Do you offer payroll in my state?
Yes, we offer payroll in all 50 states. And it’s the same price whether you run payroll in one state or all 50.
How do I get set up on Gusto?
Do you integrate with accounting, time-tracking or expense software?
Yes, we integrate with popular financial software, including QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks, plus time-tracking, expense software, and more.
See all our integrationsCan I pay independent contractors with Gusto?
Yes, in addition to your employees, you can also pay contractors through Gusto. We also automatically file and email them their 1099s at the end of the year at no extra charge.
Do you support household payroll?
No, Gusto does not have support for household payroll.
Do you offer international payroll?
No, we can only process payroll for employees in the US.
What are all the things I can do with Gusto payroll?
It’s a lot. Check out the the full features list.
Can I run payroll from a mobile phone or tablet?
Yep! Gusto is accessible from any web-enabled device. You don’t need to download an app — just sign into Gusto on your web browser.
What is Payroll on AutoPilot™?
Gusto can run your payroll automatically. For salary or hourly employees with fixed hours, all you have to do is decide on what day they should be paid, and we’ll do it automatically. We’ll even send you a reminder one day before, in case you want to make changes.
How does Gusto handle garnishments and levies?
You can easily add garnishments and post-tax deductions in Gusto. We also automatically pay child-support garnishments for you in all states but South Carolina.
Does Gusto support tip credits?
Yes, you can choose to have Gusto automatically adjust wages to comply with the FLSA Tip Credit and minimum wage adjustment requirement. Gusto can also help restaurants claim the FICA tip credit tax incentive: At the end of the year, we will supply a report with the details your accountant will need to claim this credit on your corporate tax returns.
Does Gusto file W-2 and 1099 forms?
Yes, we file W-2s and 1099s on your behalf. Employees and contractors receive electronic copies of their forms as well. If you switch to Gusto in the middle of the year, we will file complete W-2s for the entire year. During your setup, we gather the necessary wage information to help ensure W-2s are accurate for the full year.
What are all the forms Gusto will file for me?
There are quite a few. Check out the full list.
Do you support Federal R&D Tax Credit claims?
Yes, we support filing claims for the Federal R&D Tax Credit.
How will my employees get their paystubs?
On payday, we send your employees a fun email with a link to their full paystubs.
Can my employees get paid through direct deposit?
Yes, direct deposit comes standard.
What’s included in employee accounts?
Employees get lifetime access to their Gusto account to see paystubs and W-2s. They can also contribute to nonprofit organizations directly from their paychecks and update their personal info in their Gusto account.
Do you offer health benefits in my state?
Health benefits through Gusto (including medical, dental, vision, HSA and FSA health plans, life and disability) are available today in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Washington DC. We’re working hard to expand coverage to other states soon.
What if I have employees in a few different states?
As long as we support health insurance in your company's home state, we can usually cover your out-of-state employees too. Our brokers can help you find options for your particular team.
I’m new to benefits. How do I get set up?
Once you set up payroll with Gusto, you can view your recommended plans right from your account. Our fully-licensed brokers are also available to answer questions and help you choose a package that meets your budget and your team’s needs.
I’ve already got small group health insurance. How do I switch to Gusto?
If you like the plan you have, good news! Many plans can be switched over to Gusto. If you’d like to look at new options, we have a range of plans from top carriers to help you find the balance of cost and coverage that’s right for you.
How do I add dental and vision? What about HSAs or FSAs?
When you select your health benefits with Gusto, you’ll also have the option to add dental and vision coverage. For Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts, you can talk to one of our brokers to add those benefits, too.
Do you offer life and disability insurance?
Yes, you’ll have the option to add life and disability insurance policies when setting up health insurance in Gusto.
Are Gusto’s brokers licensed?
Absolutely! Gusto’s benefits advisors are fully-licensed professionals with years of experience. And they’re available by phone or email when you or your employees need some advice.
How does open enrollment work?
With Gusto, you get 100% online enrollment. Your employees can enroll in benefits, add dependents, and review their plan details in their Gusto account. We also have dedicated help just for employees to answer their benefits questions.
Do you handle COBRA?
Yes, we help you handle COBRA requirements for employees who leave your company.
How do my employees make changes, like adding dependents?
Your employees can make updates right in their Gusto account. It’s easy to add a dependent, change an address, change a name, and more.
