IT payroll solutions across the USA

Build and scale your U.S. tech team with compliant, efficient payroll solutions across all 50 states—no need for a local entity.

Adoppler
BBG
Black Beacon
MediaMath
Natify
Pebble Post
Pluto TV
Rubicon Project
Savveo
Traveling Spoon
Trusted Insight

Tailored payroll solutions for tech

GEOR delivers reliable, fully compliant payroll in the USA for IT startups and enterprises.

  • Quick onboarding
    Developers and DevOps hired within 7 days.
  • Error-free payroll
    Eliminate tax mistakes and risks.
  • State-specific compliance
    Expert management of labor laws across tech hubs.
  • IP protection and secure data handling
    Essential for tech innovation.
  • Custom employee benefits
    Health insurance, equity plans, and more to retain talent.
  • Scalable for hyper-growth
    Whether you’re hiring 5 or 500 engineers, we scale with you.

United States of America
(USA)

World’s largest tech and innovation market.
Access to diverse, highly skilled talent.
Strong legal and business infrastructure.
GDP

$29 trillion

Language

English

Currency

$ (USD)

Software developer’s salary range

$65k–$160k/year

Payroll taxes in tech

Federal tax

Progressive rates from 10% to 37%

State tax

Varies by state from 0% to 13.3%

Social Security and Medicare

  • Employers and employees each pay 6.2% and 1.45%.
  • Additional 0.9% for high-earners.

FUTA (Unemployment)

6% on the first $7k of wages.

Do you have a specialist in mind to pay in the United States?

Let us help you.

Tax reporting

  • W-2: annual wage and tax statement for employees.
  • 941: quarterly federal tax returns.
  • 940: annual FUTA return.

IT labor regulations snapshot

Wage

Entry-level tech roles must be paid state or city minimum wage.

Overtime pay

Non-exempt employees are entitled to 1.5x pay.

Payroll cycle

  • Biweekly
  • Semi-monthly
  • Weekly, in some states, for non-exempt employees.

Pay stub

Paper or digital

Common employee benefits

  • Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
  • 401(k) retirement plans with employer match
  • Paid time off (PTO) and parental leave
  • Wellness programs

Payroll
in the United States

Tech companies must distinguish exempt from non-exempt roles and follow state wage, overtime, and tax laws.

Exempt and non-exempt tech employees

Understanding the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees is crucial for tech startups and corporations to ensure adherence to U.S. labor laws, particularly the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Exempt employees
Definition
Salaried professionals meeting specific criteria and earning above the remuneration threshold.
Remuneration threshold criteria
At least $684/week ($35,568/year) federally. Higher in states like California ($1,240/week or $64,480/year in 2024).
Overtime pay
Not entitled to overtime pay.
Job duties
Executive, administrative, professional, or specialized work. Involve independent judgment and problem-solving. Require specialized education or significant experience.
Common roles
Software Developers and Engineers, Data Scientists, Product Managers, Senior UX/UI Designers, IT Project Managers, Systems Architects
Non-exempt employees
Definition
Paid hourly or salaried.
Remuneration threshold criteria
Varies by state.
Overtime pay
Must be paid 1.5x regular rate for hours over 40 per week. California may require overtime pay for hours exceeding 8/day or 7 consecutive workdays.
Job duties
Routine, repetitive tasks following established procedures. Do not make independent decisions.
Common roles
IT Support Specialists (Help Desk, Technical Support), Junior Web Developers (below salary threshold), Manual QA Testers, Data Entry Clerks, Interns/Entry-level roles (if unpaid internships don’t meet legal criteria)
Classification of remote IT contractors

Worker classification in the U.S. must comply with the laws of the state where the contractor resides, not just where the company is headquartered. Misclassifying freelancers or independent contractors can lead to severe penalties, particularly in states like California with stricter regulations under the AB5 Law.

ABC Test

The ABC Test in California presumes that workers are employees unless the company proves the contractor:
A) Works independently from company control.
B) Performs work outside the company’s usual course of business.
C) Operates an independently established business.

Impact on remote IT contractors

Remote IT contractors, such as software developers and DevOps engineers, who work long-term on core company projects, often fail the ABC Test, making them more likely to be classified as employees under state law.

Equity compensation and tax traps

Equity compensation refers to non-cash benefits, such as Stock Options (ISOs/NSOs) and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), offered by tech companies to attract and retain talent. These forms of compensation provide employees with ownership stakes but come with complex tax requirements.

Reporting requirements

Equity compensation must be reported on payroll when vested or exercised.

