Español

California Employer News and Updates

Find the latest tax news, annual updates, and resources to support you and your business.

Subscribe to receive emails about employment and payroll tax updates.

Payroll Tax News

Stay up to date on payroll tax news.

May 2025

San Joaquin County – Current Emergency and Disaster Assistance for Employers (May 28, 2025)
Trinity County – Current Emergency and Disaster Assistance for Employers (May 28, 2025)
Interest Rate Announced: The interest rate charged on all delinquent taxes for the period of July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, will be 7% (May 5, 2025)

January 2025

Employer Updates

New Enhancements to e-Services for Business

We’ve made it easier to enroll in e-Services for Business by improving navigation and streamlining the process for a better user experience. We’ve also expanded the enrollment options to provide clearer directions for:

Employers to access their own account or register for a new account.
Representatives to access existing accounts or register new accounts for the employers they represent.
Business owners reporting independent contractors.

Check out our updated Enroll in e-Services for Business as an Employer and Enroll in e-Services for Business as a Representative webpages for step-by-step instructions to enroll in e-Services for Business.

Introducing our Updated Payroll Tax Seminar Registration System

We’re excited to announce that our updated payroll tax seminar registration system is now available. This user friendly system allows you to easily register for free seminars to learn how to stay in compliance with state payroll tax laws. Some features of this new system include:

A new modernized look and feel.
The ability to add seminars to Google, Apple, or Outlook calendar.
The ability to modify user information or cancel registrations.
Friendly email reminders about upcoming registrations and more.

Explore upcoming payroll tax seminars and register today!

Help for Businesses in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties

Support is available for employers affected by the firestorms and severe wind conditions in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. You may request an extension of up to 60-days to file your payroll tax reports and deposit payroll taxes. You may request an extension by calling the Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886 or in writing. For additional information, refer to Information Sheet: State of Emergency or Disaster (DE 231SED) (PDF).

For in-person assistance, find the nearest Disaster Recovery Center at CA.gov/LAfires or find the nearest EDD Tax Offices located in Anaheim, Santa Fe Springs, and Van Nuys. EDD representatives are onsite to help.

Your business can find additional in-person help at local Business Recovery Centers. Visit Help Your Business on CA.gov/LAfires for a list of resources and support available for businesses impacted by the wildfires.

Benefit Charge and Unemployment Insurance (UI) Rate Protests

Did you know you can submit a benefit charge or UI rate protest online? We encourage you to take advantage of our e-Services for Business protest feature. It’s a quick, safe, and easy way to file your protest and receive a confirmation.

You can submit the following types of protests:

Benefit Charge

Statement of Charges to Reserve Account (DE 428T)
Statement of Reimbursable Benefit Charges (DE 428R)
School Employees Fund Employer Statement of Benefit Charges (DE 428F)

UI Rate

Notice of Contribution Rates and Statement of UI Reserve Account (DE 2088)

For more information, visit the e-Services for Business FAQs.

New Employee and Independent Contractor Reporting

As an employer, you play an important role in the success of the New Employee Reporting and Independent Contractor Reporting programs. These reports are checked against child support records. This helps locate parents so that wage withholding orders can be set up or to enforce existing orders. The information is also sent to the National Directory of New Hires to find parents who owe child support in other states. Nearly 30 percent of child support cases involve parents who do not live in the same state as their children.

As part of the New Employee Registry (NER) program, all employers must report new hires, or employee(s) rehired after a separation of 60 consecutive days, to the Employment Development Department (EDD) within 20 days of their first day of work.

As part of the Independent Contractor Reporting (ICR) program, you must report information about independent contractors to the EDD if you hire an independent contractor and all the following conditions apply:

You have filed or are required to file a Form 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC for the services performed by the independent contractor.
You pay the independent contractor $600 or more or enter into a contract for $600 or more.
The independent contractor is an individual, sole proprietor, or single- member LLC.

For more information on the new hire and independent contractor programs or the reporting requirements, please visit Reporting Requirements.

For information on how to make child support payments to the California State Disbursement Unit, please visit childsupport.ca.gov/state-disbursement-unit/.