When you miss key payroll deadlines or misclassify employees, it can be a costly and time-consuming setback. Perhaps David Smidt, the owner of Mother Road Mobile Canning, put it best: “It’s like I’ve got to go pay a big fine or I’ve got to go pay somebody to figure it out for me. Either way it sucks.”
Indeed!
Unfortunately, clear answers to payroll questions can be hard to come by. We’re hoping this article helps you get payroll right the first time with links to some of our favorite places for getting answers:
- Do you have a question about using Gusto to run payroll: Check out our help center
- Do you have general questions about running payroll: Try our resource center
- Want to get the lowdown directly from your state or the federal government? Read on!
The federal government and state governments set rules around payroll taxes, payment deadlines, and employee classifications. They’re the ultimate authorities on payroll and employment laws, but they can be a little hard to track down. Below, we’ve listed contact information for the payroll tax and labor agencies who are most likely to be helpful in each state. Chances are the answer to your payroll question is here somewhere.
If you’re not satisfied with the answers you find (those government websites can be a little Kafkaesque), consider reaching out to a local lawyer or accountant who knows all the ins and outs in your area.
FEDERAL RESOURCES
- IRS Employment Taxes
- FLSA exempt and nonexempt employee classification
- Contractors and full time employee classification
ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
We hope these state and federal agencies will be able to answer most of your questions when you run payroll for your employees. If you need more general information, this article about setting up and running payroll might be helpful, or you could check the IRS Employer’s Tax Guide.
