How to pay unemployment tax - NYS Department of Labor quarterly payments confusion
I'm a small business owner and I'm completely lost on how to pay unemployment tax to NYS Department of Labor. I've been getting notices about quarterly payments but the online system is confusing and I can't figure out which forms I need. My accountant moved and I'm trying to handle this myself now. The penalties they're threatening are scary - has anyone dealt with employer unemployment tax payments recently? What's the actual process?
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Axel Bourke
You need to use the NYS Department of Labor's online employer services system. Log into your employer account and look for the quarterly contribution section. You'll need Form NYS-45 for your quarterly report and payment. The due dates are usually the last day of the month following each quarter.
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Nalani Liu
•Thanks! I found the employer portal but it's asking for an experience rating - what is that exactly?
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Aidan Percy
ugh the whole system is such a mess!! i spent hours trying to figure this out last year and ended up paying late fees anyway. the website crashes half the time
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Fernanda Marquez
Experience rating determines your unemployment tax rate based on how many former employees have filed claims. New employers start at a standard rate around 4.1% but it can go higher or lower depending on your claims history. You calculate it on wages up to the taxable wage base which is $12,300 for 2025.
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Norman Fraser
•Wait so if I had an employee who got laid off and collected unemployment that affects my rate? That doesn't seem fair if it wasn't their fault they got laid off
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Fernanda Marquez
•Yes, any unemployment claims charged to your account can increase your rate. The system is designed so employers who have more layoffs pay higher rates to fund the unemployment system.
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Kendrick Webb
I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor about my employer account last month. Kept getting busy signals and when I did get through they'd transfer me and I'd get disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to the right department. They have a demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI and their site is claimyr.com - made the whole process way less stressful.
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Nalani Liu
•Interesting, I might check that out if I can't get through myself. How much does something like that cost?
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Kendrick Webb
•They focus more on the value of actually reaching someone rather than cost. For me it was worth it just to avoid the phone tag nightmare.
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Hattie Carson
Make sure you're also staying current on your disability insurance payments if you have employees. That's separate from unemployment tax but also goes through NYS Department of Labor reporting.
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Nia Johnson
For what it's worth, I just went through this process myself as a new business owner. The key is to make sure you register for your employer account first if you haven't already - you'll need your Federal EIN and some basic business info. Once you're in the system, the quarterly deadlines are April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31. Don't wait until the last minute because the system tends to be slower on due dates. Also keep good records of all your payments - the confirmation numbers are important if there are any disputes later.
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Esmeralda Gómez
•This is super helpful! I didn't realize the system could be slower on due dates - that's a great tip. Do you know if there's any grace period if you submit on time but the payment doesn't process until the next day due to system issues?
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