Employer Forms & Setup
What employers and new clients need to collect for payroll, employees, banking, bookkeeping, and a smooth start.
Employer Success Center
Employer tools, official resources, state information, payroll guidance, benefits, retirement, insurance, and practical support in one place.
Explore the Center
Choose a topic below for official links, employer guidance, state resources, and practical setup information.
Payroll Center
Federal payroll guides, forms, tax payment resources, filing information, due dates, and wage reporting.
1099 & Contractor Center
Official information for W-9s, Forms 1099, independent contractors, vendors, and worker classification.
HR Center
Hiring, employee records, workplace posters, handbooks, timekeeping, leave, and employment guidance.
Bookkeeping Center
Bank connections, monthly bookkeeping, financial records, reconciliations, and year-end preparation.
Health & Benefits Center
Health insurance and employee-benefit resources for employers considering benefits for their team.
Retirement Center
401(k), SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, employer retirement resources, and state retirement program information.
Business Insurance Center
Workers' compensation and common business-insurance resources employers may need as they grow.
Disability & Paid Leave
Understand the different types of state disability and paid-leave programs and where to verify requirements.
50-State Employer Center
Select a state and access official directories for state tax, labor, new-hire, wage, and employer requirements.
Compliance Center
Federal employer compliance resources covering wages, leave, workplace requirements, records, and deadlines.
Employer Solutions
Explore additional solutions that can support your employees and simplify business operations.
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Employer Forms & Setup
Use this section as a practical collection guide when hiring employees or setting up payroll and related services.
Business & Tax AccountsLegal name, DBA, EIN, entity type, addresses, state withholding accounts, unemployment accounts/rates, and work locations.
Employee InformationLegal name, address, hire date, job title, work location, pay rate/type, standard hours, deductions, benefits, and other payroll setup information.
Employee FormsI-9, W-4, applicable state withholding form, direct-deposit authorization, employee information, emergency contact, and applicable policy acknowledgments.
Payroll Banking & FundingPayroll funding account, employer ACH authorization when required, secure bank verification, and employee direct-deposit instructions.
Payroll Schedule & TimekeepingPay frequency, pay dates, first payroll date, submission deadline, timekeeping method, overtime, PTO, holidays, bonuses, and commissions.
Prior Payroll / ConversionYear-to-date wages/taxes, payroll registers, tax filings/deposits, deduction/PTO balances, notices, and prior-provider reports when switching.
Bookkeeping SetupBank and credit-card accounts, processors, loans, statements, opening balances, prior financials, chart of accounts, and secure bank-feed connections.
HR & Benefits SetupHandbook/policies, work locations, HR contacts, benefit and retirement deductions, workers' comp, disability/leave, and training needs when applicable.
Sensitive employee, banking, payroll, and tax information should be exchanged only through approved secure systems.
Payroll Resources
Official federal payroll resources help employers use current forms, filing guidance, and payment information.
1099 & Independent Contractor Resources
Contractor reporting is different from employee payroll. Confirm worker classification before deciding which forms and reporting rules apply.
Form W-9
Form 1099-NEC
Form 1099-MISC
Employee vs. Contractor
1099-NEC / 1099-MISC Instructions
Information Return Instructions
Before Paying a ContractorCollect Form W-9 and confirm the payee's legal name, business name if applicable, tax classification, address, and taxpayer identification information.
1099-NECCommonly used to report qualifying nonemployee compensation. Use current IRS thresholds and instructions when determining filing requirements.
1099-MISCUsed for certain reportable payments that are not nonemployee compensation. Review current IRS instructions for payment categories and thresholds.
Worker ClassificationWhether a worker is an employee or independent contractor depends on the facts and applicable law, not simply what the parties call the relationship.
HR Resources
Official employer resources for hiring, wage-and-hour responsibilities, leave, workplace posters, and employee records.
Bookkeeping Resources
Organized books support payroll, tax preparation, financial reporting, and better business decisions.
Bank & Credit Card AccountsIdentify every business checking, savings, credit-card, loan, and line-of-credit account used by the business.
Payment ProcessorsIdentify systems such as Stripe, Square, PayPal, merchant processors, and other platforms that receive business income.
Secure Bank IntegrationUse the accounting platform's approved bank-feed connection rather than sharing online-banking credentials by email.
Prior RecordsPrior financial statements, statements, opening balances, and accounting files may be needed when changing systems or catching up books.
Health & Benefits Resources
Employee benefits can support recruiting and retention. Available options vary by business size, workforce, state, and plan design.
Health InsuranceMedical plan options for eligible employees and dependents.
Dental & VisionCommon supplemental benefits employers may choose to offer alongside medical coverage.
HSA & FSATax-advantaged benefit arrangements that may be available depending on health-plan design and eligibility.
Life & Supplemental BenefitsLife, accident, critical illness, and other voluntary or employer-sponsored benefits may be available.
Retirement Resources
Employers have several retirement-plan options, and some states also have retirement-program requirements.
401(k)Employer-sponsored retirement plans with employee payroll deferrals and optional employer contributions.
Safe Harbor 401(k)A 401(k) design with specific employer contribution and notice requirements that may simplify certain nondiscrimination testing.
SIMPLE IRAA retirement option commonly considered by eligible small employers.
SEP IRAAn employer-funded retirement arrangement that may fit certain businesses and self-employed individuals.
Business Insurance Resources
Coverage requirements and recommended insurance vary by state, industry, payroll, workforce, and business operations.
Workers' CompensationCoverage requirements vary by state and workforce. Confirm requirements with the appropriate state workers' compensation agency.
General LiabilityBusiness liability coverage for certain third-party bodily injury, property damage, and related claims.
Professional LiabilityCoverage often considered by professional and service businesses for certain errors, omissions, or professional-service claims.
Cyber InsuranceCoverage designed for certain cyber incidents, privacy events, and related business risks.
Disability & Paid Leave Resources
Not every state has the same program. Some states have statutory disability insurance, some have paid family or medical leave programs, some have both, and many do not have a state-run program.
State Disability ProgramsExamples include New York, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. Each state has its own coverage, contribution, payroll, and notice rules.
Paid Family / Medical LeaveSeveral states and the District of Columbia operate paid family or medical leave programs even if they do not have traditional disability insurance.
States Without a State ProgramFederal FMLA, workers' compensation, local leave laws, employer policies, and private disability benefits may still apply.
Why Official Sources MatterContribution rates, payroll deductions, notices, eligibility, and effective dates change. Confirm current rules with the employee's work state.
50-State Employer Center
Select a state and use official directories to confirm current employer requirements.
selected. Use these official resources:
State Tax & Government
State Labor Office
New-Hire Reporting
State Minimum Wage
Workers' Compensation Directory
Also confirm unemployment insurance, disability/paid leave, labor posters, pay-frequency/final-pay rules, retirement mandates, and applicable local requirements.
Compliance Resources
Use official federal resources to review common employer compliance responsibilities.
Employer Solutions
As your business grows, additional services may help support employees and simplify business operations.
Health Insurance & BenefitsExplore benefit options that can support recruiting, retention, and employee well-being.
Retirement PlansExplore employer retirement plan options and coordinate payroll deductions and contributions.
Workers' CompensationUnderstand state coverage requirements and payroll-related information needed for insurance administration.
HR SupportHR guidance, employee documentation, workplace policies, and employer support resources.
Time & AttendanceTrack employee hours, approvals, PTO, and payroll-ready time information.
Additional Business ServicesOther employer and business solutions can be considered based on the needs of the organization.
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