Incentive Stock Options
ISOs offer favorable tax treatment but must comply with 409A valuation rules.
Restricted Stock Units
RSUs are taxed as ordinary income upon vesting.
Key risks and considerations
409A valuation risks
Improperly valued stock options can result in significant tax penalties for workers.
State tax variations
Tax implications vary widely by state, particularly for remote employees.
Cross-border tax liabilities
Remote staff outside the United States may trigger international tax obligations on equity.
Remote work compliance

Tech organizations with remote teams must comply with labor laws in the employee’s state, not just the company’s headquarters.

Business nexus laws
States can require companies to register as an employer and pay state taxes if they have a single remote employee.
Remote work payments
Remote tech employees can trigger state-specific wage taxes and employer registration requirements, prompting organizations to register in each state where they have a workforce. Additionally, laws like California’s expense reimbursement regulations mandate that employers cover certain remote work costs.
Pay stubs

A pay stub is a document provided to workers with each paycheck, detailing their earnings and deductions for a specific pay period.
In the United States, pay stubs are not mandated federally but are required in most states, either in paper or digital form. States like California impose strict penalties for missing or inaccurate details.

Accurate pay stub requirements

For a precise record-keeping, the document should include:

Gross and net earnings
Total income before deductions and the amount received after withholdings.
Deductions
Itemized taxes (federal, state, Social Security, Medicare) and other contributions (e.g., healthcare, 401(k)).
Year-to-date summary
Cumulative earnings and deductions.
Hours worked
Required for non-exempt employees.
Pay period dates
Start and end dates for the pay period.
Wage transparency laws

Certain states, including Colorado, California, and New York, mandate that employers disclose salary ranges in job postings. IT companies must ensure compensation consistency across states or provide clear justification for any pay differences.

Final paycheck laws

Termination pay timelines vary by state:

California
Final pay must be provided immediately if the employee is terminated or by the next payday if they resign.
Other states
Requirements differ, with some mandating severance or stricter final pay deadlines.
Leave policies

States like New York and California enforce stricter paid family leave and sick leave mandates than federal law, requiring employers to offer additional leave benefits to remain compliant.

Challenges of managing U.S. payroll

Managing US payroll internally presents several challenges for software companies, often leading to costly risks.

Complex regulations

Failure to adhere to state-specific laws, such as wage transparency requirements, can result in penalties.

Fast-paced scaling

The need to onboard developers, engineers, and designers quickly makes oversight challenging.

Cost and efficiency imbalance

Classification errors

Misclassifying developers as exempt or non-exempt employees creates legal vulnerabilities.

Manual paycheck mistakes

Errors in overtime calculations for hybrid roles or diverse teams can lead to audits.

Pay stub errors

Inaccurate reporting of stock compensation and other earnings creates gaps in pay stub accuracy.

IP protection risks

Startups managing proprietary code or products face heightened dispute risks without robust payroll oversight.

Localizing payroll support

Remote and hybrid teams

Tax laws for remote workers across multiple states add management complexity.

Streamlining remote onboarding

Employee retention

Attracting and retaining tech talent requires competitive compensation, accurate payroll, and tailored benefits.

Payroll and tax made simple

Here’s why GEOR is the best United States’ payroll partner for IT companies.

Employer registration

GEOR manages federal (IRS) and state tax registrations to simplify US payroll processes for your company. We structure contracts carefully to reflect true independent contractor relationships.

Worker classification

We regularly review remote employee handbooks for state-specific policies and properly classify software engineers, contractors, and full-time staff. GEOR uses state-specific onboarding checklists to ensure adherence to law.

Payroll processing

We confirm workforce meets both salary and duties tests for exemption and handle automated USA payroll processing, including tax deductions and required reporting (W-2, W-3, 941, 940).

Tax and equity compliance

We help you stay compliant with federal and state income taxes, manage multistate tax withholdings.
Our team conducts regular 409A valuations with certified professionals and offer tax education or consultations for employees receiving equity.

Benefits packages

GEOR offers competitive perks like 401(k), equity, and health insurance.

Data security

GDPR, CCPA, and SOC 2-compliant systems protect sensitive payroll data.

Tailored for winning

Achieve your next big win with our in-depth knowledge of the tech industry’s requirements.

96%
reduction in hiring time.
40%
savings in HR and operational costs.
4x
faster U.S. market entry.
92%
employee retention rate.
Simple, transparent U.S. pricing

A seamless payroll solution with no minimum commitment. Simplify your United States’ IT payroll management with GEOR’s trusted services, tailored for software companies operating across the United States of America.

