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 Montana
When hiring employees in new states, you will need to register for relevant state tax accounts to facilitate their payment. In Montana, you must be registered with the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) (income tax withholding) and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (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.
Montana Accounts Registration and Rate Info
Registering with the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) for a Withholding Account Number:
Steps to Register:
- Go to the Montana DOR transaction portal.
- Under the “Businesses” tile, select "Register for a New Tax Account."
- In the “Register” section, click "Register for a New Tax Account" again.
- Complete the application, ensuring you select "Withholding (WTH)" as the tax type.
When you register with the Montana DOR, expect to receive your Withholding Account Number by mail within 10–14 days.
For questions about registration, contact the agency at (406) 444-6900. They may also be able to provide your Withholding Account Number sooner if needed.
Registering with the Department of Labor and Industry for an Unemployment Tax Account:
Steps to Register:
- Visit the agency's UI eServices for Employers online portal.
- Under the "eServices and Registration" section, select "Sign Up for eServices."
- Complete the remaining steps in the sign-up process, following the agency’s "UI eServices for Employers Login Instructions" guide.
After registering, you can expect to receive your unemployment account number within 3–7 days.
Already Registered? Locate This Information
Locate Your Montana Withholding Account Number/ID:
If your business has previously processed payroll in Montana, you can locate your Withholding Account ID on any notices received from the Montana Department of Revenue. Alternatively, you can contact the agency directly to obtain it.
Locate Your Unemployment Insurance (UI) Account Number and Tax Rate:
If you’ve previously processed payroll in Montana, you can locate your Unemployment Insurance (UI) Account Number by:
- Checking correspondence from the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, such as a "Welcome Letter" or "Form UI-5."
Please try calling the agency at (800) 550-1513 if:
- You cannot find your account number.
- The account has been inactive for eight or more quarters (it may need reactivation).
- The account has been inactive for more than five years (you may require a new account number).
To locate your unemployment contribution rate, please refer to the "Notice of Subjectivity" or "Welcome Letter" from the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. The letter will provide three rates but you will only need to enter the Contribution rate into Justworks Payroll.
- If you're unsure of your Contribution Rate, contact the agency at (800) 550-1513.
Entering State Tax Info in Justworks Payroll
Once you registered with the State and have a valid MT 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 “Montana” to edit the state tax information
In your Justworks Payroll account, you’ll want to enter your Montana Withholding Account ID, Montana UI Account Number and Contribution Tax Rate.
Third-party admin access
As your payroll provider, Justworks Payroll will utilize the provided account information to manage and report your MT 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 MT 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 MT 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.