Wisconsin Payroll Licensing

Licensing requirements for Wisconsin employers.

Harbor Compliance provides payroll tax registration services in every state to help your company hire employees and process payroll on time.

In most states, the two payroll taxes are withholding and unemployment insurance (aka unemployment tax and unemployment compensation). Employers must register for the appropriate accounts in order to hire employees, to process payroll, and to file tax returns. Given the virtual, home-based, and temporary nature of employees, registrations often take place on short notice and in multiple states. Foreign qualification and registered agent are prerequisites in most states.

Employer Witholding Tax Licensure

This section applies to employers that are applying for a license in Wisconsin for the first time to withold taxes from payroll.

Agency:Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Form:

Form BTR-101 Wisconsin Business Tax Registration

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$20 unless:

  • You paid the $20 BTR fee with a previous BTR application for this business
  • You are only applying for a consumer’s use tax certificate or a limousine fee
  • You are only applying for a Wisconsin withholding tax number and you are one of the following
    • An out-of-state employer who is not engaged in business in Wisconsin
    • An agricultural employer with farm labor only
    • A household employer with domestic employees only (e.g., maids, nannies, in-home caregivers)
  •  You are a federal governmental agency

Unemployment Tax Licensure

This section applies to employers that are applying for a license in Wisconsin for the first time for unemployment insurance.

Agency:Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Form:

Form UCT-1-E for Wisconsin employers or Form UCT-43-E for foreign entities.

Filing Method:

Form