Texas payroll tax and registration guide

  • Updated

Why is this important?

To maintain compliance with state payroll tax regulations, you must provide the following information before you can use OnPay to run payroll:

  • State Employer Identification Number and state/local tax IDs
  • Tax rates - State tax offices set these rates based on the type, age, and size of your business
  • TPA and power of attorney - Most tax offices require this before we can submit quarterly wage reports and deposits on your behalf

This information must be provided and maintained by you in order for OnPay to accurately file and deposit tax payments for your company. OnPay is not responsible for any penalties or interest that incur due to missing or incorrect company tax information.

Each state has its own requirements, so if you pay employees in more than one state, you’ll find separate tax guides for each state.

Let Middesk handle your state tax registrations

Want help registering your business with state agencies? We've partnered with Middesk to make it simple for you to stay compliant in your state — and every state — when hiring employees.

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

Learn more about Middesk

 

See what information you need to provide OnPay, and what taxes and filings OnPay handles for Texas Employers.

  • Information OnPay needs from you

    Use this checklist to make sure you’ve covered everything required to set up your account as a Texas employer, so OnPay can accurately file and pay taxes on your behalf:

    All Texas employers What is this?
    Make sure your business is registered with the Texas Workforce Commission

    Registers your business to pay required unemployment insurance in Texas
    More info >

    Provide OnPay with your Texas Unemployment ID

    A 9-digit number unique to your account with the Texas Workforce Commission
    More info >

    Provide OnPay with your Texas Unemployment (SUI) Rate

    A tax rate you receive annually from the Texas Workforce Commission
    More info >

  • Taxes and filings OnPay handles for Texas Employers

    Withholding Tax

    Texas has no state or local income tax withholding.

    Unemployment Insurance Tax

    Form C-3 (Filing)

    Employer’s Quarterly Report

    - Quarterly

    Other

    New Hire Report

    Texas Report of New Hires

    - As required


Where you can find the tax account numbers you need

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

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

 

Unemployment Account Number and Tax Rate

Updated January 1, 2025

Existing Texas Employer: 

  • You can find your 9-digit Unemployment Account Number (Ex:12-345678-9) on the annual Tax Rate Notice received from the Texas Workforce Commission (Show me→)
  • 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
  • Texas unemployment insurance rates range from 0.25% to 6.25% with a taxable wage base of up to $9,000 per employee per year

New Texas Employer: Register with the Texas Workforce Commission

  • Go to the TWC website to register your business
  • You'll receive your account number and tax rate instantly once you have completed the online registration (process takes about 20 minutes)
  • New employers should use the greater of the average rate for all employers in the NAICS code or use 2.7% with a taxable wage base of up to $9,000 per employee per year

 

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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