---
title: "New Hire Reporting Requirements by State (Table) | MCC"
description: "New hire reporting deadlines for all 51 states and DC: days to report, whether contractors count, how to file and each state's official site. Most allow 20 days"
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/new-hire-reporting-requirements-by-state"
---

Free table · Hiring

# New hire reporting requirements by state

How many days you have to report a new employee, whether independent contractors are covered, how each state takes the report and where to file it, in one sortable table built from the states' own pages.

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**Quick answer.** Every state requires employers to report each new and rehired employee to a state directory of new hires. Most give you 20 days. Alabama (7), Maine (7), Georgia (10), Vermont (10), Massachusetts (14), Rhode Island (14), West Virginia (14), Iowa (15), Mississippi (15) give fewer days. 18 states on this page also cover some independent contractors.

Need the whole first-week paperwork for one state with real dates? The [first hire checklist generator](/bookkeeping/first-hire-checklist-by-state) takes a state and a start date and prints the I-9, W-4, state form and report deadlines.

## Key figures

- 42 of 51 jurisdictions give employers 20 days to report a new hire.
- The shortest deadline is 7 days (Alabama and Maine); all 51 with a stated deadline are within 20 days.
- 18 also require reports for independent contractors; for 19 the contractor rule is not confirmed.

Computed from the 51 rows of the open dataset (the same data as the table) when this page loads · sources checked November 2026 · [Download CSV](/data/new-hire.csv) · [Field guide and citation](/data/new-hire)

## New hire reporting deadlines in all 51 states and DC

Select a column heading to sort. "Not stated" in the Contractors column means the official page we checked didn't address contractors.

Want payroll set up right? [Payroll and leave tracking for New Jersey employers](/bookkeeping/payroll-and-leave-tracking-nj), or [employer registration in another state](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration).

