State profile
Colorado SUI rate 2026 and payroll registration
The 2026 wage base and rates, the protest window and the registrations Colorado requires of an employer, each with its source.
Agency: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Kreto checks unemployment-tax rate notices in this state against the agency's 2026 schedule. Form 941 notices are checked in every state.
The 2026 figures.
Taxable wage base
$30,600
The wages per employee per year that SUI tax applies to.
Source: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
SUI rate range
0.72% to 10.85%
The range for experience-rated employers.
Source: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
New employer rate
1.7%
The rate before experience rating applies.
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
Protest window
20 days
From the notice date.
Source: CDLE Annual Rate Notice protest period; C.R.S. 8-76-113(2)
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
Voluntary contributions
Allowed
An employer may pay into its SUI account to move to a lower rate.
Paid family and medical leave
Program
Colorado FAMLI
About Colorado SUI rates
Colorado employers pay state unemployment insurance (SUI, also called SUTA) on the first $30,600 of each employee's wages each year. New employers start at 1.7% until experience rating applies. Once rated, Colorado rates run from 0.72% to 10.85%. Colorado Department of Labor and Employment sets each employer's rate every year from its experience. Rates follow a reserve ratio: what the employer has paid in, less the benefits charged to its account, set against its average taxable payroll. A bigger reserve means a lower rate. Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
If your rate notice looks wrong, Kreto checks it against the agency's 2026 schedule and shows the difference in dollars.
Registering as an employer in Colorado
Kreto's rules list what Colorado requires of an employer, from the first employee. Kreto files each one and tracks it to the state's confirmation.
| Requirement | Agency | Form | How it is submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment insurance | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment | UITR-1, Application for Unemployment Insurance Account | Online portal |
| Withholding | Colorado Department of Revenue | Online portal | |
| New-hire reporting | Colorado New Hire Reporting | Online portal | |
| Workers' comp | Colorado Workers Compensation (private market) | By mail | |
| Paid family and medical leave | Colorado FAMLI | Online portal |
Forms and agencies as Kreto's rules record them. Check the agency's site before you file on your own. See every state's requirements
Beyond SUI
- Paid family and medical leaveColorado FAMLI: employer 0.44%, employee 0.44%, total 0.88%, wage cap $184,500.The pair is the 10+ employee case (0.88% split 0.44%/0.44%); employers with nine or fewer pay no employer share (0.44% total, employee-deductible). Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
- Voluntary contributions Colorado lets employers make a voluntary contribution to their SUI account, which can lower next year's rate. Timing and deadlines vary; check with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
- Workers' compNCCI rating jurisdiction. Federal OSHA jurisdiction.
- Income taxHas state individual income tax.
Questions about Colorado.
What is the Colorado SUI wage base for 2026?
$30,600 per employee per year. Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
What is the new employer SUI rate in Colorado?
1.7% for 2026, until experience rating applies. Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
How do I register for unemployment insurance in Colorado?
With the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, on form UITR-1 (Application for Unemployment Insurance Account). Kreto files it once you approve and tracks it to the state's confirmation.
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Got a Colorado SUI notice?
Upload it to the free notice scan to see what it is and when it is due. In an account, Kreto checks the rate against the agency's 2026 schedule and drafts the protest for your approval.