Basic
  • Onboarding within 1 week
  • Payroll processing and tax deductions
$499

per employee/ month.
A starter’s package.
No hidden fees or extra charges.

Start U.S. IT payroll today

Leverage GEOR’s expert-driven USA payroll processing solutions to ensure efficiency and growth for your tech team.

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Client Feedback

Aaron Larson
CEO
Midwest Evaluation and Research

I was surprised at how quickly two recruits, sourced in just a few weeks, delivered an MVP. The team did an excellent job finding the perfect candidates for the job.

Jason Schwartz
Jason Schwartz
Creative Director
Bright Bright Great

They provided temp-to-hire staffing and always met the deadlines. Above all, they have a deep understanding of the client’s business, which allows them to handle things exceptionally well.

Daniel Urmañn
Founder
Diib

The team’s professionalism and technical expertise were unmatched. They met our intricate needs with tailored solutions, guaranteeing reliability and efficiency, while modern technology was expertly incorporated into our systems.

Rob Brearley
Rob Brearley
CEO
ShopWired

GEOR is a cohesive software team that truly understood our idea, provided realistic timelines, and offered innovative suggestions for our software development project. Their work quality and responsiveness were topnotch, and I would highly recommend them to others.

Alexis Bogan
Alexis Bogan
Manager
Calicraft

With a mission to make the world a kinder place, Calicraft relies on GEOR’s temporary workforce solutions to streamline their human resources operations and foster a supportive work environment.

Brad Weatherly
Brad Weatherly
Executive Vice President
Sapience

The platform they use to qualify, score, and predict candidate success was incredibly helpful during the hiring process. It made a significant difference.

Competitor comparison

How GEOR outperforms other payroll companies in the US.

Feature GEOR Deel Lano PGC Group
Compliance focus Expert-led Automation-first Limited support Compliance-led
Payroll flexibility Fully flexible Standardized Less customization Custom plans
Industry expertise IT focus Generalized Limited focus Traditional approach
Support Dedicated HR Limited Limited Full service

Future-proof your tech payroll

Step confidently into the future of U.S. payroll with GEOR. Adhere to evolving federal and state tax regulations while building a high-performing team. Deliver accurate, timely payroll in the USA, tailored to their labor laws. Offer dynamic benefits that attract and retain top tech talent.

GEOR

Simplify U.S. paychecks with GEOR

Let GEOR handle the complexity while you focus on growing your business.

FAQs

What makes GEOR’s services more reliable than automated payroll platforms?

Unlike automated platforms, GEOR combines cutting-edge technology with dedicated human support, offering personalized service and proactive legal and HR management.

How does GEOR simplify global payroll for organizations without a legal entity in the United States?

Our company serves as your Employer of Record, managing payroll and taxes, allowing you to hire and pay U.S. employees without setting up a local legal entity.

How does a payroll company in the US adhere to complex state and federal laws?

A payroll company in the US like GEOR ensures legal and tax experts stay updated on all U.S. federal and state labor laws, ensuring correct paychecks, pay stubs, tax and equity filings, and worker classifications across every state.

What taxes and deductions does a US payroll provider manage for USA-based workforce?

We handle all federal and state wage taxes, including Social Security, Medicare, income tax withholdings, unemployment insurance, and state-specific tax obligations.

Can GEOR manage equity compensation for startups?

We manage equity plans, stock options, performance-based bonuses, and other compensation models essential for attracting and retaining tech talent.

How does GEOR manage global payroll for remote, multi-state software development teams?

Our team efficiently handles salaries for distributed teams across all 50 U.S. states, managing tax and benefits for seamless operations.

Does payroll company in the USA manage both full-time employees and contractors?

Yes, a company like GEOR streamlines payments for both full-time employees and independent contractors, ensuring accurate payments, tax deductions, and benefits management for hybrid teams.

Can I outsource IT staff with a payroll provider in the United States?

Yes, we enable you to outsource tech staff. We onboard your engineers and developers in as little as 7 days, leveraging our robust infrastructure and legal expertise.

Do I need an in-house human resources department to handle payroll in the United States?

No, with our payroll solutions, you don’t need an in-house HR team. We manage all aspects of wages and benefits on your behalf.

How can I protect my company’s sensitive data?

GEOR complies with GDPR, CCPA, and SOC 2 security standards, using encryption and strict access controls to ensure all data is securely managed.

How do I tell if my employee is exempt or non-exempt?

It depends on the type and complexity of work they perform. Manual and QA testers are typically non-exempt unless involved in test automation, coding, or designing complex automated testing systems. IT support roles classify as exempt when they manage systems design or critical infrastructure.