| | | | | Official site |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Alabama** | 7 days | No | Online, Electronic file, Mail, Fax | [Alabama Department of Labor New-Hire reporting](https://labor.alabama.gov/NewHire/Reporting) |
| **Alaska** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Electronic file, Mail | [Alaska Child Support Services Division: New Hire and Wage Withholding](https://childsupport.alaska.gov/child-support-services/employers/new-hire-wage-withholding) |
| **Arizona** | 20 days | Government employers only | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Arizona New Hire Reporting Center](https://newhire-reporting.com/AZ-Newhire/FAQ.aspx?lang=en) |
| **Arkansas** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Electronic file | [Arkansas Division of Workforce Services Tax21](https://www.workforce.arkansas.gov/Tax21) |
| **California** | 20 days | Yes | Online | [EDD e-Services for Business](https://edd.ca.gov/en/Payroll_Taxes/Required_Filings_and_Due_Dates) |
| **Colorado** | 20 days | Yes | Online | [Colorado State Directory of New Hires](https://www.newhire.state.co.us/#/public/public-landing) |
| **Connecticut** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Electronic file | [Connecticut Department of Labor New Hire Reporting](https://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/newhires/index2.asp) |
| **Delaware** | 20 days | Government employers only | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Delaware State Directory of New Hires](https://newhire-reporting.com/DE-Newhire/faq.aspx) |
| **District of Columbia** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Mail | [District of Columbia Directory of New Hires](https://dc-newhire.com/) |
| **Florida** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Mail, Fax | [Florida Department of Revenue: Services for Employers](https://servicesforemployers.floridarevenue.com/SiteAssets/docs/New_Hire_Reporting_Form_Instructions.pdf) |
| **Georgia** | 10 days | Not stated | Online | [Georgia New Hire Reporting (Department of Human Services)](https://www.ga-newhire.com) |
| **Hawaii** | 20 days | Not stated | Mail, Electronic file | [Hawaii Revised Statutes 576D-16](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0576D/HRS_0576D-0016.htm) |
| **Idaho** | 20 days | No | Online, Fax, Mail | [Idaho Department of Labor New Hire Reporting](https://www2.labor.idaho.gov/newhire/FAQ.aspx) |
| **Illinois** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Fax, Mail, Electronic file | [Illinois Department of Employment Security: New Hires](https://ides.illinois.gov/employer-resources/taxes-reporting/new-hires.html) |
| **Indiana** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Mail, Fax | [Indiana New Hire Reporting Center](https://in-newhire.com/) |
| **Iowa** | 15 days | Yes | Online, Mail, Fax | [Iowa Centralized Employee Registry](https://secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us/epay/Help/Documents/EPAY%20New%20Hires%20FAQ.pdf?v=2) |
| **Kansas** | 20 days | Not stated | Online | [Kansas Department of Labor New Hire Directory](https://dol.ks.gov/employers/new-hire-directory) |
| **Kentucky** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Fax, Mail | [Kentucky New Hire Reporting Center](https://ky-newhire.com) |
| **Louisiana** | 20 days | No | Online, Electronic file, Mail, Fax | [Louisiana Directory of New Hires](https://la-newhire.com/) |
| **Maine** | 7 days | Yes | Online, Electronic file, Fax | [Maine New Hire Reporting Center](https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/child-support-services/employers/report-new-hires) |
| **Maryland** | 20 days | Not stated | Online | [Maryland State Directory of New Hires](https://www.mdnewhire.com/) |
| **Massachusetts** | 14 days | Yes | Online, Mail | [Massachusetts DOR: Report New Hires](https://www.mass.gov/how-to/report-new-hires) |
| **Michigan** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Fax, Mail | [Michigan New Hires Operation Center](https://www.mi-newhire.com) |
| **Minnesota** | 20 days | Government employers only | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Minnesota New Hire Reporting Center](https://mnnh-web.stellarware.com/faqs) |
| **Mississippi** | 15 days | Optional | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Mississippi State Directory of New Hires](https://ms-newhire.com/faqs) |
| **Missouri** | 20 days | Not stated | Online | [Missouri Employer Services: New Hire Information](https://missouriemployer.dss.mo.gov/NewHireInfo.aspx) |
| **Montana** | 20 days | No | Online, Electronic file, Mail | [Montana DPHHS Online New Hire Reporting](https://dphhs.mt.gov/CSSD/employerinfo/nhrs) |
| **Nebraska** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Nebraska State Directory of New Hires](https://nenh-web.stellarware.com/faqs) |
| **Nevada** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Nevada DETR New Hire Reporting](https://detr.nv.gov/Page/New_Hire_Reporting_Info) |
| **New Hampshire** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Fax, Mail | [New Hampshire Employment Security: New Hire](https://mm.nh.gov/files/uploads/nhes/documents/des-605.pdf) |
| **New Jersey** | 20 days | Yes | Online | [New Jersey Child Support Employer Services Portal](https://www.njcsesp.com/) |
| **New Mexico** | 20 days | Optional | Online, Electronic file, Mail, Fax | [New Mexico New Hire Directory](https://nmnewhire.stellarware.com/faqs) |
| **New York** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Fax, Mail | [New York New Hire Online Reporting Center](https://www.nynewhire.com/#/login) |
| **North Carolina** | 20 days | No | Online, Fax, Mail | [North Carolina New Hire Directory](https://ncnewhires.ncdhhs.gov/faqs) |
| **North Dakota** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Mail, Fax | [North Dakota Child Support: online reporting](https://www.childsupport.dhs.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/pdfs/Employer%20-%20New%20Hire%20Reporting%20-%20Factsheet.pdf) |
| **Ohio** | 20 days | Yes | Mail, Fax, Electronic file | [Ohio Revised Code 3121.893](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3121.893) |
| **Oklahoma** | 20 days | No | Online, Mail | [Oklahoma Employment Security Commission: Report New Hires](https://apps.ok.gov/oesc/newhire/app/index.php) |
| **Oregon** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Fax, Mail | [Oregon Employer Services Portal](https://employerportal.oregonchildsupport.gov/index.aspx) |
| **Pennsylvania** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Fax, Mail | [PA CareerLink: Report New Hires](https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/Common/LandingPage/ReportNewHires) |
| **Rhode Island** | 14 days | No | Online, Fax, Mail | [Rhode Island New Hire Reporting Directory](https://ri-newhire.com/) |
| **South Carolina** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Fax, Mail | [South Carolina New Hire Reporting (SCDSS)](https://newhire.sc.gov/) |
| **South Dakota** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Electronic file, Phone, Fax, Mail | [South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation: New Hire Reporting](https://dlr.sd.gov/ra/new_hire_reporting/reporting_requirements.aspx) |
| **Tennessee** | 20 days | Not stated | Online | [Tennessee New Hire Reporting](https://www.tn.gov/workforce/employers/staffing-redirect/hiring-regulations/new-hire-reporting.html) |
| **Texas** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail, Phone | [Texas Office of the Attorney General: New Hire Reporting](https://employer.oag.texas.gov/employerportal/s/new-hire-general-information) |
| **Utah** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Fax, Mail | [Utah Department of Workforce Services: Report New Hires](https://jobs.utah.gov/UI/Employer/Public/NewHire/NewHireHandbook.aspx) |
| **Vermont** | 10 days | No | Online, Fax, Mail | [Vermont Department of Labor: New Hire Reporting](https://labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/doc_library/C-63-New-Hire-Reporting-Requirements_0.pdf) |
| **Virginia** | 20 days | Yes | Online, Electronic file, Mail, Fax | [Virginia New Hire Reporting Center](https://vanewhire.stellarware.com/faqs) |
| **Washington** | 20 days | Optional | Online, Fax, Mail, Phone | [Washington DSHS: New Hire Reporting](https://dshs.wa.gov/newhire) |
| **West Virginia** | 14 days | Yes | Online | [West Virginia New Hire Reporting Center](https://wv-newhire.com/) |
| **Wisconsin** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Wisconsin New Hire Reporting Center](https://wi-newhire.com/faqs) |
| **Wyoming** | 20 days | Not stated | Online, Electronic file, Fax, Mail | [Wyoming New Hire Reporting Center](https://newhire-reporting.com/WY-Newhire/instruct.aspx) |