Do you offer 401(k) plans in my state?
Yes. 401(k) plans through our partner, Guideline, are available in all 50 states.
What does it cost?
Our partner, Guideline, has some of the lowest fees in the industry. Employers pay $8 per participant per month, with a $40/month minimum and a one-time $500 setup fee. There are no advisory AUM fees or extra management fees. Employees pay only the standard fund expenses; in Guideline portfolios, that ranges from 0.06%–0.07%.
Can I offer matching?
Yes, absolutely! Guideline makes it easy to add employer contributions.
Does Guideline offer investment advice?
Guideline makes it easy for your employees to enroll in 401(k) plans, weigh investment options, and keep an eye on performance. Your team will have access to experienced Guideline advisors for any questions.
What are the benefits of having your 401(k) provider be your fiduciary?
Many providers that offer 401(k) services are not fiduciaries. Our partner Guideline is a fiduciary, which means they are legally accountable for putting your interests first even if it reduces their compensation. Therefore, you can have peace of mind that they are acting in the best interest of your team.
Are these available in my state?
Gusto tax-advantaged accounts are currently available in all the states where we support health insurance, which currently includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
What expenses are covered?
HSAs and Health FSAs can be used to pay for qualified health expenses. Dependent FSAs can be used for eligible care expenses for dependents. Commuter benefits can be used to cover the costs of commuting, including public transit, parking, and carpooling options with Uber and Lyft.
What does it cost?
Whether you choose to offer one, two, or all three of these benefits, there is an annual service charge of $200. There is a monthly cost of $4 per participant per account for FSA and Commuter Benefits (subject to a $20 monthly minimum), and a $2.50 per participant monthly cost for HSA (with no minimum).
Do you offer 529 plans in my state?
Yes. 529 plans are available through our partner, Gradvisor, in all 50 states.
How do I get set up?
After setting up payroll, you can easily start the process right from your Gusto account. Then, you’ll speak with a Gradvisor advisor to complete your selection and invite your employees to enroll.
How does a 529 plan work?
Earnings from a 529 plan aren’t subject to federal tax and generally aren’t subject to state tax when used to pay for qualified education expenses. Some states provide tax deductions or credits to employees for 529 contributions, and some states also provide employers with tax credits for matching 529 contributions. Because state tax treatment of 529 plans varies by state, we recommend you consult your tax advisor about your state and local taxes.
What does it cost?
There’s no setup fee for 529 plans. Employers pay $6 per participant per month, with an $18 per month minimum.
Can I set up matching?
Yes, you have the option to boost employee savings with automatic company contributions.
Do you offer workers’ comp in my state?
Through our partner AP Intego, we offer workers’ comp in all states where private policies are required. Check out the requirements for your state.
How do I enroll?
Once you’ve added your employees to Gusto, you can apply for a policy in just a few clicks. You’ll get an estimate instantly, plus a final quote in a day or two from our workers’ comp insurance partner, AP Intego. Everything is done online, including digitally signing your policy.
How do pay-as-you-go payments work?
AP Intego automatically withdraws only the amount you owe each period based on your actual payroll. This can help you avoid lump sum payments at the beginning and end of the year.
Can I manage paid time off, vacation, and sick time in Gusto?
Yes! You can set up customized time-off policies within Gusto. With our Complete plan, employees can submit requests, managers can approve, and Gusto automatically tracks balances and accruals for you. We also sync with your calendar so you know when everyone is out.
Can you sync with my calendar?
With Gusto, you can sync your team’s time-off requests plus payroll deadlines, employee birthdays, and anniversaries to your calendar to stay on top of important milestones.
Does Gusto have time clocks I can use in my office?
We do not provide time clocks, but we integrate with several time and attendance partners so you don’t need to manually enter hours into payroll.
How does self-onboarding work?
When you add a new employee, you’ll just enter some basic info like their name, salary, and email, and choose the documents you want them to fill out. Then invite them to self-onboard and Gusto will send them an email so they can e-sign their new hire paperwork, like W-4s and I-9s, and welcome them to the team. With our Complete plan, you can also have them sign custom docs, like offer letters and handbooks. All the signed forms are safely stored in Gusto and organized for easy reference whenever you need them.
Do you have HR advisory services?
