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Washington New Employer Information

Congratulations on your decision to become a Washington new employer! You will need a few things in place before you run your first payroll. For help registering your business in Washington, check out our partner, CorpNet.

Federal and State Tax Accounts

Federal Tax Accounts:

Apply for an EIN View Details

Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN, aka, FEIN) with the IRS online.
To read more about how to apply for an EIN, read our help article, “Your Step-by-step Guide on How to Apply for EIN.”
You will be assigned a unique nine-digit number to identify your business for your federal taxes by the IRS. To learn more, read, “What Is an FEIN?”

Enroll in EFTPS View Details

Although it is not required, we suggest you register for the EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System).
EFTPS is an easy way to pay your federal taxes online or view any tax filings made on your behalf by Patriot Software. To find out more about the EFTPS, read our article, “What Is EFTPS?”

State of Washington Tax Accounts:

Register With the State of Washington View Details

As a Washington new employer, you will need to file for a Business License Application online with the Department of Revenue.
Once you register with the State of Washington, you will receive packs of information from one or more state agencies.
To learn more, visit the Washington Business Licensing Service. You can contact the Department of Revenue with any questions by phone at (360) 705-6741.
You will also be responsible for signing up with SecureAccess Washington (SAW) for the state’s Paid Family Leave program. You can learn more on the state website.

Get Your SUTA Rate View Details

New employers will be assigned a SUTA tax rate based on their industry by the Washington Employment Security Department.
New employers will also need to report the employee Standard Occupational Codes (SOC) on their quarterly SUTA reports. (Patriot will have an SOC lookup tool in the software for each employee.)
To learn more about SUTA, read our article, “What Is SUTA Tax?”

Get Your Workers’ Compensation Rate View Details

Washington new employers will receive their Workers’ Compensation Rate from the Department of Labor and Industries (DLI) within two weeks of the business filing by mail.
This rate is based on the risk classification assigned to you.
For more information, visit the WA DLI.

State-mandated Requirements:

Sign up for Workers’ Comp Insurance View Details

You must have workers’ comp insurance if you have at least 1 employee in Washington. Washington is a monopolistic state, so you must sign up for workers’ comp through a state-operated fund.
You can learn more about Washington’s workers’ comp insurance here.

Offer a Qualifying Retirement Plan View Details

Washington’s Small Business Retirement Marketplace is a voluntary program available to employers.
Patriot has partnered with Vestwell to offer affordable retirement plans for small businesses that integrate with our payroll software. Learn more here.

Setting Up Your New Employee:

Fill Out Form I-9 View Details

Fill out the required Form I-9 for employee work verification in the USA.
This is a two-part form. The first section is filled out by the employee and the second part is to be filled out by the employer.
You must retain each employee’s completed Form I-9 as long as the individual works for you. For more information, read “What Should Be in an Employee File?”

Have Employee Fill Out Federal Form W-4 View Details

Employees need to fill out Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate for federal income tax (FIT).
For more information, read our help article, “What Is a W-4 Form, and What Is it Used for?“

Report New Hire View Details

Washington employers need to report new hires online within 20 days of hire or rehire on the MY Secure DSHS through the Washington State Department of Social Services.
To learn more, read, “What is New Hire Reporting?

Meet Minimum Wage Requirements View Details

Washington’s minimum wage is $16.28 per hour for 2024.
By law, you are required to post the federal minimum wage poster, but pay the higher Washington minimum wage.

Obtain Labor Law Posters View Details

Get annual posters and all federal, state, county, and city labor law updates with Patriot’s labor law poster store, powered by PosterElite!

Once you have all the necessary information, you will be able to set up your payroll for your business.

You will want to keep all payroll records for at least three years. For more information, read our help article, “What Employers Should Know About Employee Payroll Records.”

Let us know if you have any questions. We are here to help!

This is not an all-inclusive list for new employers. Visit the federal and state government websites for a complete list of new employer requirements.

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