Register for payroll
Set up payroll in Tennessee — the state has no broad income tax on wages, making registration simpler than most states. Employers only need to register for Unemployment Insurance.
Register for payroll taxes today - here’s what’s required
Here are the state agencies you need to register with as an employe in your state. We handle all registrations on your behalf.
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Handles Unemployment Insurance (UI) registration for all Tennessee employers. Tennessee has no wage income tax so this is the only required state registration.
Key facts about your state payroll taxes.
A quick overview of what's involved before you run your first payroll.
We handle the whole process for you
You provide the business info — we do the rest.
Complete our intake form
Tell us about your business — name, EIN, entity type, and start date. Takes about 5 minutes.
We review & prepare
Tell us about your business — name, EIN, entity type, and start date. Takes about 5 minutes.
We submit to the state
We register your business with the appropriate state agencies through official portals.
You receive your credentials
We deliver your account numbers and filing details — ready to load into your payroll system.
Ready to get registered?
Flat fee, no surprises. We work inside your existing payroll system.
State Payroll Tax FAQs
Common questions about registering for payroll taxes.
Do I need to register for payroll taxes in Tennessee?
Yes, while Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, employers with workers in the state must still register for unemployment insurance with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. We handle this registration on your behalf so your business is compliant before your first Tennessee payroll runs.
Does Tennessee have any income tax requirements?
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so no state income tax withholding is required. The state fully eliminated its investment income tax (the Hall Tax) in 2021. Employers only need to register for Unemployment Insurance with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development — making Tennessee one of the simpler states for payroll tax compliance.
What information do you need to register my business for payroll taxes in Tennessee?
We'll need your business name, EIN, entity type, physical address, start date of payroll, and owner information. You provide it once through our intake form and we handle everything from there.
How long does a Tennessee payroll tax registration take?
Tennessee payroll tax registration processing times vary, ranging from instant online issuance to several weeks depending on the state's workload. Since Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, we handle unemployment insurance registration with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and monitor the status of your registration, notifying you as soon as your credentials are issued by the state.
