthly for all employees who work within the city and earn more than $750 per month. The $5 monthly fee for these employees is matched by the employer, for a total tax of $10.

  • Self-employed individuals, owners, partners, and officers, who are not paid a salary or commission (and may therefore not be on payroll), are subject to only the employer-portion of the tax—learn how to let Gusto know about them below.

How do I register for the Glendale OPT?

  1. Register your business with the city.
  2. Contact the city directly to request that your deposit frequency be set to monthly by calling (303) 759-1513.
    • Gusto pays Glendale OPT taxes monthly, the most frequent schedule, to minimize potential penalty or interest.

Let Gusto know how many business owners you have that are not considered employees, but are responsible for paying Glendale OPT:

  1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax Setup.
  2. Scroll to the “Colorado Tax Setup” headline and click Manage taxes.
  3. Edit the applicable field to tell us how many owners are subject to the tax. 

Greenwood Village OPT registration

The Greenwood Village tax consists of a $2 employee-portion and $2 employer-portion per month (total of $4)—both apply when $250 or more is earned in a calendar month. Owners, partners, and officers who do not earn a minimum of $250 a month (and may not be on payroll) are only subject to the employer portion—learn how to let Gusto know about them below.

How do I register for Greenwood Village OPT?

  1. Register your business online with the city.  
  2. Contact the city directly to request that your deposit frequency be set to monthly by calling (303) 486-8299.
    • Gusto pays Greenwood Village OPT taxes monthly, the most frequent schedule, to minimize potential penalty or interest.

Let Gusto know how many business owners you have that are not considered employees, but are responsible for paying Greenwood Village OPT:

  1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax Setup.
  2. Scroll to “Colorado Tax Setup” headline and click Manage taxes.
  3. Edit the applicable field to tell us how many owners are subject to the tax. 

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Once a valid local address has been added in Gusto for one or more employee(s), you can add your tax account information:

  1. Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
  2. Scroll to the “Colorado Tax Setup” headline and select Manage taxes.
  3. Enter the applicable account number.
Register for CO Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) on your own

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment launched a Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program that's funded by payroll taxes.

As your payroll provider, we’ll withhold and send employee and, if required, employer contributions for payrolls.

Important reminders

  • As of 2025, Gusto does not file CO FAMLI taxes for self-employed individuals. 
    • Self-employed individuals must register, pay, and file CO FAMLI returns outside of Gusto. If you or any of your employees qualify as self-employed in Colorado, see the related dropdown below to see what you need to do in Gusto.
  • Gusto does not support employers covering 100% of employee FAMLI taxes. Talk to a tax advisor for options. If you do not have an advisor, try our Partner directory.
Who needs to register? Are any employers exempt? 

All Colorado employers with at least one qualifying employee must register for a FAMLI account, even if they do not owe the employer portion of the tax. Employers must still send payments for their employees.

Private carrier coverage

If you offer an equivalent private plan, you must:

  1. Apply for approval with the FAMLI Division.
  2. Once approved, return to Gusto.
  3. Go to Taxes & Compliance, then Tax setup.
  4. Under "Washington Tax Setup", select No for the question about whether you're required to pay the employer portion of Paid Family & Medical Leave.
    • If you have an approved private plan, you're typically no longer required to pay Paid Family & Medical Leave tax to the state.
  5. Add employee exemptions for the Colorado FAMLI tax so that Gusto will not debit for the employee's share of the tax and pay it to the state.

Self-employed individuals

Self-employed individuals can choose to opt into CO FAMLI but are not required. If you or an employee are considered self-employed in Colorado, follow the steps in the related dropdown below to enroll.

Important

As of 2025, Gusto cannot file or pay CO FAMLI taxes for self-employed individuals. If this is you, do the following:

  • You pay yourself a wage and have no other employees:
    • Set a company and employee exemption for CO FAMLI in Gusto
    • You must register, file, and pay the tax with the state yourself. Gusto will not debit or pay this tax once the exemption is in place.
  • You pay yourself a wage and also have employees:
    • For the self-employed owner(s), set an employee exemption for CO FAMLI in Gusto
      • We will not debit or pay the owner’s share. 
      • We'll still withhold and pay CO FAMLI for your other employees.
    • You must register, file, and pay the owner’s tax with the state yourself.

