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Do I need a withholding tax account number?

If you are an employer with employees working in the state of Alabama, you will need to register with the Department of Revenue for a withholding tax account number. If you are an Alabama employer with Alabama residents working outside the state of Alabama, you will need to withhold Alabama income tax on those residents unless you are withholding tax for the state in which the employee is working in. To obtain a withholding tax account number, employers must complete the Application available online at MyAlabamaTaxes.alabama.gov. (MAT) Please go to “I Want To” then “Obtain a new Tax Account”. NOTE: New account numbers assigned will consist of 10 alphanumeric characters beginning with an “R.” Please make sure that the payroll software provider or program that you will be using is aware of the correct account number.

If you are an employer with employees working in the state of Alabama, you will need to register with the Department of Revenue for a withholding tax account number. If you are an Alabama employer with Alabama residents working outside the state of Alabama, you will need to withhold Alabama income tax on those residents unless you are withholding tax for the state in which the employee is working in. To obtain a withholding tax account number, employers must complete the Application available online at MyAlabamaTaxes.alabama.gov. (MAT) Please go to “I Want To” then “Obtain a new Tax Account”. NOTE: New account numbers assigned will consist of 10 alphanumeric characters beginning with an “R.” Please make sure that the payroll software provider or program that you will be using is aware of the correct account number.

Related FAQs in Withholding Tax

The Alabama Department of Revenue offers a FREE electronic service, My Alabama Taxes (MAT), for filing and remitting withholding tax. MAT is an online filing system developed to allow taxpayers to file and pay their withholding tax electronically.

If you are unable to access your account via the Internet, please contact the Department at (334) 242-1300. In order to access your account via My Alabama Taxes (MAT), you will need your withholding tax account number and Sign On ID and Access Code provided by the Department to sign up in MAT.

Yes, if your business entity type changed, you will need to apply for a new state withholding tax account number by filing the Combined Registration/Application.

Please view your account online through My Alabama Taxes (MAT) to verify receipt of payment. Since checks take longer to process the Department encourages employers to electronically file and pay. Payments of $750 or more are required to be filed and paid electronically.

Contact the Withholding Tax Section at (334) 242-1300 or your local Taxpayer Service Center. Please include the following information: employer’s name, address, phone number and number of employees.

If your federal identification number changes, you will need to apply for a new state withholding tax account number by filing the Combined Registration/Application available online.

The State of Alabama recognizes the following Federal Code Sections: Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, Section 401K, and Section 403B. For information on other exclusion from gross income, please see page 2 of the Withholding Tax Tables and Instructions for Employers.