Anyone who employs one or more permanent, temporary or part-time workers in Massachusetts must register with the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and file employment and wage details quarterly. DUA will determine if the employer, under the Unemployment Law, must pay unemployment insurance contributions.

Most employers who have one or more persons working on a permanent, temporary or part-time basis, on one or more days in each of 13 weeks during a calendar year, or who pay wages of $1,500 or more in any calendar quarter, must pay unemployment insurance contributions. It is not necessary that the weeks of employment be consecutive or that the employees remain the same.

Employers must make quarterly contributions to DUA 30 days after the end of the months of March, June, September and December via DUA QUEST Self-Service Center.

You may also be required to file a U.S. Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Return, if you meet certain criteria. For information about federal requirements, visit the Internal Revenue Service website, or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.