Mississippi payroll tax and registration guide

Updated September 20, 2023

This article will cover:

• What information OnPay needs from you
• What state and local taxes and filings OnPay handles for Mississippi 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 Mississippi employers

Where you can find the tax account numbers needed

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

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

Withholding Tax Account Number and Deposit Frequency

Existing Mississippi Employer: 

You can find your Withholding Tax Account Number on notices received from the Mississippi Department of Revenue. If you cannot locate this number, please call the agency at 601-923-7088.

New Mississippi Employer: Register with the Mississippi Department of Revenue 

• Register online with the Mississippi Department of Revenue. (Click “Register for taxes”.)
• You should receive your account number immediately after completing the online registration.

Mississippi Letter ID

All Mississippi Employers: 

• The identity validation and PIN verification letters are used by the Mississippi Department of Revenue to prevent fraud
• If you cannot find one of these letters, contact the Department Of Revenue at (601) 923-7700. They're available from 8-5, Monday through Friday.
• More information on ID Validation Letters

Mississippi Employer Account Number and Contribution Tax Rate

Existing Mississippi Employer: 

• You can find your Employer Account Number and Contribution Rate on the Contribution Tax Rate Notice sent by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
• If you cannot find these numbers, please call the agency at 601-923-7700.
• Rates can be up to 5.4% for SUTA, with a $14,000 wage base.

New Mississippi Employer: Register with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security

• Register online with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
• You should receive your Employer Account Number and Contribution Tax Rate immediately after completing the online registration.
• New employer SUI rates begin at 1% for the first year, 1.10% for the second year, and 1.20% for the third year, after which the employer's rate can range up to 5.4%, as listed above, with a $14,000 wage base.

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.

v6.1 21