e-Services for Business FAQs

No. You can cancel access, but you cannot grant access to your tax account on e-Services for Business. We must verify employer representatives and payroll agents first. We will grant access to your representative or payroll agent if they meet certain criteria.

Once verified, you will receive a letter from us telling you that a third-party was granted access to your employer payroll tax account. If you want to cancel their access, log in to e-Services for Business and remove them from your payroll tax account online.

To cancel a representative’s online access:

• Log in to e-Services for Business.
• Select Manage My User Settings.
• Select Manage Third Party Access from the Other Users panel.
• Select the username you want to cancel access.
• Select ALL.
• Select Cancel access to this account from the Account Security panel.
• Select OK to cancel access to this account.
• Select OK to continue.

To cancel access to a single account:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Manage My User Settings.
3. Select Cancel Access to a Single Account from the Access Management panel.
4. Find the account you want to cancel access for and select ALL.
5. Select Cancel my access to this account from the Account Security panel.
6. Select Ok to cancel access to this account.
7. Select OK  to continue.

Yes. To cancel access to all of your clients’ accounts, follow these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Manage My User Settings.
3. Select Cancel Access to All Accounts from the  Access Management panel.
4. Select Ok to cancel access to all accounts.

You can regain access to an employer payroll tax account under the new owner by following these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Manage My User Settings.
3. Select Cancel Access to All Accounts from the  Access Management panel.
4. Select Ok in the confirmation box.
5. Log back in to e-Services for Business.
6. Complete the one-time authorization steps to regain access.
7. Submit the request.

You should now have access to the account with your profile showing the new information.

Yes. You can submit the DE 34 information without having full access to your clients’ employer payroll tax account. Just select Attach a Return File. For direct entry submissions, you must have full access to file using the File Report of New Employee(s) option.

You can use e-Services for Business to access your employer payroll tax account as soon as you receive your employer payroll tax account number. You must first enroll in e-Services for Business.

Most requests can take up to ten business days to complete. We may need more time for complex requests, accounts with tax exemptions, or specialized coverage.

Note: We may contact you if more information is needed to complete your request.

You can submit an online request to close your employer payroll tax account (even if you are not closing your business) through e-Services for Business.

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Submit your final documents:
   • Payroll Tax Deposit
   • Tax Return
   • Wage Report
3. Select Close Account from the Account Management panel.
4. Enter the required information, then select Next.
5. Complete the Declaration, then select Submit.

If your employer payroll tax account is closed, but you recently paid wages more than $100 in a calendar quarter (or $750 for household employers), you can submit an online request to reopen your account.

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Reopen Account from the Account Management panel.
3. Complete the online registration application, then select Submit.

Allow up to ten business days for processing. We may contact you if more information is needed to complete your request. Log back in to e-Services for Business at any time to check the status of your request.

Note: If you are an employer representative or payroll agent, you must first add access to the employer payroll tax account.

You can submit the following forms and payments when you log in to e-Services for Business:

Forms

• DE 3BHW – Employer of Household Worker(s) Quarterly Report of Wages and Withholding
• DE 3HW – Employer of Household Worker(s) Annual Payroll Tax Return
• DE 3D – Quarterly Contribution Return
• DE 9 – Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages
• DE 9C – Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (Continuation)
• DE 48 – Power of Attorney Declaration
• DE 459 – Sole Stockholder/Corporate Officer Exclusion Statement
• DE 4453 – Application for Reserve Account Transfer
• DE 9423 – Quarterly Contribution Return for School Employers

Payments

• DE 88 – Payroll Tax Deposit
• DE 2176 – Statement of Account
• DE 3DI – Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) Quarterly Report/Payment
• Voucher Payment – Make payments for a specific liability using information from a letter voucher
• Payment on Account – Make payments for liability due on account
• Payment Plan – Make payments on formal payment agreement
• Earnings Withholding Order Payments – Make a payment on an Earnings Withholding Order for an employee

The filing periods that require your attention are displayed on the home page for your convenience.

To file your tax return and wage report:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select File Return for the period you want to file.
3. Select File Now next to the Tax Return or Wage Report.
4. Answer the question “Do you have payroll to report?” by selecting Yes or No, then select Next.
   • If you are filing a wage report, you have the option to import a wage file. Select Yes, then select Upload CSV file to import a file or select No, then select Next to manually enter your wage information. 
5. Enter the number of employees for each month in the quarter, then select Next.
6. Complete the Declaration, then select Submit.

For More Information

Refer to our e-Services for Business Tutorials.

