It depends on who paid for the insurance that makes sick leave payments to the employee.
If your employees purchase their own sick pay insurance policy
Your employees' distributions are not taxable, including any disability payments. This is true whether they buy the policy independently or pay you for sick pay insurance (provided you do not pay the premiums). Do not provide your employees a tax statement for or withhold Minnesota income tax from sick leave payments.
If you pay premiums for your employees’ sick pay insurance policy
Your Minnesota withholding requirements depend on certain factors.
| If |
Then |
|---|
| You make sick leave payments directly to an employee or through an agent |
You must withhold Minnesota income tax because the sick leave payments are considered wages. Report these payments and the tax withheld on federal Form W-2. |
| A third-party (except your agent) makes sick leave payments on your behalf |
The third-party must withhold required taxes. The third party will use its own name and Minnesota Tax ID Number to report and deposit the tax withheld. |
You may enter into an agreement that makes the third-party agent responsible for employment taxes. Whether you or your third-party agent is responsible for the federal Form W-2 submission depends on the contract agreement you have with the third-party agent. For more information, see IRS Publication 15-A.
