California Payroll Tax Registration

Employer payroll tax account (personal income tax withholding)

Employment Development Department (EDD)

Typical wait:

10 to 14 days for mail-in registrations

You'll receive:

One 8-digit EDD employer payroll tax account number (for example, 000-0000-0) that covers state withholding, UI, ETT, and SDI.

Send Unify:

Your EDD employer payroll tax account number.

Register within 15 days of paying more than $100 in wages in a calendar quarter. In e-Services for Business, select New Customer, then Register for Employer Payroll Tax Account Number.

Unemployment insurance (same EDD account)

Employment Development Department (EDD)

You'll receive:

A 3.4% new-employer rate for your first two to three years, on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages.

Send Unify:

Your EDD account number and your rate notice.

State Disability Insurance, including Paid Family Leave (same EDD account)

Employment Development Department (EDD)

You'll receive:

SDI is withheld from employees at 1.3% for 2026, on all wages (there is no wage cap).

Send Unify:

Nothing extra; SDI rides on your EDD account.

Employment Training Tax (same EDD account)

Employment Development Department (EDD)

You'll receive:

An employer-paid tax of 0.1% on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages.

Send Unify:

Nothing extra; ETT rides on your EDD account.