If you originally reported wages but need to correct your wages to no payroll, you must clear the originally reported wages first. To do this, select Clear All Fields below “Do you have payroll to report?” Once the wages are cleared, you can adjust your wage report to no payroll.

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Manage Periods and Returns from the Account Management panel.
3. Select the period for which you would like to file the adjustment.
4. Select File or Adjust a Return or Wage Report.
5. Select View or Adjust Return next to the Wage Report.
6. Select Adjust Return.
7. Select No to the question “Do you have payroll to report?”
8. Select Clear All Fields below the question “Do you have payroll to report?”
9. Check the box to Confirm, then select OK. 
10. Complete the Declaration, then select Submit.

Your payments may show a single payment as two separate entries:

• Your submitted request
• The processed request

Your submitted request is the payment request you originally submitted to us and will display as Payment Submission.

The processed request will display the payment type and amount that was processed by us.

These two entries do not count as two separate payments. Your bank account will be debited only for the processed payment amount.

No. Once you have submitted your first wage report, Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (Continuation) (DE 9C) or Employer of Household Worker(s) Quarterly Report of Wages and Withholdings (DE 3BHW), all of the names and Social Security numbers of the employees from your last report will be included for you. You can edit or delete the employees' information as needed.

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Show More from the Account Management panel.
3. Select Power of Attorney.
4. Complete the required fields.
   Note:
   • Select General Authorization to allow your authorized agent to represent your business and receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Payroll Tax mailings.
   • Select Specific Declaration to assign your authorized agent to represent your business in Payroll Tax matters.
   • Select Specific Declaration to authorize a counseling service agent (known as a third-party administrator) to represent your business and receive mailings for Unemployment Insurance matters only.
5. Select Submit.

For More Information

• Information Sheet: Counseling Service Agent (DE 231CSA) (PDF)
• Information Sheet: Payroll Reporting Agent (DE 231PRA) (PDF)

Contact our agent phone line at 1-916-654-7263, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5p.m., Pacific time.

Yes. You can view or adjust tax returns and wage reports that you file online for 2011 and later.

Make your changes by following these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Manage Periods and Returns from the Account panel.
3. Select the filing period you want to view or adjust.
4. Select File or Adjust a Return or Wage Report.
5. Select View or Adjust Return next to the Tax Return or Wage Report.
6. Select Adjust Return.

If you want to  change for the year 2010 or prior, you will need to send in the Tax and Wage Adjustment Form (DE 678).

For More Information

Refer to our e-Services for Business Tutorials.

If you need to file a large return or you file for more than one employer, follow these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select More...
3. Select Upload a Bulk Return File from the Payments and Returns panel.
4. Attach file to submit.

You can use the following file formats for the file attachment:

• eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
• Interstate Conference of Employment Security Agencies (ICESA)
• Federal Magnetic Media Reporting and Electronic Filing (MMREF)

For More Information

Refer to our e-Services for Business Tutorials.

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Make a Payment from the Account panel.
3. Select Make a Payroll Tax Deposit (DE 88) under ACH Debit Payment to have the payment debited from your bank account.
4. Select the Payment Period.
5. Enter the required information.
6. Review payment information, then select Submit.

For More Information

Refer to our e-Services for Business Tutorials.

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select More...
3. Select Upload a Bulk Payment File from the Payments and Returns panel.
4. Select the file format (CSV or XML, ZIP) and Submit.

All employers can file the DE 34 online.

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Show More from the Account Management panel.
3. Select File Report of New Employee(s). You will be directed to the Internet New Employee Registry (iNER) website to complete and submit a Report of New Employee(s) (DE 34).
4. Select Create New DE 34.
5. Complete the required fields.
6. Review and submit the completed DE 34.

You can save your report at any time as a draft. Select the draft icon and/or Edit to edit your saved draft.

You will be allowed to include up to 30 new employees in one submission.

Important: The DE 34 can only be filed from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight, Pacific time, 7 days a week.

For More Information

Refer to our e-Services for Business Tutorials.

All service recipients can file the DE 542 online.

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Show More from the Account Management panel.
3. Select File Report of Independent Contractors. You will be directed to the Internet Independent Contractor Reporting (iICR) website to complete and submit a Report of Independent Contractor(s) (DE 542).
4. Select Create New DE 542.
5. Complete the required fields.
6. Review and submit the completed DE 542.

You can save your report at any time as a draft. Select the draft icon and/or Edit to edit your saved draft.

You will be allowed to include up to 30 new independent contractors in one submission.

Important: The DE 542 can only be filed from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight, Pacific time, 7 days a week.

For More Information

Refer to our e-Services for Business Tutorials.

