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PAYROLL TAX REGISTRATION

Colorado payroll tax registration

What to set up in Colorado before the first payroll, in date order, with each agency, online portal and deadline. Enter the first employee's start date and the first pay date to see the dates.

Facts checked on October 5, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. For employers. General information, not legal or tax advice: confirm a deadline with the agency before you rely on it.

Setup steps before the first payroll

  1. Workers' comp

    Get workers' compensation coverage

    Deadline
    Before anyone starts work
    Workers' comp in Colorado (Worklio Insurance) (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    cdle.colorado.gov/dwc/employers/insurance-coverage (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  2. Posters

    Hang the required posters

    Deadline
    Before anyone starts work
    Online
    cdle.colorado.gov/dlss/labor-laws-rules-resources/posters (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    cdle.colorado.gov/dlss/labor-laws-rules-resources/posters (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  3. State tax accounts

    Register for a CDOR wage withholding account in MyBizColorado (estimate annual withholding; it sets the filing frequency)

    Deadline
    Before the first payroll
    Agency
    Withholding: Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation Division (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    mybiz.colorado.gov (opens in a new tab)
    Returns
    Set from the employer's estimate of a year's Colorado withholding on the application: under $7,000 quarterly (last day of the month after the quarter); $7,000 to $50,000 monthly (15th of the following month); over $50,000 weekly (third business day after the Friday period end, by EFT)
    Source
    tax.colorado.gov/withholding-tax-guide (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  4. Local taxes

    Register with Denver (eBiz Tax Center) or another OPT city where employees work

    Deadline
    Before the first payroll with work in that city
    Some cities levy a monthly occupational privilege (head) tax. Denver: $5.75 a month withheld from the employee and $4.00 from the employer; the employer withholds the employee portion and registers with Denver Treasury through eBiz. Other OPT cities (the shared data names Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village and Sheridan) not confirmed here.
    Source
    www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Department-of-Finance/Our-Divisions/Treasury/Business-Tax-Information (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
  5. New hire reporting

    Report each new hire

    Deadline
    Within 20 calendar days of hire, or by the first regular payroll after that if laterCounted here from the start date; report sooner if the employee was hired before it.
    Agency
    Colorado State Directory of New Hires (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    newhire.state.co.us (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    cdle.colorado.gov/employers/recruiting-hiring/new-employer-checklist (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  6. State tax accounts

    Register for an unemployment account through MyBizColorado

    Deadline
    Before the first quarterly wage report
    Agency
    Unemployment: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Division of Unemployment Insurance (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    mybiz.colorado.gov/intro (opens in a new tab) (registration); MyUI Employer+ for account management, reports and premiums
    Source
    cdle.colorado.gov/employers/recruiting-hiring/new-employer-checklist (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  7. State tax accounts

    File the first UI wage detail report and FAMLI wage report and pay premiums

    Deadline
    By the last day of the month after the quarter of the first pay dateJanuary 31, 2027 is a Sunday; whether Colorado moves it to the next business day is not confirmed.
    Rates
    Colorado payroll tax rates
    Source
    cdle.colorado.gov/employers/unemployment-insurance-premiums/wage-reporting (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  8. Paid leave

    Register in My FAMLI+ Employer

    Deadline
    Before the first quarterly FAMLI wage report and premium
    Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)
    famli.colorado.gov/employers/my-famli-employer (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    famli.colorado.gov/employers/my-famli-employer/my-famli-employer-user-guide/my-famli-employer-user-guide-getting (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026

Federal dates for this pay date

Federal returns follow the compliance calendar, which dates them for every employer:

A 501(c)(3) organization generally owes no FUTA tax and files no Form 940 (Form 940 instructions (opens in a new tab)).

More on Colorado

WORKLIO HCM

Hiring in a new state? We help open the accounts.

We help open state withholding and unemployment accounts when you hire somewhere new, and our registration service can register your employer tax accounts for you: withholding, unemployment and paid leave contributions where the state's tax agency collects them. After that, Worklio HCM calculates, deposits and files your payroll taxes in every state and locality, new-hire state reporting is automatic, and rates and rules update without you noticing.

Registration in other states

Sources

The agency page or document behind each fact, as checked.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the relevant agency or your advisor. You remain responsible for registering and for your employment taxes.

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