Third-Party Sick Pay
You may need to withhold Minnesota tax on third-party sick pay employees receive for absences due to injury, sickness, or disability. Sick pay includes both short-term and long-term benefits, often expressed as a percentage of the employee's regular wages.
Third-Party Sick Pay Requirements
Withholding tax requirements on sick leave payments depend on who paid for the insurance policy.
If your employees purchase their own sick pay insurance policy
If you pay premiums for your employees’ sick pay insurance policy
| 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.
Do I need to file federal Forms W-2 and 1099 with Minnesota?
Yes, if these forms report Minnesota income tax withheld. For details on filing these forms, see Forms W-2/1099.