If you do not know if this applies to you, talk to a tax advisor. If you do not have an advisor, try our Partner directory.

FAMLI rules for self-employed individuals (2025 update)

As of 2025, Gusto does not file CO FAMLI taxes for self-employed individuals due to new filing requirements, and a need for supporting documentation we do not have. 

  • CO FAMLI now asks self-employed businesses for extra documents (that include sensitive info) with your quarterly reports. This includes things like bank statements, pay stubs, deposit slips, and written proof. Gusto does not collect these, so you’ll need to send them yourself.

If this applies to your business, learn more below. 

Who is a Self-Employed Individual (SEI) in Colorado?

  • Owns more than 25% of a business, or;
  • Owns 25% or less but works independently, free from employer control

Check CO FAMLI's definition of an SEI to confirm an individual's status. 

Next steps depend on your company's unique situation.

If your business has only SEIs (no other employees)

Gusto cannot pay or file FAMLI taxes for your business.

What you need to do:

  1. Call CO FAMLI at (866) 263-2654 to confirm your business is registered correctly.
  2. To avoid Gusto from submitting filings that will fail:
    • Add an employee-level CO FAMLI exemption for each SEI (effective Jan 1 of the current year).
    • Let us know you "closed" your CO FAMLI tax account in Gusto—this stops us from filing.
  3. To opt into FAMLI, enroll directly with the state.
  4. Manually file and pay taxes each quarter and submit the prior year's W-2s by Dec 1 every year. This must be taken care of outside of Gusto. 

If your business has SEIs and regular employees

Gusto can file FAMLI taxes for employees, but not for SEIs.

What you need to do:

  1. Call CO FAMLI at (866) 263-2654 to confirm your business is registered with both:
    • A Self-Employed Individual account
    • An Employer account
      • This is the account number you should enter in Gusto. 
  2. To avoid failed filings, in Gusto you'll need to add a CO FAMLI employee exemption for each SEI (effective Jan 1 of the current year).
  3. In the Taxes & compliance > Tax setup section of Gusto, confirm your "Employer" account number (not your SEI account number) is listed.
  4. Manually file and pay taxes each quarter for your SEIs and submit the prior year's W-2s by Dec 1 every year. This must be taken care of outside of Gusto. 

For more details, visit CO FAMLI’s guide on Self-Employed Workers or call (866) 263-2654.

How do I register and get a FAMLI account ID?

To get an overview of the process, see the step-by-step instructions in this video. Then:

  1. Register for a FAMLI account with My FAMLI+ Employer.
  2. Click Log into My FAMLI+ Employer.
    • You'll be redirected to this website. 
  3. Next to “Are you a new user?” click Create account. 
  4. On the new page you're taken to, scroll down and click the Create an account button.
    • Add your details, and we always recommend opting in to 2-step verification.
    • Once you've created the account, you'll be brought to the CO My FAMLI+ page.
  5. From the My FAMLI+ page, click Add or link an organization.
    • Answer No when asked, “Are you a third party administrator registering on behalf of this organization?”
      • When asked “What organization type best describes the business you are registering”, do not select “Third-Party Administrator” or “Transmitter.”
    • Search your company's FEIN—if you aren't already registered, proceed to the next step.
  6. Fill out your company details to create a My FAMLI+ account—use your company's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) to register the business and link the two accounts.
  7. After you've registered for both accounts, you'll need to authorize Gusto as your third-party agent for CO FAMLI so we can file and pay this tax.

When you register, you'll receive your new 10-digit FAMLI account ID number directly in the MyFAMLI+ portal.

How do I determine which portions I need to pay (employer, employee, or both)? 

Colorado employers are only required to pay the employer portion of FAMLI if they have 10 or more employees nationwide in the previous calendar year. You must determine your employee headcount each year by looking at the previous calendar year.

Here’s a summary of the requirements:

Self-employed people or owner-only companies with no employees:

  • You're not required to participate in FAMLI, but you may choose to do so in the future. Learn more about self-employed participation in FAMLI.
  • Important: As of 2025, Gusto does not file CO FAMLI taxes for self-employed individuals due to new filing requirements, and a need for supporting documentation we do not have. If this applies to your business:
    • Let us know in Gusto, and;
    • You'll need to handle registration, payments, and filings outside of Gusto.

