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Connecticut New Hire Reporting Requirements (2026)

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

Connecticut employers must report every new or rehired employee to the Connecticut Department of Labor within 20 days of the date of hire. That matches the federal 20-day limit. Independent contractors must be reported too ($5,000+/year threshold). Connecticut asks only for the 7 federal data elements.

Deadline
20 days
same as federal
Report contractors?
Yes ($5,000+/year)
Rehire rule
60+ days gone
federal rule
Extra required data
None
beyond the federal 7

Connecticut new hire reporting rules

Connecticut new hire reporting

Connecticut Department of Labor

20
days

Deadline: Within 20 days of the date of hire.

Electronic filers may instead send twice-monthly transmissions 12–16 days apart. The source doesn't say business or calendar days — count calendar days to be safe.

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)

No extra required fields beyond the federal 7.

How to file

Open CT reporting site ↗

Methods: Online (CT New Hire Reporting website) · Fax a completed CT-W4 · Mail a completed CT-W4 · FTP

Fax
800-816-1108
Email
dol.ctnewhires@ct.gov
Mail
Connecticut Department of Labor, Office of Research, CT-W4, 200 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT 06109

State form: Form CT-W4 (doubles as the new hire report)

Official CT requirements page

Independent contractors

Contractors must be reported ($5,000+/year)

Report independent contractors whose services are valued at $5,000 or more (CGS § 31-254(c)).

Rehires & recalls

Report workers rehired after a separation of 60 days or more.

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.

  • • The employer section of Form CT-W4 asks whether the employee is new or rehired and the date hired — a completed CT-W4 can be sent as the report.

When is my Connecticut 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 Connecticut report worksheet and download it as a PDF. Everything runs in your browser; employee details are never saved.

What goes on a Connecticut 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 Connecticut

Nothing — the seven federal elements are enough.

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 Connecticut fields are added. Use the same FEIN you put on your quarterly wage reports.

How Connecticut compares

  • Deadline: Connecticut 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: Connecticut 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 Connecticut employers: Connecticut payroll taxes & SUTA rate · Connecticut payday & final paycheck rules · Connecticut minimum wage · payroll setup checklist

Connecticut new hire reporting FAQ

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

Within 20 days of the date 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. The state's source doesn't say business or calendar days, so count calendar days to be safe.

Do I have to report independent contractors in Connecticut?

Report independent contractors whose services are valued at $5,000 or more (CGS § 31-254(c)).

Do I need to report rehired employees in Connecticut?

Report workers rehired after a separation of 60 days or more.

What information goes on a Connecticut 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. Connecticut doesn't require anything beyond those seven.

How do I report a new hire in Connecticut?

Accepted methods: Online (CT New Hire Reporting website); Fax a completed CT-W4; Mail a completed CT-W4; FTP. The state form is Form CT-W4 (doubles as the new hire report). Reports go to the Connecticut Department of Labor.

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

Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut follow Connecticut's rules for everyone.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-12

Related Resources on This Site

Helpful guides

New hire reporting in other states

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Connecticut Department of Labor before relying on them.