Minnesota Payroll Taxes: 2026 Employer Guide
Quick Facts
Key payroll tax details at a glance.
State Income Tax
Progressive (up to 9.85%)
SUI New Employer Rate
Varies (assigned by state)
SUI Wage Base
$44,000 per employee
SUI Rate Range
0.10% to 8.9%
Employee SUI Contribution
No
Local Taxes
No
Overview: Minnesota Payroll Landscape
Minnesota has one of the higher state income tax burdens in the country, with a top rate of 9.85% and a high SUI wage base of $44,000. The silver lining is the absence of local income or payroll taxes, keeping the compliance footprint at the state level only.
Minnesota does not use a standard new employer SUI rate. Instead, the state assigns rates based on industry and other factors. Employers should expect to receive their rate notice from DEED after registering. The high SUI wage base means employers pay unemployment tax on a much larger share of each employee’s wages than in most states.
This guide breaks down each of Minnesota’s employer obligations: registration requirements, 2026 tax rates and wage bases, filing deadlines, and the compliance pitfalls that catch expanding startups off guard. Whether you’re hiring your first Minnesota employee or managing a growing remote team, everything you need to stay compliant is here.
Minnesota State Income Tax
Withholding rates, brackets, and forms.
Tax Type
Progressive
Top Rate
9.85%
Withholding Form
W-4MN
Minnesota Unemployment Insurance (SUI)
Employer rates, wage bases, and contribution details.
New Employer Rate
Varies (assigned by state)
Wage Base
$44,000 per employee
Rate Range
0.10% to 8.9%
Employee Contribution
—
Minnesota SUI (State Unemployment Insurance) is an employer-paid tax that funds unemployment benefits for workers who lose their jobs. It is administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota does not use a standard new employer SUI rate. Instead, the state assigns rates based on industry and other factors. Employers should expect to receive their rate notice from DEED after registering. Registration: Employers must register with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) as soon as they hire their first Minnesota employee. Registration can be completed online.
Minnesota Compliance Checklist
Deadlines, filing requirements, and official resources.
Key Deadlines
Withholding deposits
Due Varies by liability
Quarterly returns (Q1)
Due April 30
Quarterly returns (Q2)
Due July 31
Quarterly returns (Q3)
Due October 31
Quarterly returns (Q4)
Due January 31
Annual reconciliation
Due February 28
W-2 state copies
Due January 31
New hire report
Due Within 20 days of start date
How Warp Handles Minnesota Payroll
Warp is the only AI-native HR & Payroll platform built for ambitious companies. Instead of clicking through clunky dashboards or Minnesota’s .gov websites for taxes, Warp’s AI agents open your Minnesota tax accounts, file every payroll form, and resolve every tax notice automatically.
What Warp handles for Minnesota employers:
- Minnesota tax account registration and setup
- Automated income tax withholding calculations and deposits
- SUI registration and quarterly filings
- Annual W-2 and reconciliation filing
- Tax notice resolution directly with Minnesota agencies, so you never spend hours on hold
Every Warp customer gets a dedicated Account Manager and Benefits Advisor included to guide them through payroll setup, multi-state expansion, and benefits selection. You’ll never visit a government website, negotiate with tax agencies, or pay an accountant $150 per quarterly filing.
If you don’t want to deal with navigating Minnesota .gov portals, check out a demo of Warp to see how we can help you stop worrying about compliance and get back to building.
Tax data last verified: March 12, 2026