Doing Payroll in Pennsylvania
Learn how to do payroll in Pennsylvania: EIN setup, state withholding, UC registration, local EIT, pay frequency rules, and the 2026 filing calendar.
Federal payroll rules, state-specific taxes, wage and hour law, and filing deadlines, explained in plain English for Pennsylvania small business owners, not accountants.
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Every employer owes federal payroll taxes, FICA and FUTA, on top of whatever Pennsylvania requires, whether that's state income tax withholding, unemployment insurance, or another state-specific program.
Minimum wage, overtime, final paycheck timing, and pay stub requirements can all differ from the federal baseline. Getting the Pennsylvania-specific rule wrong is one of the most common (and costly) payroll mistakes.
Late deposits, missed filings, and new-hire reporting misses each carry their own penalties. Knowing the Pennsylvania filing calendar in advance is the easiest way to avoid them.
Learn how to do payroll in Pennsylvania: EIN setup, state withholding, UC registration, local EIT, pay frequency rules, and the 2026 filing calendar.
Pennsylvania local Earned Income Tax guide for employers — over 2,500 taxing jurisdictions, withhold based on work location not residence, Tax Collection Districts, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh rates, and DCED compliance.
Pennsylvania minimum wage 2026 — state rate $7.25/hr (federal floor), Philadelphia $15/hr, tipped minimum $2.83/hr. Pittsburgh's local minimum wage attempt struck down. What employers need to know.
Pennsylvania new employer registration steps: get an EIN, register with the Department of Revenue and UC, report new hires, and set up workers' comp.
Pennsylvania payday laws for employers — semi-monthly pay frequency required, final pay next regular payday, Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law, pay stub requirements, and strict deduction rules.
Complete Pennsylvania payroll compliance guide for 2026 — UC SUI rates, state income tax 3.07%, Philadelphia wage tax 3.75%/3.44%, $7.25 minimum wage, PA UC registration, and compliance calendar.
Complete guide to Pennsylvania payroll taxes for employers in 2026 — flat 3.07% state income tax, SUI via PA UC system, local Earned Income Tax, and Local Services Tax.
Pennsylvania SUI rates for 2026 — new employer rate 3.822%, experienced employer range 1.419%–10.3189%, $10,000 wage base, PA UC trust fund, and how experience rating works.
Step-by-step guide to registering with Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) as a new employer — PAMS system, employer account number, UC-2 quarterly filing, and when registration is required.
Official Pennsylvania payroll agency directory for employers: tax registration, unemployment insurance, new-hire reporting, and wage-and-hour contacts in one place.
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| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
|---|---|
| State income tax withholding | None (flat-rate withholding, no PA-specific certificate) |
| SUI new-employer rate | 3.822% |
| SUI taxable wage base | $10,000 |
| Payday frequency rule | Employees not paid an annual salary must be paid at least semi-monthly, per the Wage Payment and Collection Law |
| New-hire reporting deadline | 20 days |
Verified 2026-07 against official Pennsylvania sources.
Every Pennsylvania employer owes federal payroll taxes: Social Security and Medicare withholding under FICA, and federal unemployment tax (FUTA), regardless of what Pennsylvania itself requires. On top of that federal baseline, most states layer on their own obligations: income tax withholding, state unemployment insurance (SUI), and in some cases disability or paid-leave programs. Whether each of these applies, and at what rate, depends on Pennsylvania law. The first step for any new employer is registering with the right state agencies before running the first payroll. Our new employer payroll setup checklist walks through that process.
Minimum wage and overtime rules start with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), but Pennsylvania may set a higher minimum wage, stricter overtime triggers, or additional rules around tipped employees and meal or rest breaks. Overtime is generally 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek under federal law, though some states calculate it differently. The FLSA employer guide covers the federal floor that every employer must meet before layering on Pennsylvania-specific requirements.
Final paycheck timing, new hire reporting deadlines, and pay stub requirements also vary by state. Missing a new hire report or paying a final check late can trigger penalties even when the payroll math itself was correct. New hires must be reported to the state's new hire registry, typically within a short window of the hire date, and every employer needs a state UI account number before the first unemployment filing is due.
For ongoing compliance, most employers file federal Form 941 quarterly, deposit federal withholding on a schedule based on prior-year liability, and file state withholding and unemployment returns on whatever schedule Pennsylvania assigns. Our federal payroll compliance checklist lays out the recurring tasks by frequency: new hire, every payroll, monthly, quarterly, and annual.
Rates, wage bases, and deadlines change from year to year and are specific to Pennsylvania. See the guides below for current Pennsylvania figures, or check directly with your state's revenue and labor agencies before filing.
Employers in Pennsylvania pay federal payroll taxes: Social Security and Medicare (FICA) and federal unemployment tax (FUTA), plus any state-level payroll taxes that apply, such as state income tax withholding and state unemployment insurance (SUI). Rates and wage bases vary and change annually, so always confirm current figures with your state's labor and revenue agencies.
Minimum wage in Pennsylvania is set by a combination of federal and state law, and the higher of the two rates always applies. Rates are reviewed regularly and can change from year to year, so check your state labor department's website for the current figure before running payroll.
New employers generally need a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, plus registration with Pennsylvania's revenue department for state income tax withholding (where applicable) and its labor or workforce agency for state unemployment insurance. See our Pennsylvania guides for step-by-step registration instructions.
This site is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice. Employment laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements change frequently and may not be reflected here. Always consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or HR professional familiar with Pennsylvania law before making payroll or compliance decisions for your business.