Additional detail can be found in the related "self-employed" dropdown above. 

Businesses with 2–9 employees nationwide:

  • You do not have to pay the employer portion.  
  • You must still register with FAMLI in order to remit (pay) employee contributions. 
  • Your Colorado employees must pay the employee portion of their wages (0.45%), until they meet the Social Security wage base amount. 

Businesses with 10 or more employees nationwide:

  • You must pay the employer portion: 0.45% of each Colorado employee’s wages.
  • Your Colorado employees must pay the employee portion of their wages (0.45%), until they meet the Social Security wage base amount. 
    • For example: If you have 100 employees nationwide, and 9 working completely in Colorado, you pay the 0.45% employer's share and withhold and remit the 0.45% employee's share for each of those 9 employees.

Employers only need to pay premiums for employees who are localized in Colorado. A Colorado employee is someone who performs their work entirely in Colorado and whose work is subject to Colorado State Unemployment tax. More information regarding localization can be found in the FAMLI Division's Premium Rules at 7 CCR 1107-1, Section 1.5.6.C.

More questions? Learn more in this FAMLI resource, where you can access the FAMLI toolkit for employers. You can also contact the agency by email at CDLE_FAMLI_info@state.co.us.

How is the tax calculated?

Employer and employee contributions are calculated as a percentage of wages.

  • Employers contribute 0.45% of employee wages—see the participation requirements above to determine if you’re required to pay the employer portion. 
  • Employees contribute 0.45% of their wages, until the social security wage base amount is surpassed.

For example: if an employee made $1,000 in wages, the employee would pay $4.50 and the employer would pay $4.50.

How to enter your CO FAMLI liability and account number in Gusto

Let us know if you're liable for the employer portion of CO FAMLI

Once you’ve determined whether you're required to pay the employer portion of FAMLI (see above), let us know so we can pay and file your taxes accurately: 

  1. Sign in to your Gusto account.
  2. Head to the Taxes and compliance section and select Tax setup.
  3. Scroll to the “Colorado Tax Setup” headline and click Manage taxes. 
  4. Let us know if you're “Required to pay employer portion of FAMLI?.”

Enter your CO FAMLI account number in Gusto

Click to enter your 10-digit account number.

Find account numbers and rate info (if you're already registered)

If you've already registered in the state, you'll need to enter your tax account details in Gusto.

You'll need to be registered with one or more of the below agencies in order for Gusto to file and pay taxes on your behalf:

  • Colorado Department of Revenue – income tax withholding
  • Colorado Department of Labor and Employment – unemployment tax and Family and Medical Leave (FAMLI)
  • Local Colorado tax agencies – various

If you still need to register, click the applicable dropdown above in this article to learn more. 

Find your withholding tax account number (Colorado Account Number) and filing frequency

Withholding tax account number—Colorado Account Number (CAN)

If you've run payroll in Colorado in the past, you can find your Colorado Account Number (CAN) on:

  • Your Colorado Revenue Online agency portal
    • Sign in and go to your Wage Withholding account, then look for the account number formatted “########-###-WTH".
  • Form DR 1094—quarterly returns

The number is an 8-digit number—some documentation includes trailing digits (e.g.,12345678-003-WTH). In Gusto, enter only the first 8 digits (12345678) and not the trailing digits (003-WTH).

If you do not know your account number, call the Colorado Department of Revenue at (303) 238-7378.

Filing frequency

The CO Department of Revenue (DOR) assigns your company one of these tax filing schedules: quarterly, monthly, or weekly (frequent). 

You can find your withholding tax filing frequency on:

  • Your Colorado Revenue Online agency portal in the Wage Withholding account section, or;
  • Your company’s registration letter

If you cannot find your company’s filing frequency, call the CO DOR at (303) 238-7378.

Find your unemployment account number and rate

You can find your unemployment account number and current tax rate in your MyUI Employer account.

Unemployment account number

This is a 7 or 8-digit account number. 

  • If you were issued a 7-digit account number, add a leading “0” in Gusto. We'll ask for 8 digits.
  • If you were previously issued a 9-digit number (formatted “123456.00-7”), the agency has automatically changed the formatting and converted it to an 8-digit number:
    • They removed the 7th and 8th digits, then added a leading 0.
    • Using the example account number above, the number is converted to this 8-digit format: “01234567.”

