Multistate employers
Employers with workers in Massachusetts and other states may send all reports to Massachusetts, but must file online in MassTaxConnect and register with the federal Office of Child Support. Source: mass.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Rehired employees
Report rehires after layoff, rehired seasonal workers, and anyone returning after 30 or more days off the payroll, within 14 days of their return. Source: mass.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Penalties
Up to $25 for each person not reported or reported wrongly; $500 per person if the failure comes from a conspiracy with the employee or contractor. Source: mass.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
The law and where to check
The law: M.G.L. c. 62E; 830 CMR 62E.2.1 (opens in a new tab)
The agency: Massachusetts Department of Revenue - New Hire Reporting Program (opens in a new tab)
What federal law says
Federal law requires every employer to report each new hire to the state's new hire directory within 20 days, or sooner if the state sets a shorter deadline. States use the reports for child support. Source: Social Security Act § 453A↗ (opens in a new tab)
New hire reporting checklist for Massachusetts employers
A simple order of work, based on the rules above. It is not a legal checklist.
- Collect the employee's Form W-4 details on day one.
- Report to the state shown above before the deadline.
- Include every required data field, including any state extras.
- Report rehires and, where required, independent contractors.
- Multistate employers: pick one state and register with HHS, or report to each state.
- Keep a copy or confirmation of each report.
More Massachusetts employment law guides
- All Massachusetts employment laws
- Massachusetts final paycheck law
- Massachusetts paid sick leave law
- Massachusetts meal and rest break laws
- Massachusetts overtime law
- Massachusetts pay frequency law
- Massachusetts vacation and PTO payout law
- Massachusetts at-will exceptions
New hire reporting laws in other states
See every state on one page, or pick a state:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
All official government sources, last checked October 19, 2026.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information based on publicly available official sources and is for information only. It is not legal, tax, payroll or employment-law advice and does not guarantee compliance with federal, state or local requirements. Rules can depend on your location, industry, contracts and other circumstances, and laws change. Always check the official source, the relevant government agency or a qualified professional before making a decision. MadyHR.ai accepts no responsibility for any action taken based on this page.
Last checked: . Every rule and source link on this page was checked against the official government source on this date. Laws change, so always open the source link before you act.