Congratulations on your decision to become a new employer in Alaska! You will need a few things in place before you run your first payroll. For Alaska employer registration help, check out our partner, CorpNet.
Federal and Alaska State Tax Accounts
Federal Tax Accounts
Apply for an EIN
You will need an Employer Identification Number, (also known as an EIN or FEIN), for your business if you do not already have one. The preferred way to obtain one is to apply for an EIN with the IRS online. There is no cost to apply for an EIN.
To learn more about applying for EINs, read our help article, “Your Step-by-step Guide on How to Apply for EIN”
Enroll in EFTPS
Although it is not required, we recommend new employers register for this federal tax payment system. You can easily register online. You will need to have this account to make tax payments online, or view payments made on your behalf by Patriot Software.
To find out more about EFTPS, please read our article, “What Is EFTPS?”
Alaska State Tax Accounts
Register With Alaska Department of Labor
Register as a new employer with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development for a state unemployment tax account number.
You can open an Alaska Unemployment Tax account by completing an Alaska Employer Registration Form, or apply online.
Get Your Alaska SUTA Rate
Employers in Alaska will receive a new State Unemployment Tax Assessment (SUTA) rate every year.
SUTA tax rates for new employers depend on industry. Alaska employers who do not have a rate use the 2026 standard rate of 1.5%.
The employee share is 0.50% of wages.
For more information, please visit the Alaska Department of Labor’s website.
To learn more about SUTA please read our article, “What Is SUTA Tax?”
State-mandated Insurance
Sign up for Workers’ Comp Insurance
You must have workers’ comp insurance if you have at least 1 employee in Alaska. You can sign up for workers’ comp insurance through a private provider or state-operated fund. Learn more about workers’ comp requirements in Alaska here.
Patriot’s online payroll offers free pay as you go (PAYG) workers’ comp integration with our partner, ERGO NEXT Insurance. You can get a free quote with ERGO NEXT here.
Setting Up Your New Employee
Fill Out Form I-9
Have your employees fill out the required Form I-9.
This is a two part form. You must retain each employee’s completed Form I-9 as long as the individual works for you. For more information, please read “What Should Be in an Employee File?”
You may want to Enroll in E-verify and submit employee information, although it is not required. For more information, read our help article, “Form I-9 In a Nutshell”
Have Employee Fill Out Federal Form W-4
Have your new employee fill out Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, for federal income taxes.
For more information, read our help article, “What Is a W-4 Form, and What Is it Used for?”
Report New Hires
Alaska employers are required by law to report all new hires on the Alaska New Hire Reporting form with the Alaska Child Support Services within 20 days from the date of hire or rehire.
For more information, please visit the Alaska Child Support Services website.
Meet Minimum Wage Requirements
Be sure you have met the minimum wage requirements for the federal government and Alaska. The Alaska minimum wage law is more stringent than the federal minimum wage law, so you must comply with the higher Alaska minimum wage.
The Alaska minimum wage is $14 per hour in starting July 1, 2026.
The minimum salary for employees who are exempt as bona fide executive, administrative, or professional employees will increase to $1,120 per week, or $58,240 per yea
You need to display the minimum wage poster for your employees where they can read it.
Obtain Labor Law Posters
Get annual posters and all federal, state, county, and city labor law updates with Patriot’s labor law poster store, powered by PosterElite!
Once you have all the necessary information, you will be able to set up your payroll for your business. Read, What Information Is Needed To Set Up Payroll?
You will be required to keep employee payroll records for at least three years. For more information, please read our help article, “What Employers Should Know About Employee Payroll Records”.
This is not an all-inclusive list. Please visit your state and federal government websites for more information.