2019 minimum wage to increase in many states
Though the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, state minimum wage rates will increase in many states in 2019. These increases are the result of voter approval, law changes or the minimum wage being indexed for inflation each year.
The chart below details the states that have announced minimum wage increases in 2019. More changes may be announced prior to Jan. 1, so employers should continue to monitor developments.
The U.S. Department of Labor also maintains a database of the current state minimum wage rates on their website.
2019 State Minimum Wage Rate Increases
| State | 2018 | 2019 |
| Alaska | $9.84 | $9.89 |
| Arizona | $10.50 | $11.00 |
| California | $11.00 | $12.00 |
| Colorado | $10.20 | $11.10 |
| Connecticut | $10.10 | TBD |
| Delaware | $8.25 | $8.75 |
| District of Columbia | $13.25 | $14.00 |
| Florida | $8.25 | $8.46 |
| Maine | $10.00 | $11.00 |
| Maryland | $10.10 | TBD |
| Massachusetts | $11.00 | $12.00 |
| Michigan | $9.25 | TBD |
| Minnesota | $9.65 | $9.86 |
| Missouri | $7.85 | $8.10 |
| Montana | $8.30 | $8.50 |
| New Jersey | $8.60 | $8.85 |
| New York | $10.40 | $11.10 |
| Ohio | $8.30 | $8.55 |
| Rhode Island | $10.10 | $10.50 |
| South Dakota | $8.65 | $9.10 |
| Vermont | $10.50 | $10.78 |
| Washington | $11.50 | $12.00 |
NOTE: You will receive a reminder email regarding minimum wage increases next month.
2019 unemployment tax rates to be released in December
Most states review and update employers’ unemployment insurance rates effective Jan. 1 for the new year. You should receive a new rate notice in late 2018 or early 2019 from each state you are registered in. These unemployment rates and tax filing frequencies are mailed to the taxpayer, and it’s imperative these tax-related communications are forwarded to your Insperity payroll specialist as soon as you receive them. We require this information to ensure your taxes are paid accurately and timely in 2019.
You should have received the 2018 year-end guide in late November. Please review the important dates in the guide, also outlined below.
Federal Reserve
| Holiday | Date Observed |
| Christmas Day | Dec. 25, 2018 |
| New Year’s Day | Jan. 1, 2019 |
NOTE: Insperity offices will also be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
- Affordable Care Act deadlines:
- For the 2018 Affordable Care Act reporting year, the IRS has extended the federal deadline for providing your employees with their 2018 1095-B or 1095-C form to March 4, 2019.
- The deadline for filing your Form 1094-C with the IRS (along with copies of Forms 1095-C that were distributed to employees) is April 1, 2019 (if filing electronically) or Feb. 28, 2019 (if filing via paper).
