If you are an employer in Denver, Colorado, it is important to be aware of the local payroll tax requirements for businesses operating in the city. These requirements may include registering your business with the city and withholding a certain percentage of your employees' wages for local taxes.
How to Register for Payroll Tax in Denver
Denver Occupational Privilege Tax Setup for LLP, LLC, Corporation
You must register for the city's Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT) -- a "head tax" imposed on Denver employers and employees -- if you have employees in Denver, Colorado. Employers must pay $4 per month for each taxable employee (if they earn at least $500 monthly) and withhold $5.75 per month from each taxable employee. Note: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that may qualify for exemption from the business portion of OPT will still be required to register in order to pay and report the $5.75 per month Employee OPT from each employee that receives compensation of $500 or more per month.
- Confirm OPT Filing Frequency with Payroll Provider
Employers with ten or fewer employees may file Denver OPT quarterly instead of monthly. However, many payroll providers only support the monthly filing frequency. Therefore, confirm your filing frequency with your payroll provider during account registration.
- Register as a New Business in Denver eBiz Center
Complete the new business registration in Denver eBiz Center to register for an Occupational Privilege Tax account. You will need to create a Denver eBiz Center username during registration. Once your registration is processed, you will be assigned a 12-digit Occupational Privilege Tax account number, e.g., 123456-123456. Your Denver Taxpayer ID is the first six digits before the dash. Note: It may take up to 5 days to process your registration.
Documents and Resources
- Occupational Privilege Tax FAQ - Denver Dept. of Finance
- New Business Registration Guide - Denver eBiz Center