You can file the employee information again to correct a previously filed report.

You must select Representative as the type of enrollment. This type of enrollment allows you access to e-Services for Business to file the DE 542 without registering for a California employer payroll tax account number.

Yes. You can submit a bulk file for these reports online.

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select More...
3. Select Upload a Bulk Return File from the Payments and Returns panel.
4. Select NER to upload a Report of New Employee(s).
5. Select ICR to upload a Report of Independent Contractor(s).

For More Information

• Electronic Filing Guide for the New Employee Registry (DE 340) (PDF)
• Electronic Filing Guide for the Independent Contractor Reporting Program (DE 542M) (PDF)

You can submit the following types of protests online:

Benefit Charge

• Statement of Charges to the Reserve Account (428T)
• Statement of Reimbursable Benefit Charges (428R)
• School Employees Fund Employer Statement of Benefit Charges (428F)

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Rate:

• Notice of Contribution Rates and Statement of UI Reserve Account (DE 2088)

Employers and authorized employer representatives, payroll agents, and certified public accountants can file a protest using e-Services for Business.

Be sure to have the Letter ID of the DE 428 you are protesting available.

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select Show More from the Account Management panel.
3. Select Protest Benefit Charges or Protest UI Rate.
4. Enter the required information and submit.

After you submit this information, you will receive a confirmation number.

Benefit Charge

You can enter information manually for each benefit charge you are protesting, or you can import a CSV file with all the relevant information following the CSV Import Instructions in e-Services for Business.

UI Rate

You will select the items you are protesting and provide a reason for each item.

No. A protest cannot be changed after it has been submitted. However, you can submit a new protest.

1. Log in to e-Services for Business.
2. Select More…
3. Select Search Submissions from the Submissions panel.
4. Select the link for the protest you want to view.
5. To withdraw a submission, select Withdraw after the link is open. 

We process protests in the order received. Once the determination is made, you will be notified by mail. You can also view the response and other letters from us in e-Services for Business by selecting More..., the select View Letters from the Communication panel.

• Provides confirmation when your protest is received.
• Reduces paper and saves mailing costs.
• Eliminates the possibility of the protest being lost in the mail.
• Faster processing time.
• Responses can be viewed from any device.

DIR taxpayers can view the balance on the account and make Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments for their outstanding DIR liabilities that are referred to us. DIR taxpayers may also be able to set up short-term payment plans depending on the status of the liability.

We are responsible for processing two types of DIR debts:

• The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CALO) penalties and fines.
• The Targeted Inspection and Consultation Fund (TICF) debts.

Use e-Services for Business to make an EFT payment for a DIR liability or for other DIR payment option.

You must be enrolled in e-Services for Business to access your DIR account.

Log in to e-Services for Business, then follow these steps:

For Employers

1. Select Existing Employer, then select Next.
2. Review the information on the Getting Started screen, then select Next.
3. Select Yes on the Employer Confirmation screen, then select Next.
4. Under Account Type, select DIR Collection from the dropdown menu.
5. Enter the DIR account number in the Taxpayer/Account ID field.
6. Enter a valid Letter ID from the Collection Notice (DE 6485) the EDD sent you regarding this account in the Letter ID field, then select Next.
7. Review the information you entered, then select Submit.

For Employer Representatives/Payroll Agents

1. Select Add Access to Another Account from the Access Management panel.
2. Select DIR Collection as the Account Type.
3. Enter a valid Letter ID from the Collection Notice (DE 6485) the EDD sent you regarding this account in the Letter ID field.
4. Enter the DIR account number in the Taxpayer/Account ID field.
5. Select Next.
6. Review the information you entered, then select Submit.

1. Select Make a Payment from the Account panel.
2. Select Make a Payment Using a Letter ID or Statement Payment under ACH Debit Payment.
3. Complete payment information, then select Submit.
4. An authorization window opens requiring you to authorize the payment transaction. Select Ok to authorize the payment.

Contact our Department of Industrial Relations Collection Group (DIRCG) at 1-855-516-4175, Monday through Friday (excluding state holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time for help with the collection of your DIR liability.

Contact the Department of Industrial Relations directly at 1-415-703-4319 to dispute the liability.

After four unsuccessful attempts to answer the security questions, you will be temporarily locked out of your account. You must contact the Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886 for help. Usernames cannot be reset. If you are unable to recover your username, you will need to re-enroll using a different username and email address.

If you know your username and password, you can update your Security Questions and Answers by selecting My Profile after logging in to e-Services for Business.

Contact our Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time, Monday through Friday (excluding state holidays).