Why This Site Exists
Texas is one of the most business-friendly states in the country. With no state income tax, no SDI, and no PFL, the payroll compliance burden is lighter than most states. But federal requirements still apply, and Texas-specific rules around payday laws, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance still catch employers off guard. We built Texas Payroll Guide to help small business owners get it right.
Every guide on this site is written for Texas employers — with the state-specific rates, deadlines, penalties, and quirks that apply to businesses operating in the Golden State.
What We Cover
Our guides cover the full spectrum of Texas payroll compliance:
- Texas payroll taxes (SUI, ETT, SDI, PIT withholding)
- EDD registration and filing requirements
- State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave
- Minimum wage (statewide and local rates)
- Overtime rules (Texas's daily OT is stricter than federal)
- Worker classification (ABC test under AB5)
- Payday laws, final pay, and pay stub requirements
- Federal payroll tax basics (FICA, FUTA, withholding)
- Payroll software comparisons
Our Approach
We aim to be practical and direct. No fluff, no jargon walls, no 3,000-word articles that could be summarized in three bullet points. Texas employers are busy — we respect your time.
Every article includes real numbers (actual tax rates, actual deadlines, actual penalties), and we note where Texas law is stricter than federal law — which is often.
Affiliate Disclosure
Texas Payroll Guide is an independent publication. We recommend payroll software products like Gusto and Paychex and may earn a referral fee when you sign up through our links, at no additional cost to you. This doesn't affect our editorial coverage or the accuracy of our guides. We recommend these products because we believe they're genuinely useful for Texas small businesses.
A Note on Accuracy
We update our guides when laws change. Texas employment law moves fast — new minimum wage schedules, regulatory changes, court decisions. We do our best to keep content current, and each article includes a "last updated" date.
That said, this site provides general information only. It is not legal or tax advice. If you have a specific situation, please consult a qualified Texas attorney or CPA.
Simplify Texas Payroll
Gusto handles federal and Texas payroll taxes automatically — SDI withholding, EDD filings, W-2s, and more. Trusted by 300,000+ small businesses.