Tax Registrations Through Gusto (Powered by Middesk)

Gusto partners with Middesk to simplify payroll tax registration for your business. Gusto handles your payroll setup and ongoing tax filings, and tax payments once your accounts are established, while Middesk handles the complex process of registering your business with state tax agencies on your behalf. 

This article explains how the integration works, what you can expect from the process, and how Middesk and Gusto work together to get you set up for payroll tax compliance.

Middesk is a payroll tax registration service that helps businesses register for state payroll tax accounts (withholding and unemployment only). Instead of navigating multiple state agencies, forms, and requirements yourself, Middesk:

• Receives your registration request from Gusto

• Reviews the information you submit

• Prepares and submits tax registrations with the appropriate state agencies

• Retrieves tax account numbers, rates, and related details from those agencies

• Shares completed registration details back to Gusto so they can file your taxes on time

• If a necessary part of the submission process, we will also set up the online portal log-ins for state agencies that you'll use for filing

Middesk does not file or pay your taxes — our role ends once registrations are complete and the account information is available to Gusto and you. 

Gusto is your payroll provider. For tax registration, Gusto:

• Initiates the registration request to Middesk on your behalf. Typically by the time this occurs you will find the link to start an order on the relevant state tax settings page in your Gusto dashboard

  • NOTE: Gusto will "request" registrations based on the info you have in their payroll system. So, if you need a registration that Gusto is not yet aware of, you may need to add the employee into Gusto first, which will result in the order link appearing on the relevant state tax settings page in your Gusto dashboard.

• Guides you through entering required business and payroll information in the Gusto dashboard if necessary. While we'd advise working with a CPA or attorney, Gusto support can consult on details specific to your business if required, but Middesk cannot advise on these details or other compliance matters.

• Receives completed tax account information (IDs, withholding rates, etc.) from Middesk and display this information on your Gusto dashboard

• Uses that information to support payroll processing and tax filings once registration is complete

NOTE: Gusto will also require third-party authorization (TPA) to obtain access to tax agencies so they can file taxes for you after registration is complete. Middesk does not set up TPA given we are a third party ourselves - so typically once we notify that a registration is complete, Gusto support will reach out with instruction on the TPA process

Currently, Middesk supports two main types of employer payroll tax registrations:

• State Withholding Tax

• State Unemployment Insurance Tax (SUI, or SUTA)

As of now, Middesk x Gusto are not able to support additional registration types such as city or local tax registrations, PFML, or FAMLI tax registrations. While this is something that we look to support in the future, please keep this in mind when submitting orders where you may be asked to register for an additional registration type.

So, for example - if Gusto requests that your business complete a SUI, withholding, and PFML registration to get set up for Massachusetts taxes and you submit an order to Middesk - your order would only include SUI and withholding. Gusto would expect you to simultaneously register for PFML independently of Middesk.

1. You start a tax registration in Gusto

   • Gusto identifies which state tax accounts you need based on your business setup and payroll activity.

   • You will find a link to Middesk on that state's tax settings page and then enter information such as your business details, responsible party, and first payroll dates.

2. Gusto sends the order to Middesk to register with state agencies

   • Middesk receives the registration request and begins processing it on your behalf.

   • Middesk prepares and submits all supported registrations — e.g., withholding and unemployment tax accounts — to the relevant state tax agencies.

3. Middesk retrieves account details

   • Once agencies complete processing, Middesk retrieves tax IDs, rates, deposit frequencies, and other relevant information. (Processing time varies by agency)

   • This can be done by online portal, email, or physical mail - every state has their own process and timeline.

   • NOTE: Sometimes registration confirmation will be sent by mail unexpectedly, so there may be times where we require a customer pass along details to Middesk support via email (taxregistrations@middesk.com), so we can add the information to your Gusto account. In these cases Middesk will notify you via email if you need to retrieve any tax items via mail.

4. Middesk passes the tax information back to Gusto

   • Completed registration details are delivered to Gusto so your payroll system is ready for tax filings.

   • Once a registration is marked complete, the details will update on the relevant tax settings page in the Gusto dashboard.

5. Gusto facilitates third-party authorization (TPA)

   • After registration is complete, Gusto typically requires third-party authorization (TPA) to gain access to tax agency accounts so they can file taxes on your behalf.

   • Middesk does not set up TPA, as we act as a third-party registration service, so Gusto support will reach out with instructions on completing the TPA process once registration details are available.

   • TPA is usually done via a Power of Attorney form or an authorization form done via the online portal. While Middesk cannot support on the TPA process itself, you can reach out to taxregistrations@middesk.com if you require support related to accessing your agency account.

6. Gusto begins payroll tax filing

   • After TPA is completed, Gusto uses the completed tax account information to file and manage your ongoing payroll taxes.

   • Any support issues related to the active management of accounts should be directed to support@gusto.com.

• Guest Dashboard and communications: If additional information is needed or there are status updates, Middesk will notify you by email and you may access the Middesk Guest Dashboard to view messages and respond. The link to access your guest dashboard is typically found via a link to "Visit Middesk" near the top of a state's Tax Setup page in the Gusto dashboard.

• Timing varies by state: Some registrations complete quickly, while others take time depending on the tax agency’s processing timelines. For further details you can consult the state-by-state resource in our Help Center.

• Middesk account required: You do not log in to Middesk; everything happens through Gusto and shared links.

• Gusto handles filings: Once registrations are complete, Gusto uses the tax account information to support your payroll filings. Middesk’s role is registration only. 

• Contact Email communication: Please note that when submitting an order to Middesk you will be provided to list a "Contact" - it's very important that this email is monitored as this is where email communications from tax agencies will automatically be forwarded to.

• Middesk registers your business with state tax agencies.

• Gusto uses the registration information to file your payroll taxes on your behalf.

• Middesk does not file or pay taxes — we hand off complete account information to Gusto and you.

• Middesk support can be reached at taxregistrations@middesk.com

  • Support Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am - 8pm EST

  • Phone support is not currently available, but our team is dedicated to offering high quality, fast, and comprehensive email support!

• Gusto support can be reached at support@gusto.com