Please note: this article is about the Justworks Payroll product. Not sure which product you're using? Check out: How Do I Know Which Justworks Product I Have?
Paying employees in Mississippi
When hiring employees in new states, you will need to register for relevant state tax accounts to facilitate their payment. In Mississippi, you must be registered with the Mississippi Department of Revenue (withholding tax) and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (unemployment tax).
Alternatively, Justworks Payroll can handle the registration process for you. We offer state tax registration services to assist with registering your business in new states. To request registration, please contact us at support@payroll.justworks.com.
Mississippi Accounts Registration and Rate Info
Registering for a Withholding Tax Account:
Follow the steps below to register online:
- Register online with the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR).
- Scroll to the “Apply Online” section and click "Apply for Tax Accounts, Liquor Permits, Amusement Decals."
- Select "Register a New Taxpayer."
- Follow the remaining prompts to complete the process.
After registering for a withholding income tax account, you should immediately receive your withholding account number and your filing frequency. For questions, contact the DOR at (601) 923-7700.
Registering for an Unemployment Tax Account:
Register online by following these steps:
- Visit the MDES website.
- Scroll down and select "Register a New Business."
- Provide the necessary basic information and click "Next."
- Follow the remaining prompts to complete and submit your registration.
You will receive your Employer Account Number (EAN) and unemployment tax rate immediately when registering online, or within three days if you register by mail. If you do not know your account number or tax rate, call the agency at (601) 321-6000.
Already Registered? Locate This Information
Locate Your Withholding Tax Account Number:
If you've previously processed payroll in Mississippi, you can locate your Tax Account ID Number and Withholding Filing Status by:
- Reviewing notices from the Mississippi Department of Revenue, or
- Contacting the agency at (601) 923-7700.
Locate Your Unemployment Account Number (EAN) and Tax Rate:
You can locate your Employer Account Number by:
- Checking notices from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, such as the "Registration Notification Letter" or "Quarterly Contribution Report (Form UI-2)."
- Contacting the agency at (601) 321-6000.
You can locate your UI Contribution Rate by:
- Reviewing the "Contribution Tax Rate Notice" sent by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
- Confirming your rate by contacting your Tax Field Representative.
Entering State Tax Info in Justworks Payroll
Once you registered with the State and have a valid MS address added to your company’s offices, you can add your account info in Justworks Payroll by navigating to:
- Company > Settings in the left navigation bar
- Under ‘Company tax info’ click into “Mississippi” to edit the state tax information
In your Justworks Payroll account, you’ll want to enter your MS Withholding Tax Account ID Number, Employer Account Number (Unemployment Account Number) and Tax Rate.
Third-party admin access
As your payroll provider, Justworks Payroll will utilize the provided account information to manage and report your MS tax liabilities. Occasionally, the state may issue notices related to payroll taxes.
Justworks Payroll can examine these notices if granted Third-party admin access to your MS state tax account. During onboarding, we will request that you sign state specific TPA forms, which authorizes us to handle and report your taxes to the state.
Why is this important?
Justworks Payroll calculates tax liabilities as part of payroll processing. If we cannot access your MS state tax accounts, we must return any unremitted tax liabilities to your company bank account, requiring you to remit and file your company’s state taxes manually.
Disclaimer
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, legal or tax advice. If you have any legal or tax questions regarding this content or related issues, then you should consult with your professional legal or tax advisor.