Running payrollmeans staying on top of your employment tax responsibilities. In addition to withholding income and payroll taxes from employee wages, you must contribute employer taxes. Unlike some other taxes, state unemployment taxes do not have a standard rate. Read on to answer,What is my state unemployment tax rate?
About state unemployment tax
When you have employees, you must pay federal and state unemployment taxes. These taxes fund unemployment programs and pay out benefits to employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
Generally, unemployment taxes are employer-only taxes, meaning you do not withhold the tax from employee wages. However, some states require that you withhold additional money from employee wages for state unemployment taxes.
State unemployment tax is a percentage of an employee’s wages. Each state sets a different range of tax rates. Your tax rate might be based on factors like your industry, how many former employees received unemployment benefits, and experience.
You pay SUTA tax to the state where the work is taking place. If your employees all work in the state your business is located in, you will pay SUTA tax to the state your business is located in. But if your employees work in different states, you will pay SUTA tax to each state an employee works in.
States also set wage bases for unemployment tax. This means you will only contribute unemployment tax until the employee earns above a certain amount.
State unemployment taxes are referred to asSUTA taxor state unemployment insurance (SUI). Or, they may be referred to as reemployment taxes (e.g., Florida).
How to get your SUTA tax rate
When you become an employer, you need to begin paying state unemployment tax. To do so, sign up for a SUTA tax account with your state.
You can register as an employer online using your state’s government website. You might also be able to register for an account by mailing a form to your state. Each state has a different process for obtaining an account. Check your state’s government website for more information.
To register for an account, you need to provide information about your business, such as yourEmployer Identification Number. When you register for an account, you will obtain an employer account number.
Once registered, your state tells you what your contribution rate is. And, your state will also tell you what your state’s wage base is.
Many states give newly registered employers a standard new employer rate. The new employer rate varies by state.
Some states split new employer rates up by construction and non-construction industries. For example, all new employers receive a SUTA rate of 1.25% in Nebraska, and all new construction employers receive a SUTA rate of 5.4% in 2021.
If you live in a state that doesn’t use a standard new employer rate, you must wait for your state to assign you your starting rate.
Your state will eventually change your new employer rate. The amount of time depends on the state. You may receive an updated SUTA tax rate within one year or a few years. Most states send employers a new SUTA tax rate each year.
Generally, states have a range of unemployment tax rates for established employers. Your state will assign you a rate within this range.
SUI tax rate by state
这是一个非建设新雇员的列表r tax rates for each state and Washington D.C. (2021). Note that some states require employees to contribute state unemployment tax.
** Some states are still finalizing their SUI tax information for 2021 (as indicated with a blank). For example, Texas will not release 2021 information until June due to COVID-19. We will update this information as the states do.
| State | SUI New Employer Tax Rate | Employer Tax Rate Range(2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2.7% | 0.65% – 6.8% (including employment security assessment of 0.06%) |
| Alaska | Standard rate 2.57% (2.07% employer share; 0.50% employee share) | 1.5% – 5.9% |
| Arizona | 2.0% | 0.08% – 20.6% |
| Arkansas | 3.1% | 0.30% – 14.2% (including solvency surtax) |
| California | 3.4% | 1.5% – 6.2% (+ emergency 15% surcharge) |
| Colorado | 1.7% | 0.71% – 9.64% |
| Connecticut | 3.0% | 1.9% – 6.8% |
| Delaware | 1.8% | |
| D.C. | The higher of 2.7% or the average rate of all employer contributions in the preceding year | |
| Florida | 2.7% | 0.29% – 5.4% |
| Georgia | 2.7% | 0.04% – 7.56% |
| Hawaii | 3.0% (+ 0.01% E&T Rate) | Up to 5.8% |
| Idaho | 1% (including the workforce rate tax of 0.03%) | 0.207% – 5.4% |
| Illinois | 3.175% | 0.2% – 6.4% |
| 印第安纳州 | 2.5% | 0.5% – 7.4% |
| Iowa | 1.0% | 0.0% – 7.5% |
| Kansas | 2.7% | 0.2% – 7.6% |
| Kentucky | 2.7% | 1.0% – 10% |
| Louisiana | Varies | 0.09% – 6.2% |
| Maine | 2.31% (including CSSF rate of 0.07% and UPAF rate of 0.13%) | 0.69% – 6.01% |
| Maryland | 2.6% | 2.2% – 13.5% |
| Massachusetts | ||
| Michigan | 2.7% | 6.8% – 8.1% |
| Minnesota | Varies | Base rate (0.1% – 0.5%) + experience rating (maximum 8.90%) |
| Mississippi | 1.0% (1st year), 1.1% (2nd year), 1.2% (3rd year) | 0.0% – 5.4% |
| Missouri | 2.376% | 0.0% – 6.0% (does not include maximum rate surcharge or contribution rate adjustment) |
| Montana | Varies | 0.0% – 6.12% |
| Nebraska | 1.25% | 0% – 5.4% |
| Nevada | 2.95% | 0.25% – 5.4% |
| New Hampshire | 2.7% (including AC rate of 0.4%) | |
| New Jersey | 2.8% (including the Workforce Development and Supplemental Workforce Funds) Employee rate of 0.425% (including the Workforce Development and Supplemental Workforce Funds) |
0.4% – 5.4% |
| New Mexico | 1.0% or the industry average rate, whichever is greater | 0.33% – 5.4% |
| New York | 3.125% | 0.6% – 7.9% (including RSF tax of 0.75%) |
| North Carolina | 1.0% | 0.06% – 5.76% |
| North Dakota | 1.02% (positive balance) 6.09% (negative balance) |
0.08% – 9.69% |
| Ohio | 2.7% | 0.3% - 9.3% |
| Oklahoma | 1.5% | 0.3% – 7.5% |
| Oregon | 2.6% | 1.2% – 5.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 3.689% | 1.2905% – 9.9333% |
| Rhode Island | 1.16% (including the 0.21% Job Development Assessment) | 1.2% – 9.8% |
| South Carolina | 0.55% (including the 0.06% contingency surcharge) | 0.06% – 5.46% |
| South Dakota | 1.20% (+ 0.55% investment fee) | 0% – 9.5% |
| Tennessee | 2.7% | 0.01% – 10% |
| Texas | Varies | |
| Utah | Varies | 0.2% – 7.2% |
| Vermont | 1.0% (for most employers) | 0.4% – 5.4% |
| Virginia | 2.5% | 0.1% – 6.2% |
| Washington | Varies | 0.0% – 6.86% |
| West Virginia | 2.7%(对于大多数新兴市场ployers) | |
| Wisconsin | 3.05% for new employers with payroll < $500,000 3.25% for new employers with payroll > $500,000 |
0% – 12% |
| Wyoming | Varies | 0.48% – 9.78% |
For some states, this SUTA tax rate includes other taxes. Contact your state for more information.
| For more state-specific information, use ourNew Employer Information By State for Payrollpage. |
How to pay unemployment tax to your state
You must report your SUTA tax liability to your state and make payments. Generally, you will need to make quarterly payments. Use your employer account number to report and deposit your SUTA tax liability.
Contact your state for more information about reporting and depositing SUTA tax.
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This article has been updated from its original publication date of July 16, 2018.
This is not intended as legal advice; for more information, pleaseclick here.