Indiana Employers Will Face Expanded Wage Reporting Rules

Businesses must prepare to include new workforce data points in quarterly filings starting in late 2026.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Employment

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of brass identification tags arranged in an orderly grid, representing regulatory workforce data compliance. — Indiana businesses must update their HR software to report additional workforce data including job titles and hours paid by late 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026, Indiana employers will be required to submit expanded data in their quarterly wage reports. This change necessitates updates to payroll and HR systems to ensure compliance with new filing standards.

Why it matters

The state is mandating these additional data points to better measure workforce program effectiveness and identify specific industry needs. Operators must prepare their internal systems now to capture granular employee data to meet state reporting thresholds.

All Indiana employers must adopt the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification codes for 4Q2026 reporting. The state will require these firms to incorporate new data elements, including job titles and apprenticeship status, into each employee wage record.

The players

Indiana

The state government jurisdiction responsible for setting employer payroll reporting requirements.

The details

Under the new mandate, employers will be required to append specific data to each employee wage record, including job titles, hours paid, reporting unit numbers, and apprenticeship status. Businesses must update their payroll or HR software to accommodate these inputs before the end of 2026. Detailed technical specifications are expected to be provided by state authorities to assist employers in aligning their systems with the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification codes.

Enhanced wage reporting requirements begin in the 4th quarter of 2026.
The first enhanced wage report is due on January 31, 2027.

Market Landscape

Indiana is shifting its regulatory requirements to align with the national 2018 Standard Occupational Classification framework. This move reflects a broader trend among state labor departments to move beyond simple wage totals toward more granular workforce analytics.

Operators should review their current payroll systems for compatibility with 2018 SOC codes before the 4Q2026 reporting window opens. Accounting teams should verify that their HR software can track apprenticeship status and hours paid to avoid filing errors in early 2027.

The takeaway

The state will soon require more detailed employee records to track regional workforce trends. Ensure your payroll provider is prepared to support these new data fields by the January 31, 2027, reporting deadline.