Setting up payroll in Connecticut 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.
Use the dropdowns below to learn more. Use CMD + F (or CTRL + F) to search for words in the article.
Gusto works with Middesk to help you register with tax agencies in new states.
Get help registering for state taxes
We can help you register for state tax accounts after you:
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:
What the process looks like
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 there's no TPA or POA section, it's not needed right now.
If setting up TPA requires online agency portal access
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:
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 there's no TPA or POA section, it's not needed right now.
If setting up TPA requires online agency portal access
Need to make a change?
If you already submitted your info but need to fix something, email taxregistrations@middesk.com to update it.
When your order is complete, you’ll get emails from Gusto and Middesk. They’ll detail the next steps, which include:
Before your order is done, you can check the order status in your Gusto account:
For most states where tax registration info is sent by physical mail, here's what to expect:
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
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:
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:
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:
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.
Click the dropdowns below to learn how to register with state agencies—don't forget to give Gusto the third-party access (TPA) we'll need to file and pay certain taxes on your behalf.
If you register online or in person, you'll get your CT Tax Registration Number and tax deposit schedule (filing frequency) in real time. You have to enter your account number in Gusto, but we'll default to using the fastest tax deposit schedule—weekly.
For everything you need to start a new business in Connecticut, check out the state's online business checklist.
New CT Registration Numbers are 12-digits, and the last three digits are always “000”. All previous 10, or 11-digit account numbers are still valid and do not need to be changed.
Once a valid Connecticut work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:
Your company becomes liable for state unemployment insurance tax once the company has:
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, and update the rate once you receive it.
You'll want to make sure during registration that the Connecticut Department of Labor knows when you plan to become liable—eventually, Gusto will need:
Heads up: When creating a ReEmployCT account for the first time, you may be asked for an eight-digit registration number—your eight-digit registration number is your old Employer Account Number (EAN).
Once you have a ReEmployCT account, most transactions will require the new ten-digit EAN. Your ten-digit EAN is your old EAN followed by two, or three trailing zeroes.
You should receive your CT Unemployment Number and company-specific unemployment rate instantly, followed by a confirmation letter in the mail within one week.
Once a valid Connecticut work address has been added in Gusto for one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:
If you do not know your unemployment account number and rate, call the agency at (860) 263-6550.
Gusto supports Connecticut's paid family and medical leave program—we deduct 0.5% from CT employee payrolls. You still need to register, but Gusto uses your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) to file and pay the tax, so we will not need the CT "PFML account ID" you'll receive once you register.
Starting October 1, 2025, Connecticut will expand eligibility for the Paid Leave program to cover non-certified school employees. This means employees of public school operators and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools who work in jobs that do not require a professional license are now included.
What schools must do
All covered schools must:
How Gusto helps
Employee eligibility for benefits
Employees qualify for benefits if they:
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:
If you still need to register, click the applicable dropdown above in this article.
If you've run payroll in Connecticut previously, you can find your withholding account number by:
All new CT Registration Numbers are 12-digit numbers. All previous 10, or 11-digit numbers are still valid and do not need to be changed.
As a reminder, you will not need to enter your assigned tax deposit schedule (filing frequency) because we'll default to the fastest deposit schedule of “weekly” for all customers.
Don't forget to give Gusto third-party access (TPA) to the DOR.
You can find your Employer Registration Number and unemployment rate by:
Enter your ten-digit Employer Account Number (EAN) in Gusto as ##-#####-0-00.
If you don't have your assigned rate yet, enter the new employer rate for your state in Gusto in the meantime—update the rate once you receive it.
Don't forget to give Gusto third-party access (TPA) to the DOL.
Gusto supports Connecticut's paid family and medical leave program—we deduct 0.5% from CT employee payrolls. You still need to register, but Gusto uses your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) to file and pay the tax, so we will not need the CT "PFML account ID" you'll receive once you register.
Starting October 1, 2025, Connecticut will expand eligibility for the Paid Leave program to cover non-certified school employees. This means employees of public school operators and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools who work in jobs that do not require a professional license are now included.
What schools must do
All covered schools must:
How Gusto helps
Employee eligibility for benefits
Employees qualify for benefits if they:
Once a valid Connecticut address has been added in Gusto for one or more employees, you can add your tax account information:
In order for Gusto to keep your Connecticut tax information up-to-date and help troubleshoot tax issues, we'll need you to authorize Gusto as your third-party agent (TPA) in Connecticut. Give Gusto TPA for the agencies below:
Step one: Check to see if your myconneCT portal shows “Withholding Tax”
Step two: Add “Withholding Tax” to your DOR account
Follow the steps below or use this agency resource.
Step three: Verify the information in Gusto matches what the agency has on file
Verify that the company information in Gusto matches exactly what the agency has on file. Compare the information in Gusto against your agency portal, or give the agency a call at (860) 297-5962.
Here's the information that should match:
To authorize Gusto, you'll first need to get set up in the new ReEmployCT agency portal. If you need help, call the agency directly at (860) 263-6470.
Once you have access, you'll be able to:
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.
Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts.