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View All Withholding Tax FAQs

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

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.

Severance pay exemption of up to $25,000.00 is available upon approval from the Department. Please visit the Severance Pay Exemption page. Employees will not receive this exemption unless the Employer applies for the exemption and is approved by ADOR.

Accountants and tax filing services who file withholding tax returns and payments on behalf of employers must register with the ADOR as a bulk filer and must utilize their bulk filer registration when filing withholding tax returns on behalf of their clients. View more information concerning Bulk Filing.

Employers and filing agents who submit 25 or more Form W-2s (and/or Form 1099s with Alabama tax withheld) or who have filed and paid electronically during the year must electronically file this information and the Form A-3 online through My Alabama Taxes (MAT) on or before January 31 of the following year.

One penalty is for the late filing of the withholding tax return and the other penalty is for late payment of the withholding tax. Please see the billing code explanation enclosed with your letter.