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Taxes
Wisconsin Payroll Taxes 2026: Complete Overview for Employers
Wisconsin graduated 3.5%–7.65% income tax, SUI on the first $14,000, and all employer tax obligations explained.
Practical guides on WI payroll taxes, employer registration, SUI, minimum wage, and labor laws — written for small business owners, not accountants.
Written by payroll professionals at Pacific Data Services — trusted since 1969.
Wisconsin’s top marginal rate of 7.65% is among the higher Midwest rates, with four brackets starting at 3.5%.
Wisconsin’s $14,000 SUI wage base is moderate, though the maximum rate of 12.00% can be steep for employers with poor experience ratings.
Wisconsin only requires monthly pay frequency, allowing employers flexibility in setting weekly, bi-weekly, or semi-monthly schedules.
Wisconsin graduated 3.5%–7.65% income tax, SUI on the first $14,000, and all employer tax obligations explained.
Get your EIN, register with Wisconsin, set up withholding, new hire reporting — the complete checklist.
New employer rate 3.05%, experienced range 0.00%–12.00%, wage base $14,000.
Wisconsin minimum wage $7.25/hr. Wisconsin’s minimum wage is $7.25/hr, matching the federal rate. Tipped employees may be paid $2.33/hr.
IRS classification rules, Wisconsin-specific considerations, misclassification penalties.
Gusto vs Paychex vs QuickBooks vs ADP — detailed comparison for Wisconsin small businesses.