With our Concierge plan, your payroll admin will get access to certified HR pros to answer questions; updates about certain state and local regulation changes to help you stay compliant; plus an HR resource center with an employee handbook builder and more.
Can I create my employee directory and org chart in Gusto?
Yes, you can organize all your employees with contact info, birthdays, and more. You can also organize your team into departments and set up an easy-to-use org chart. It’s your one system of record. Employees also get access to learn about your company and get to know their team.
How do employee surveys work?
With our Complete plan, you can send a simple monthly survey to your employees to get a pulse on how your team is feeling. The survey is emailed and results are anonymous. You can also track the results over time.
Can I talk to a live person?
You bet. When you call or chat with us, you’ll be speaking with one of our friendly, experienced reps in our San Francisco or Denver offices. You can also email us!
What are your customer support hours?
Our team is available Monday through Friday, from 6am to 5pm Pacific Time.
Can you help me switch payroll providers?
If you have more than 10 employees, we have a dedicated team who will import all of your data securely into Gusto.
Do you handle new hire reporting and federal forms?
Yes, we’ll automatically send new hire reports to the state for you, and we help you and your employees complete mandated federal forms, such as I-9s, W-4s, W-2s, and 1099s.
Do you help with Workers’ Comp?
Most states require you to have a workers’ comp policy. We’ll help you find a policy and calculate the premium payments.
Are you ACA compliant? What about HIPAA and ERISA?
We’re HIPAA, ERISA, and ACA compliant to keep your employee information secure and comply with federal regulations.
Can you handle COBRA requirements?
We handle COBRA requirements for you, emailing employees with the necessary paperwork when they leave your company and helping you manage them if they decide to enroll.
Do you help with non-discrimination testing?
The rules for non-discrimination testing can be confusing. We help you navigate them and record annual tests, as required by the IRS, for various benefits-related products like FSAs.
Can you help me with HR questions and changes in regulations?
With our Concierge plan, you can talk to a certified HR pros for any compliance-related questions. Plus, we’ll keep you notified of certain regulation changes that could affect your business.
How secure is my data on Gusto?
Security is one of the top priorities at Gusto. We put the same amount of care in protecting your information as we would with our own information. We use encryption, firewalls, and other technology to help keep your data secure.
Do you support multi-factor authentication?
Yes. We offer multi-factor authentication to help confirm whether the right person is signing into an account. Using multi-factor authentication may add an extra level of security to your account.
What encryption do you use?
We use the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to protect the transmission of data to our site. Encryption can help protect data from unwanted disclosure or changes.
How about your data centers?
Access to our data centers is restricted. We take physical, procedural, and technical steps to safeguard information that may be hosted in our data centers.
Is my bank account info safe?
Yes. The bank account information you provide in order to process payroll is secured using different anti-fraud measures. We adhere to industry standards and comply with applicable state and federal privacy and security laws.
How do you monitor transactions?
We regularly review transactions for any suspicious activity. If we believe we’ve found anything out of the ordinary, we’ll investigate and let you know as quickly as possible.
How much does Gusto cost?
We offer 3 different payroll and HR plans so you can choose the one that’s right for you. You can add benefits and insurance to any Gusto plan. Check out our pricing for more info.
How does the monthly per person cost work for employees? And contractors?
Each month, you will be charged the per person cost for each active employee (even if you haven’t paid them). You won’t be charged for contractors unless you pay them in any given month.
Do I have to sign an annual contract?
Nope! There are no annual contracts. You can cancel at any time.
Is there an additional cost if I have employees in multiple states? What about W-2s and 1099s? Amendments?
There is no additional cost for employees in multiple states, for W-2s or 1099s, or for amendments. Check out our full list of payroll features to see everything that’s included.
How does the 1-month free trial work?
Your first month is free with unlimited payroll runs, including off-cycle and bonus payrolls. Your trial begins when you run your first payroll, and once your 1-month trial has ended, we will automatically debit your company bank account each month so there's no need for invoicing.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is not intended to be and does not constitute investment advice. Such information is general in nature and is provided solely for informational purposes to our customers and is not to be construed or interpreted as a recommendation. All investment decisions are solely the responsibility of the user.
Gradvisor is a registered investment advisor. Before investing, users should consider whether their or their beneficiary’s home state offers a 529 plan that provides state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in their home state’s 529 plan.