One-time payroll setup checklist
Finish these steps before your first payday. Most are done once and then you are set. Your ticks are saved in this browser, so you can come back and pick up where you left off.
Your S corp's federal employer ID. Free from the IRS. Open
eftps.gov, Enrollment, Business. Enter your EIN, business details and bank account. The IRS says enrollment can take up to five business days to process, then the PIN comes by mail, so do this well before your first payday. Open
Sign in with Login.gov or ID.me. Under SSA's new process (effective November 7, 2026), your company's Responsible Entity Officer registers the EIN and SSA mails a registration code that can take 15 to 20 days, so register well before January. Open
oktap.tax.ok.gov. You'll use it for payments, the quarterly WTH-10001, and the year-end W-2 upload. Open
OESC Employer Portal, Apply for Tax Account Number. New employers start at 1.5%. Open
Federal W-4, Oklahoma OK-W-4, and I-9. Enter the W-4 choices in Setup. Open
Add each employee's account as a payee for transfers or ACH, from your business account.
Calendar page, Download .ics, then import it.
Start early on EFTPS and SSA registration
Some setup steps cannot be rushed. When you enroll in EFTPS, the IRS mails your PIN to your business address. The Social Security Administration also mails an activation code when you register for Business Services Online, which you use to file W-2s. Mail can take a week or more to arrive. Start these registrations as soon as you can, well before your first deposit or filing is due.
What to keep on file
Keep a signed W-4 and OK-W-4 for every employee, including yourself. Keep a completed Form I-9 for each employee as well. Hold on to your payroll records, such as pay amounts, tax deposits, and filed forms, for at least four years. Store paper copies in a safe place or keep secure digital copies. Good records make it easier to answer a notice or fix a mistake later.
Read more: OkTAP registration · SSA Business Services Online