Glossary · Compliance

What is State registration 

Definition

Registering with a state to withhold payroll taxes and, in some states, to operate as a staffing agency. Required where your worker performs the work.

Applies to: US · Reviewed by James Doyle

In practice

Payroll tax registration follows the worksite, not your office. One placement in a new state usually triggers withholding registration, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation coverage there.

A handful of states also license or register staffing and nurse-staffing agencies specifically — healthcare is the most regulated niche in the US market.

Put the theory to work.

Model your rates, costs and funding with the calculators built on our own 2025 data.