Florida Payroll & Paycheck Tax Calculator

Before you pay any taxes on behalf of employees, you’ll need a Florida Reemployment Tax Account to legally hire in the Sunshine State. Register online via the Florida DOR.

New employers pay 2.7% on the first $7,000 of each employee’s wages for their first 10 operating quarters, when the rate will change based on individual factors and range from .1% to 5.4%.

Florida’s paperwork is light but non-negotiable. First, you’ll need to report new hires to the Florida New Hire Program within 20 days of their start date.

Next, workers’ compensation insurance is required for most employers with 4 or more employees. File proof of coverage or an exception, limited to very small organizations, corporate officers, and agricultural businesses.

Finally, take care of federal paperwork. You’ll need:
• W-4 (Withholding allowances)
• Form 941 (Quarterly federal taxes)
• Form 940 (FUTA)
• W-2/1099 (Year-end reporting)

Florida’s 2025 $14.00/hour minimum wage is rising to $15.00 by 2026. Tipped employees must earn $10.98 per hour and earn the prevailing minimum wage when tips are included. In Florida, there’s no mandatory paid time off, including sick days, family leave, or vacation time. However, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may apply. And employers who offer paid time off (PTO) benefits will need to track accruals and usage, including treating PTO hours like regular hours in paychecks, since they’re subject to federal taxes and overtime calculations.

There’s no strict state-mandated pay frequency in Florida, so federal rules apply. Employers must establish regular paydays, like paying employees weekly, biweekly, or even monthly. Employees who leave voluntarily are due the remainder of their wages on the next payday, while terminated employees must be paid within one business day.

Florida has no state income tax. That makes payroll a lot simpler from the start, but it’s not entirely a cakewalk. Employees and employers can get a clearer sense of their obligations at payroll time with our calculator, which shows:
• Federal income tax withholding
• FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
• Unemployment taxes (FUTA and SUTA)

While payroll can be frustrating, Florida keeps reporting simple. Employers will need to file quarterly with the state, using the DOR’s Employer’s Quarterly Report (form RT-6) — and it’s automatically mailed to employers who aren’t required to file digitally. They’ll also need to remember to submit their standard federal filings. There’s no State Disability Insurance (SDI) withholding or extra local taxes to worry about.