## What the table counts

The number is the deadline for an employer reporting one new hire at a time, by the method most small employers use. Employers sending electronic files often report on a different schedule instead, typically twice a month with transmissions 12 to 16 days apart; those notes are on each state's page. A few states start the count on the first day of work rather than the hire date, and Alabama's 7 days applies to employers with fewer than five employees who report by mail or fax.

### Rehires

Most states treat a returning employee as a new hire after a gap, commonly 60 consecutive days off the payroll. Massachusetts uses 30 days, South Dakota looks at 30 days without pay, and Pennsylvania counts any break in service or gap in wages.

### Independent contractors

Where contractors are covered, the trigger varies: California's DE 542 applies at $600, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and West Virginia use $2,500, Oregon looks at work expected to last more than 20 days in a year, and Iowa asks about repeat payments. Arizona, Delaware and Minnesota require contractor reports only from government employers. A contractor report doesn't decide whether the worker is really a contractor; that is a separate legal question.

## The federal side

New hire reporting is a state filing, but the same week brings federal paperwork: Form I-9 (Section 1 by the first day, Section 2 within 3 business days, per [USCIS](https://uscis.gov/i-9-central/completing-form-i-9/completing-section-2-employer-review-and-attestation)), Form W-4 ([IRS Topic 753](https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc753)) and, before any of it, an EIN from the [IRS](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number). The [checklist generator](/bookkeeping/first-hire-checklist-by-state) puts dates on each one.

General information checked November 2026 against the official pages linked on this page, not legal or tax advice. Rules and portals change; the state's own new hire site and your payroll provider or accountant have the final word. MCC Solutions is not a law firm or a CPA firm.

## Common questions

**How many days do I have to report a new hire?**

It depends on the state. 42 of the 51 states in the table with a confirmed deadline allow 20 days. These are shorter: Alabama (7), Maine (7), Georgia (10), Vermont (10), Massachusetts (14), Rhode Island (14), West Virginia (14), Iowa (15), Mississippi (15). The clock usually starts on the hire date or the first day of work, and each state's official page says which.

**Do I have to report independent contractors as new hires?**

In some states. The official pages we checked say yes for California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, usually above a dollar amount or after a number of days. Several states require it only of government employers, a few accept contractor reports voluntarily, and others don't address it. The Contractors column shows what each state's page says.

**Is new hire reporting the same as registering for unemployment insurance?**

No. The new hire report tells the state that one person started work; it goes to the state's new hire directory, usually run for the child support agency. Registering for unemployment insurance opens your employer tax account. A first-time employer usually does both.

**What if my employee works in a different state from my business?**

Report to the state where the employee works under that state's rule. An employer with employees in two or more states can instead elect to report all of them to one state that it has employees in, by notifying the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; several state pages describe the election.

**Who runs the new hire reporting websites?**

Each state chooses. Some run their own site through the child support, labor or revenue department; others contract it out, and the contractor's name appears on the site. The Official site column links to the page the state itself points employers to.

Related: [First hire checklist by state](/bookkeeping/first-hire-checklist-by-state) · [Payroll basics before your first hire](/bookkeeping/guides/payroll-basics-before-you-hire-your-first-employee) · [Employee cost calculator](/bookkeeping/employee-cost-calculator) · [Contractor vs employee cost](/bookkeeping/contractor-vs-employee-cost-calculator)

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Fill-in Word files and printable PDFs for a first New Jersey hire: the setup checklist (EIN, NJ-REG, workers' compensation), payroll provider or do-it-yourself, the new-hire paperwork checklist with deadlines, an offer letter template and a first-payroll checklist. Each deadline cites USCIS, the IRS or New Jersey.

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Part of: [2027 payroll and employment law changes, state by state](/bookkeeping/2027-state-law-changes-for-employers)

**Download this data:** [CSV](/data/new-hire.csv) · [JSON](/data/new-hire.json) · [Field guide, license and citation](/data/new-hire)

51 jurisdictions, sources checked November 2026. Free under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) with a link back.

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