Unemployment tax rate

Your current tax rates are shown on the main landing page of your MyUI Employer account under the “Account Information” panel labeled Current Rate (New Employer or Computed). 

  • To view additional rate information, at the bottom of the “Account Information” panel, click the View details hyperlink.

Your annual rate notice will include many rates—you'll need to enter three different rates in Gusto (as percentages):

  • The "Base rate"
  • The Support rate (a combined total of four other state-run funds)
  • The Solvency Surcharge rate

If you're viewing a mailed rate note, or in the Viewing Correspondences tab of your online portal: 

  • Base rate—item 6 on the mailed rate notice.
  • Support rate—item 7 on the mailed rate notice. The "Support rate" covers four state-run funds (listed below), and those funds do not need to be listed separately in Gusto. If the state changes any of the four funds, the "Support rate" will update automatically. 
    • Employment Support Fund (ESF) Surcharge
    • UI Program Support Fund Surcharge
    • Benefit Recovery Fund (BRF) Surcharge
    • Workforce Development Fund (WDF) Surcharge
  • Solvency surcharge rate—item 8 on the mailed rate notice.

If you're in the View Rate Notice tab of your online portal, enter the following in Gusto:

  • Base Rate
  • Support rate, combine the:
    • ESF Surcharge
    • BRF Surcharge
    • UI Program Support Fund Surcharge
    • WDF Surcharge
  • Solvency Surcharge Rate

If you do not know your account number or rates, call the agency at (800) 480-8299.

You can also check out this agency resource that details how to use and manage your MyUI account. 

Find your FAMLI account ID

Once you’ve created a MyFAMLI+ account, you can find your FAMLI account ID in two ways:

  • Check your email for your account ID—after you create your MyFAMLI+ account, the agency will send you a confirmation email with your account ID included.
  • Sign into your MyFAMLI+ account to find your ID—here's where to find the ID:
    • Sign into your MyFAMLI+ account.
    • Click Manage accounts.
    • Your account ID will be listed under the “Account ID” column.
Find your local tax account numbers

If you have employees working in one of the below locations, you or your employees may be liable for an Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT).

You can find your existing OPT account numbers and deposit schedules on notices you've received from the local agencies. You can also contact the agency directly:

  • Denver—use the city's lookup tool, here's how:
    1. Head to the city of Denver's agency site, but do not sign in. 
    2. Scroll to the “Additional Services” section and click Find an Excise Tax Account.
    3. Select how you'd like to search by—we recommend using your Federal Employer ID Number (FEIN).
    4. Enter the additional information and click Search. 
      • If your company shows in the results, you'll see your Denver Occupational Privilege Tax account number listed—enter this in Gusto.
      • If you get the following error message, you may still need to register your company with the agency: “If you cannot find your own business, you may need to register...”
  • Glendale
    • (303) 759-1513
  • Greenwood Village
    • (303) 486-8299
  • Sheridan
    • (303) 762-2200

If you need to register for an OPT tax, click the Register a company with state and local agencies dropdown above in this article.

Troubleshoot local tax issues

The most common issue is usually related to the tax deposit schedule. Gusto pays OPT taxes monthly, the most frequent schedule, in an effort to minimize potential penalty or interest. If we've let you know of a tax deposit schedule difference, contact the applicable agency directly and request that your deposit frequency be set to monthly.

Some Colorado cities also require employers to pay OPT for business owners and officers who are not included on payroll. In your Gusto account, we'll ask you to include how many business owners/officers are not considered employees but are subject to OPT taxes—do not include owners or officers that you are paying wages.

Enter the tax account information in Gusto

Once a valid Colorado work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:

