NEW: Relay Payroll is available by invitation while it's in beta. This checklist tells you what to gather before you begin.
Before you set up Relay Payroll, gather your company details, federal and state tax info, employee and contractor details, your Relay bank account, and your pay schedule. Some businesses finish setup in about 30 minutes, but plan for 1–2 days.
What you'll need to set up Relay Payroll
Have these ready before you start. You can gather them in any order.
Company details
Your legal business name, exactly as registered (it's validated against your FEIN with the IRS).
Your trade name (DBA), if one appears on your Relay account.
Your company type (for example, LLC, S-Corporation, C-Corporation, or sole proprietor).
Your Federal Employer ID Number (FEIN).
Your work address, mailing address, and filing address.
Your signatory the person authorized to sign payroll tax and authorization forms.
Federal and state tax details
Your FEIN and your federal tax deposit schedule.
Your state tax account IDs and rates.
PRO TIP: Don't have your state tax IDs yet? You can still start. You'll enter your tax rates and deposit schedules to finish setup, then add your state tax account IDs before the end of the quarter so your filings process correctly. If you've never paid employees in your state, you'll register with your state to get them.
Your team
For each employee: full name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), home address, hire date, work address, compensation, and their W-4 details.
For each contractor: full name, date of birth, email, compensation, work address, and their W-9 details.
Your bank account
Your Relay account funds payroll. It must be a checking account.
Relay verifies your account automatically there's no separate bank-verification step.
Your pay schedule
How often you pay your team (weekly, every other week, twice per month, or monthly).
Your first pay date.
HEADS UP: You can't use your Social Security number as your FEIN. The IRS requires a Federal EIN once you've hired your first employee. Employees must also have a valid SSN an ITIN or other number can prevent W-2s and payroll tax returns from filing successfully.
FYI: Deciding whether a worker is an employee or a contractor is up to you. Relay can't advise on classification review the IRS guidance on worker classification to decide (https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee). Your employees complete their own W-4 and choose their own withholdings; if they're unsure, they can consult a tax professional or use the IRS withholding estimator (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Relay Payroll setup take?
Some businesses finish in about 30 minutes once their details are ready. Plan for 1–2 days overall the more people and data you're entering, the longer it takes.
Can I start before I have my state tax IDs?
Yes. You can begin setup and even run payroll before your state tax account IDs are in. You'll need to complete certain fields, like tax rates and deposit schedules, to finish setup, and you must add your state tax IDs before the end of the quarter so your filings process correctly.
Why does my business name have to match my FEIN exactly?
Your legal business name is validated against your FEIN with the IRS. If they don't match, it can hold up your setup. Use your legal name exactly as it's registered.
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