At PaySteady, we handle payroll for hundreds of companies across the United States. One common issue we see is state unemployment insurance (SUI) tax complications when an employee changes their work location. If not managed properly, this can result in unexpected tax notices.
Let’s say Emily starts the year at ABCorp’s Richmond, VA office but transfers to Washington, DC after one month. Each state has its own SUI taxable wage base:
At the time of her move, Emily has already earned $5,000 in VA, which was taxed for SUI. Under DC law, ABCorp only owes SUI on wages up to $9,000—but since they already paid tax on $5,000, their DC liability is only $4,000.
Most payroll software calculates this correctly, but DC tax authorities don’t have access to Emily’s VA earnings. They assume SUI tax is owed on her first $9,000 in DC instead of just $4,000. This can trigger a tax underpayment notice, even though the company has already met its tax obligations.
If you receive a tax notice, you’ll need to provide:
✅ The employee’s work location history
✅ Proof of SUI tax payments to the prior state
If you’re a PaySteady Pays customer, we handle this for you—saving you time and hassle.
With 34 different SUI taxable wage bases across U.S states and territories and increased employee mobility, these issues are becoming more common. Staying informed can help your company avoid overpaying or receiving unnecessary tax notices.
📞 Call us at (703) 672-1225
📧 Email us at payroll@paysteady.com
At PaySteady, we make payroll easy—so you can focus on growing your business.🚀