  1. Go to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
  2. Scroll to the “Colorado Tax Setup” headline and select Manage taxes.
  3. For withholding tax, enter your Colorado Account Number (CAN) issued by the Department of Revenue—this is typically an 8-digit number.
    • You can find your CAN by:
      • Reviewing any letter sent to you from the agency (about withholding tax), or;
      • Signing in to Colorado Revenue Online, referencing your Wage Withholding account, and looking for the account number formatted “########-###-WTH"—Gusto only needs the first eight digits.
  4. Enter your withholding tax filing frequency.
    • You can find your filing frequency on your registration letter, or in your Colorado Revenue Online account in the Wage Withholding account section. 
  5. Enter your CDLE unemployment account number—this is a 7 or 8-digit account number. 
    • If you were issued a 7-digit account number: Add a leading “0” in Gusto, we'll ask for 8 digits.
    • If you were previously issued a 9-digit number (formatted “123456.00-7”), the agency has automatically changed the formatting and converted it to an 8-digit number.
      • They removed the 7th and 8th digits, then added a leading 0.
      • Using the example account number above, the number is converted to this 8-digit format: “01234567.”
  6. Enter your unemployment rates—you'll need to enter three different rates in Gusto (as percentages): The "Base rate", the Support rate (a combined total of four other state-run funds), and the Solvency Surcharge rate.
    • If you're viewing a mailed rate note, or in the Viewing Correspondences tab of your online portal: 
      • Base rate—item 6 on the mailed rate notice.
      • Support rate—item 7 on the mailed rate notice.
        • The "Support rate" covers four state-run funds (listed below), and those funds do not need to be listed separately in Gusto. If the state changes any of the four funds, the "Support rate" will update automatically. 
          • Employment Support Fund (ESF) Surcharge
          • UI Program Support Fund Surcharge
          • Benefit Recovery Fund (BRF) Surcharge
          • Workforce Development Fund (WDF) Surcharge
      • Solvency surcharge rate—item 8 on the mailed rate notice.
    • If you're in the View Rate Notice tab of your online portal, enter the following in Gusto:
      • Base Rate
      • Support rate, combine the:
        • ESF Surcharge
        • BRF Surcharge
        • UI Program Support Fund Surcharge
        • WDF Surcharge
      • Solvency Surcharge Rate

If you edit a tax account number after payments or filings have already 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.

Giving Gusto third-party authorization (TPA)

Learn how to authorize Gusto as your third-party agent (TPA) for the Colorado agencies below.  

Authorizing Gusto with CO FAMLI
  1. Sign in to your MyFAMLI+ Employer account.
  2. In the “Manage my account” section, select Manage Accounts.
    • If you do not see the section, call the agency at (866) 263-2654 to get help. 
  3. In the “Account name” column of the table, select your company’s tax account (if you can’t find your account, use the “Search” box).
  4. In the “Third Party Administrator” section (you’ll need to scroll down to find this section), select Add.
  5. In the “TPA Account” section, enter the following info:
    • Select Account: Gusto, Inc. (FEIN ending 2850)
    • Start date: The first day of the quarter you’re authorizing Gusto to file and pay on your behalf in Colorado.
  6. Select Save.
  7. Confirm your info is correct and select Yes, add TPA.
  8. Next, sign in to Gusto to let us know you've granted us access:
    • On your Home page under “Things to do,” click Give Gusto access to your Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance account.
    • Click the checkbox to indicate you've completed the task in your tax account.
    • Click Submit. 
Authorizing Gusto with the CO Department of Revenue (DOR)

The CO DOR requires that you make Gusto your third-party agent (TPA) so that we can help keep your account information up to date and troubleshoot tax issues.

Important: You must have "Full access" in your Revenue Online portal to complete the TPA setup. If you get stuck, check the agency's instructions for giving third-party access.

  1. Sign in to the Revenue Online portal.
  2. In the top-right section of the page, select Manage my profile.
  3. On the More... screen, select Manage Third Party Access in the "Access" box.
    • You must have "Full access" in your Revenue Online portal to complete the TPA setup.
  4. From the "Add Third Party Online Access" page, click Next.
  5. In the "Third Party Access Information" section, enter the following info:
    • Username = Compliance@gusto.com (the "C" must be capitalized).
    • Access level = All access
    • Access start date = Enter the first day of the first quarter you have a check date in Gusto for.
      • Example: If your first check date in Gusto was on February 14, 2025, you'd enter the Q1 start date of 1/1/2025.
  6. Click Submit.
  7. After you've given Gusto access with the agency, sign in to your admin profile in Gusto.
  8. From your Home page, under "Things to do", find and click Give Gusto access to your Colorado Department of Revenue account.
  9. Check the box to let us know you completed the task with the agency.
  10. Click Submit. 

Having trouble making Gusto your third-party agent?

