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Colorado New Hire Reporting Requirements (2026)

Last updated: 2026-10-12 · Colorado's rules were checked against the state's own site and the federal OCSE reference guide on 2026-10-12

Colorado employers must report every new or rehired employee to the Colorado State Directory of New Hires (Colorado Child Support) within 20 calendar days of hire. That matches the federal 20-day limit. Independent contractors must be reported too (Form 1099 threshold ($2,000 in 2026) threshold). Besides the 7 federal data elements, Colorado requires 3 more items.

Deadline
20 calendar days
same as federal
Report contractors?
Yes (Form 1099 threshold ($2,000 in 2026))
Rehire rule
60+ days gone
federal rule
Extra required data
3 items
beyond the federal 7

Colorado new hire reporting rules

Colorado new hire reporting

Colorado State Directory of New Hires (Colorado Child Support)

20
calendar days

Deadline: Within 20 calendar days of hire.

Electronic filers may instead send twice-monthly transmissions 12–16 days apart.

What to report

7 federal data elements (every state)
  • Employee name
  • Employee address
  • Employee Social Security number
  • Date of hire (first day the employee performed services for pay)
  • Employer name
  • Employer address
  • Employer FEIN (same FEIN used for quarterly wage reports)

Plus Colorado requires:

  • Employee date of birth
  • Employee vs. independent contractor indicator ("service provider" Y/N)
  • Employer payroll address (if different)

How to file

Open CO reporting site ↗

Methods: Online portal · File upload / SFTP · Mail · Fax

Phone
303-297-2849, option 6
Fax
303-297-2595
Email
CDHS_FSREmployerServices@state.co.us
Mail
Colorado New Hires Operation Center, PO Box 18, Ridgeland, MS 39158

State form: Colorado New Hire Reporting Form

Official CO requirements page

Independent contractors

Contractors must be reported (Form 1099 threshold ($2,000 in 2026))

"Service providers" (independent contractors, including rideshare/delivery drivers on a transportation network) must be reported when paid at least the 26 U.S.C. § 6041 amount — $2,000 for payments made in 2026 (it was $600 before 2026). Only report those who gave you an SSN; not those who gave an FEIN.

Rehires & recalls

Report employees who were separated without pay for at least 60 consecutive days.

Penalty

No state amount published. Federal law caps any state penalty at $25 per failure; $500 if the failure results from an employer–employee conspiracy.

  • • Colorado House Bill 1159 (2025 session, effective May 2025) made date of birth and the service-provider indicator required on every report.
  • • Colorado's site says that if the employee's first scheduled payroll falls after the 20-day period, the report can be submitted then.
  • • Colorado law does not require a new hire report for an employee hired for less than 30 days (C.R.S. § 26-13-125).

When is my Colorado report due?

Enter the first day of paid work to get the due date (with a calendar reminder), check whether a returning worker counts as a rehire, or fill in a Colorado report worksheet and download it as a PDF. Everything runs in your browser; employee details are never saved.

What goes on a Colorado new hire report

Federal data elements (every state)

  • Employee name
  • Employee address
  • Employee Social Security number
  • Date of hire (first day the employee performed services for pay)
  • Employer name
  • Employer address
  • Employer FEIN (same FEIN used for quarterly wage reports)

Added by Colorado

  • Employee date of birth
  • Employee vs. independent contractor indicator ("service provider" Y/N)
  • Employer payroll address (if different)

Most states accept a copy of the employee's Form W-4 with the employer name, address and FEIN filled in, as long as any extra Colorado fields are added. Use the same FEIN you put on your quarterly wage reports.

How Colorado compares

  • Deadline: Colorado uses the federal 20-day limit, like 41 other states and DC. 9 states are stricter, with 7, 10, 14 and 15-day deadlines.
  • Contractors: Colorado is one of 17 states that require independent contractors to be reported.
  • Rehires: Uses the federal rule: report a returning worker who was gone at least 60 consecutive days.
  • Multistate employers can instead report every new hire electronically to a single state where they have employees after registering with HHS (Multistate Employer Registry).

Related for Colorado employers: Colorado payroll taxes & SUTA rate · Colorado payday & final paycheck rules · Colorado minimum wage · payroll setup checklist

Colorado new hire reporting FAQ

How long do I have to report a new hire in Colorado?

Within 20 calendar days of hire. That matches the federal 20-day limit. Employers that report electronically may instead send twice-monthly transmissions 12 to 16 days apart. The date of hire is the first day the employee performs services for pay.

Do I have to report independent contractors in Colorado?

"Service providers" (independent contractors, including rideshare/delivery drivers on a transportation network) must be reported when paid at least the 26 U.S.C. § 6041 amount — $2,000 for payments made in 2026 (it was $600 before 2026). Only report those who gave you an SSN; not those who gave an FEIN.

Do I need to report rehired employees in Colorado?

Report employees who were separated without pay for at least 60 consecutive days.

What information goes on a Colorado new hire report?

Every report needs the seven federal data elements: the employee's name, address, Social Security number and date of hire, and the employer's name, address and FEIN. Colorado also requires: Employee date of birth; Employee vs. independent contractor indicator ("service provider" Y/N); Employer payroll address (if different).

How do I report a new hire in Colorado?

Accepted methods: Online portal; File upload / SFTP; Mail; Fax. The state form is Colorado New Hire Reporting Form. Reports go to the Colorado State Directory of New Hires (Colorado Child Support).

What is the penalty for not reporting a new hire in Colorado?

Colorado doesn't publish its own penalty amount. Federal law caps any state penalty at $25 per failure; $500 if the failure results from an employer–employee conspiracy. A late report is still required.

I have employees in Colorado and other states. Where do I report?

Report each employee to the state where they work, following that state's rules, or register with HHS as a multistate employer and send all new hire reports electronically to one state where you have employees. Multistate employers that pick Colorado follow Colorado's rules for everyone.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-12

Related Resources on This Site

New hire reporting in other states

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Colorado State Directory of New Hires (Colorado Child Support) before relying on them.