Ohio payroll tax and registration guide

Updated September 12, 2023

This article will cover:

• What information OnPay needs from you
• What state and local taxes and filings OnPay handles for Ohio employers
• Where you can find the tax account numbers needed
• Paying employees in other states?

Why is this important?

The following information requests and registration instructions are required before you can use a payroll provider to run payroll. This is in compliance with state payroll tax regulations. Without this information, OnPay is unable to file or deposit any tax payments for your company, and will not be responsible for any resulting penalties or interest. Note: If this isn't the only state where you have employees, there will be a separate guide like this one for each state where you hire and pay workers. 

Let Middesk handle your state tax registrations (and more)

If you'd like help, our partner Middesk makes hiring employees and staying compliant with every state agency simple and easy.

• Register with every state agency to get the tax IDs you need within minutes
• Stay compliant as you grow by managing agency mail and notices in your dashboard
• Manage your government accounts in one place on Middesk's intuitive platform
• Foreign Qualify with the Secretary of State to create payroll tax accounts 

Learn more about Middesk→

What information OnPay needs from you

What state and local taxes and filings OnPay handles for Ohio employers

Where you can find the tax account numbers needed

If you are an existing employer who has previously run payroll in Ohio, you likely already have the IDs and online accounts needed for OnPay to process your tax filings.

If you are a new employer in Ohio, you will need to register your business with the Ohio Department of Taxation and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. This must be completed for OnPay to be able to file and pay your Ohio taxes.

Withholding Account Number

Existing Ohio Employer: 

You can find your Withholding Account Number on notices received from the Ohio Department of Taxation. If you cannot locate this document or account number, please call the Ohio Department of Taxation at (888) 405-4039 to request it.

New Ohio Employer: Register with the Ohio Department of Taxation 

• Visit the Ohio Business Gateway and click “Create an Account”.
• The online registration process can take 1-2 days. Once completed, you will be notified of your tax deposit schedule.

Unemployment Insurance Account Number and Tax Rate

Existing Ohio Employer: 

• You can find your Unemployment Insurance (UI) Account Number on the annual Tax Rate Notice received from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. It can also be found on your Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report. 
• Your Unemployment Tax Rate can also be found on the annual Tax Rate Notice in box 2. Employers will have a rate between 0.3% and 9.8% for SUTA with a wage base of $9,000.

New Ohio Employer: Register with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

• Go to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website to register your business.
• You'll receive your account number and tax rate instantly after completing the online registration.
• The new employer SUTA rate for 2023 is 2.7% or 5.6% if your business is in the construction industry, with a wage base of $9,000.

Paying employees in other states?

If you operate in multiple states or just have employees working from home across a state line, it's important to file the correct state forms for those workers. See what forms we file in the states where you pay employees.

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