  • Verify that you've added the 'withholding' tax type to your account
  • Make sure the following information entered into Gusto matches exactly what's on file with the CO DOR:
    • Official company name
    • Company address
    • FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number)
    • Colorado Account Number (CAN)

If Gusto has trouble gaining the access we need, you'll need to call the CO DOR at (303) 238-7378 to fix the issue.

Authorizing Gusto with the CO Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)

The CDLE requires that you set Gusto as your third-party agent (TPA) before we can handle your tax filings and payments. Gusto cannot add itself as a TPA for you.

How to authorize Gusto as your TPA

  1. Sign in to your MyUI Employer+ account.
  2. From the main menu, select Account Maintenance and then Third Party Administrator (TPA). 
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click New. 
  4. On the “Assign Third Party Administrator (TPA)” page, enter Gusto's TPA ID: 500003429. 
  5. Click Next. 
  6. Under the “TPA Details” section, enter both:
    • TPA Services Begin Date: Select the first day of the quarter you started paying people using Gusto (Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1, or Oct 1.)
    • TPA Services End Date: No need to enter an end date.
  7. Under the “Un-Assigned Roles” section, ONLY select the following roles:
    • Edit Account Maintenance
    • Submit Employment and Wage Detail
    • Edit Tax Payments, Update and Submit
    • View Rate Notice and Voluntary Contribution role
    • Do not add any roles for Benefits, Workshare, or Mailing
  8. Click Save. 
  9. After you've given Gusto access with the agency, sign in to your admin profile in Gusto.
  10. From your Home page, under "Things to do", find and click Give Gusto access to your Colorado Labor and Employment account.
  11. Check the box to let us know you completed the task with the agency.
  12. Click Submit. 

Gusto should now have access to your account. If you need to update Gusto’s TPA settings later, click Modify under the “Third Party Administrator (TPA)” section.

Authorizing Gusto with the City of Aurora (Occupational Privilege Tax)

Note: This tax has been repealed as of January 1st, 2025—this step is not necessary from that date onwards. However, if you need prior returns amended, Gusto will still need to be listed as your TPA.

This agency requires you to make Gusto your third-party agent (TPA) before we can file and pay taxes on your behalf.

  1. Sign in to your account through the Aurora Tax Portal.
  2. From the home screen, select the Settings button. 
  3. Under the “I Want To” menu, click Third party access and select Grant Access to a Third Party to continue.
  4. This will open an “Add Third-Party Login” screen—use this to enter "zenpayroll'' as the username.
  5. Select Yes on the “Include” column for tax type "Occupational Privilege Tax"—this allows us to file and pay on your behalf.
  6. Click Next, and then Submit when finished.
Tax forms Gusto files in Colorado
  • DR 1094* (Income Withholding Tax Return)
  • UITR-1 (Unemployment Contribution Report; Quarterly Report of Wages Paid and Premiums Owed)
    • Not required after Q2 2023
  • UITR-1a (Unemployment Wage Report; Individual Employee's Wages)
  • Family and medical leave insurance wage reports
  • DR 1093* (Annual Transmittal of State W-2 and 1099 Forms)
  • State W2 (Wage and Tax Statement)
  • Report of New Hires
  • Various local returns

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.

Agency website and contact info
  • Colorado Department of Revenue 
    • Call (303) 238-7378
  • Colorado Department of Labor and Employment 
    • Call (800) 480-8299
    • Family and Medical Leave Insurance
      • Call (866) 263-2654
      • Email CDLE_FAMLI_info@state.co.us
Colorado SecureSavings
If Colorado SecureSavings notifies you about enrollment, you can automate payroll deductions and streamline your plan administration by integrating your company’s auto-IRA with Gusto.

Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts.

 

Keywords: colorado register in colorado denver opt enter colorado tax information colorado account number colorado tax id enter colorado information in Gusto famli paid family securesavings owner exemption family leave OPT occupational privilege aurora denver

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Solution ID
106622156100000
Last Modified Date
10/28/2025 07:06:00 PM
Attributes
Gusto Attributes
  • Role: Employers; Accountants/Partners
  • Category: Company setup and details; Payroll; Taxes forms and compliance
  • Plan type: Core; Complete; Concierge
  • Who brokers my benefits?: A third party; Gusto
Taxonomy
  • Employers and admins > Taxes forms and compliance > State registration and resources > Colorado
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