Missouri Payroll & Paycheck Tax Calculator

To hire employees in Missouri, you’ll need to register with the Missouri Department of Revenue for withholding taxes and the Division of Employment Security (DES) for unemployment insurance. Missouri’s online tax system makes registration as easy as floating down the lazy river. You’ll receive a Missouri Tax ID Number for all your filing needs.

New employers pay 2.7% unemployment tax on the first $11,000 of each employee’s wages for their first year.

The Show-Me State’s paperwork includes both state and local requirements:
• Federal W-4 and Missouri MO W-4 forms for withholding
• Federal forms from the IRS: • Form 941 (Quarterly federal tax return) • Form 940 (Federal Unemployment Tax, FUTA) • W-2 and 1099 (Year-end wage reporting)
• New Hire Reports: Submit within 20 days to Missouri DHSS
• Workers’ Compensation: Required for most employers with 5+ employees
• Form MO-941: Quarterly withholding return
• Local earnings tax registrations (Kansas City, St. Louis)
Kansas City and St. Louis both impose 1% earnings taxes that require separate registration and filing.

Missouri’s minimum wage is $12.30 per hour as of 2025, with annual adjustments based on cost of living. Tipped employees can be paid $6.15 per hour, with employers making up any difference if tips don’t reach minimum wage. Retail and service businesses with annual gross sales under $500,000 may pay federal minimum wage instead.

For overtime, Missouri follows federal FLSA rules: 1.5x regular pay after 40 hours per week. No daily overtime requirements exist, and weekends or holidays don’t automatically trigger overtime unless exceeding 40 weekly hours.

Missouri doesn’t mandate specific pay frequencies for most private employers, allowing flexibility in choosing schedules. Most employers opt for weekly, bi-weekly, or semi-monthly pay periods. Public sector employees must be paid at least monthly.

When employment ends, Missouri requires relatively quick payment: wages are due immediately upon termination by the employer, while employees who quit must be paid within 7 days or by the next regular payday, whichever is earlier.

Missouri doesn’t mandate paid sick leave, vacation, or holiday pay at the state level. However, if promised in company policies, these benefits become enforceable.

Missouri’s tax structure includes state and local components:
• Federal income tax withholding
• Missouri state income tax (2% to 4.95% based on income)
• Kansas City earnings tax (1% for residents and non-residents working in KC)
• St. Louis earnings tax (1% for residents and non-residents working in STL)
• FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare)
• Unemployment taxes (FUTA and state UI)
Our calculator instantly handles all applicable taxes based on work and residence locations.

Missouri employers maintain various filing schedules:
• Quarterly MO-941 returns for state withholding
• Monthly or quarterly deposits (based on withholding amounts)
• Quarterly wage reports to DES for unemployment
• Annual reconciliation (MO-W3) by January 31
• Monthly local earnings tax filings for KC and St. Louis
Most small employers deposit state taxes monthly. After your first year, unemployment rates adjust based on experience, ranging from 0.0% to 6.0%.