How to register for unemployment tax with NYS Department of Labor - confused about employer requirements
I just started a small business in Albany and I'm completely lost about registering for unemployment tax with NYS Department of Labor. I know I need to do this since I'm hiring my first employee next month, but the my.ny.gov website is confusing me. Do I register through the same system where people file unemployment claims? I've been reading about quarterly reports and tax rates but I can't figure out where to actually start the registration process. My accountant said I need to get this done before I pay my first employee but didn't give me specifics. Has anyone been through this recently?
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Nia Jackson
You need to register for NYS Department of Labor employer account, which is separate from the claimant system. Go to my.ny.gov and look for 'Employer Services' section. You'll need your Federal EIN and basic business info. The registration gives you access to quarterly reporting and you'll get assigned your UI tax rate. Make sure you do this BEFORE your first payroll or you could face penalties.
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Luca Romano
•Thank you! I found the Employer Services section but it's asking for a NAICS code - do you know where I find that?
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Mateo Hernandez
just went through this last year and its a pain. the nys department of labor website kept timing out when i tried to submit. took me like 3 tries to get it to work
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CosmicCruiser
For the NAICS code, you can look it up on the Census Bureau website - just search for your industry type. Once you're registered with NYS Department of Labor for unemployment tax, you'll need to file quarterly reports even if you have zero wages to report. Don't forget you also need workers comp insurance before you can hire anyone.
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Luca Romano
•Workers comp too? Ugh this is getting complicated. Do I need that before I can register for unemployment tax or can I do them separately?
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CosmicCruiser
•You can register for unemployment tax first, but you legally can't have employees working without workers comp coverage. They're separate requirements but both mandatory.
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Aisha Khan
I've been trying to reach NYS Department of Labor about my employer account for weeks and can't get through to anyone! The phone system just hangs up on me after waiting 45 minutes. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I need to update my business address and the online system won't let me.
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Ethan Taylor
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone. Someone here recommended using Claimyr (claimyr.com) which basically calls for you and connects you when they get an agent. I was skeptical but tried it and actually got through to someone in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth trying if you really need to talk to someone about your employer registration.
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Aisha Khan
•Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid sitting on hold for hours.
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Yuki Ito
The whole NYS Department of Labor employer system is a nightmare. They make it SO complicated for small businesses to comply with unemployment tax requirements. Why can't they just send a simple checklist instead of making us hunt through dozens of pages on my.ny.gov?
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Carmen Lopez
Same boat here! Just registered last month and the process was actually not too bad once I figured out where to go. The key is starting at my.ny.gov business services portal, not the regular unemployment section.
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Drew Hathaway
I went through this process about 6 months ago and it was definitely confusing at first! One thing that helped me was calling the NYS Department of Labor employer hotline at (518) 457-2635 early in the morning (like 8:15 AM) - I had much better luck getting through then versus later in the day. Also, make sure you have your business formation documents ready when you register because they'll ask for the date you first became liable for wages. The quarterly reports aren't due until the end of the quarter after you hire, so you have some breathing room there. Good luck with your new business!
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Yuki Tanaka
•Thanks for the phone number tip! I've been dreading the phone call part but trying early morning makes sense. Quick question - when you say "business formation documents," do you mean just the Articles of Incorporation or do they need other paperwork too? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I call.
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