How to close employer unemployment account with NYS Department of Labor

You'll need to file a final quarterly report (NYS-45) and notify NYS Department of Labor in writing about your business closure. Make sure to include your final date of operation and that you have no employees. You should also file any outstanding wage reports and pay any remaining UI contributions owed.

been there! closed my restaurant in 2023. you gotta make sure all your employees get their final pay stubs and that you've reported all wages through the last quarter. NYS Department of Labor will send you a final bill if you owe anything

Contact NYS Department of Labor directly to get the exact forms you need. The process varies depending on whether you have outstanding claims against your account. You might need to maintain some liability for a period after closure if any former employees file for benefits. I had to deal with this when I helped a client close their business - trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor was impossible with their phone system. I ended up using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent who walked me through the whole process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.

WAIT - don't forget about WARN Act requirements if you have more than 50 employees! You need 60 days notice for mass layoffs. Also check if you owe any back taxes before closing.

omg this is exactly what i'm going through right now!! my boutique is closing in january and i have no idea what paperwork i need. following this thread

Make sure to also notify your state disability insurance carrier if you have one, and don't forget to cancel any workers' compensation coverage. I went through this process last year and almost got stuck with continued premiums because I forgot to officially terminate those policies. Also, keep copies of everything you file - the final clearance letter is important for your records in case any issues come up later. The whole process took about 2 months for me from start to finish.

Just went through this process myself when I closed my consulting business last fall. One thing that wasn't mentioned yet - if you have any employees who might be eligible for unemployment benefits, NYS DOL may keep your account "active" for liability purposes even after you officially close. This means you could still receive notices about claims filed against your account for up to 18 months after closure. Make sure to keep your contact information updated with them during this period so you don't miss any important correspondence. Also, if you had any seasonal workers or anyone on temporary layoff, you'll want to make sure their status is properly updated as permanent separations before you close the account.

One thing to add that I learned the hard way - make sure you request a "Status of Account" letter from NYS DOL before you file your final paperwork. This will show if there are any outstanding issues, penalties, or audits pending that could complicate your closure. I thought I was all set to close my account but discovered I had an old wage discrepancy they wanted to review first. It delayed my closure by about 6 weeks while we sorted it out. Better to catch these things upfront rather than after you've already shut down operations. You can request this through their business services line, though as others mentioned, getting through can be challenging.

I went through this exact process when I closed my retail store two years ago. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1) Request that Status of Account letter Marcus mentioned ASAP - do this before you even set your final closing date. 2) File your final NYS-45 quarterly report within 30 days of your last day of operations. 3) Send written notice to NYS DOL with your final operation date and confirmation you have no remaining employees. 4) Pay any outstanding contributions and file all final wage reports. 5) Don't forget to cancel workers' comp and disability insurance policies separately. The whole process took about 10-12 weeks for me, and yes, they do keep your account liable for potential claims for up to 18 months after closure. I kept getting notices for about a year afterward, but most were just routine correspondence. Pro tip: call their business line first thing in the morning (8 AM sharp) - that's when I had the best luck getting through to an actual person.