The majority of employers now report unemployment insurance wage and tax information electronically. As a result, a cost saving decision has been made to no longer print and mail this quarterly newsletter. We will continue to provide timely unemployment news and updates at our website: http://unemployment.wisconsin.gov.
Effective January 1, 2011, the definition of “employee” was amended for private sector employers other than nonprofit organizations and trucking and logging operators. The amendment was made to clarify the test used to determine if an individual providing services is an employee or an independent contractor under the Unemployment Insurance Law. See the definitions of employee for services performed both before and after January 1, 2011 in the Employer Handbook at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui201/t2201.htm.
If you have questions regarding the independent contractor provisions of the law, contact us taxnet@dwd.wisconsin.gov.
Please DO NOT submit a paper Wage Report that duplicates your Internet filing. If you are required to file electronically, you WILL be assessed a substantial penalty for filing on paper regardless of whether you also filed via the Internet. You will receive a confirmation number when your electronic Wage Report has been successfully submitted. Keep this number for your records. The Department can use the confirmation number to determine when we received and processed your Wage Report.
Paper Wage Reports are only accepted from employers who report wages for fewer than 25 employees per quarter and have never filed electronically in the past. If at any time, past or present, you report 25 or more employees per quarter or file electronically, you are required to file via the Internet for all future Wage Reports. A penalty of $20.00 per employee is assessed if you continue to file on paper.
Those employers who elected to defer some of their first quarter 2011 tax are reminded that the second installment is due with your second quarter 2011 report and payment. Employers who have elected deferral are required to file their second quarter tax and wage reports electronically.
Also, your 2012 tax rate is based on your reserve fund balance as of June 30, 2011 (including all payments made through July 31, 2011).
At the time you are ready to file your second quarter report, you should determine whether your 2012 tax rate will be adversely affected if you choose not to pay your first quarter liability in full by July 31, 2011. If you need assistance in determining your 2012 tax rate, please call our employer service line at 608-261-6700
Please note your 2012 tax rate is based on your reserve fund balance as of June 30, 2011 (including all payments made through July 31, 2011)
Payments made after July 31, 2011 will not be included in your 2012 rate calculation.
For more details on computation of unemployment tax rates, see the ‘How Your Tax Rate is Determined’ section of the Handbook for Employers at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui201/t4201.htm.
If you have questions regarding your tax rate, please call our employer service line at 608-261-6700.
Program Integrity (previously Benefit Fraud) is responsible for implementing and maintaining fraud detection systems and the investigation and resolution of fraud issues. Our efforts serve to both protect the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and your employer accounts. Our charge is to ensure that payments made to claimants are done correctly.
One of the primary tools we utilize to detect and investigate potential fraud issues is the use of forms we send requesting employment and wage details. Your timely completion and return of the documents help us in detecting and recovering improper payments to aid in protecting your UI accounts. Your assistance in providing timely information is greatly appreciated, and will help in protecting your solvency rate.
Additionally, we also have an online form available to report potential UI Benefit Fraud, located at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/contac.htm.
Businesses are required by law to report every new employee within 20 days of hire. Even rehired or returning employees must be reported (if there is a 90 day break in work).
There are several available methods for reporting your new hires. You may choose the method of reporting that best suits your business. For more information about your options and the program, see http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uinh/.
Reporting new hires helps expedite child support payments and approval for child care assistance. It also strengthens detection of unemployment fraud.
...that the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) information developed from UI coverage information is used for many grants, proposals and program funding methodologies? Disaster recovery funding is one example of how the information is used to assist Wisconsin communities. It is critical to maintain information on employers and wages no matter the employment size.
While the information on single location establishments is readily available, information on multiple worksites relies on the voluntary reporting on the Multiple Worksite Report (MWR). In situations where the information is not provided, many communities show fewer firms, fewer employees, and lower total wages than are in the community and, as a result, may receive reduced funding.
By participating in the MWR process, you and your company are serving as a valued member of the communities you serve. Please consider responding the next time you receive an MWR request.
Contact Deb Holt for more information: deb.holt@wisconsin.gov or 608-266-5321
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has scheduled various Labor Law Clinics for Wisconsin area business leaders and employees. Labor Law Clinics are educational seminars focusing on topics chosen by local employers about Wisconsin’s laws.
Clinics are scheduled as follows:
Registration for the clinic is required. A registration form is available from the DWD web site http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/laborlaw/ or by sending an email to laborlawclinic@dwd.wisconsin.gov. To receive notification of future clinic dates, an email subscription service is available through the web site at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/laborlaw/maillists/.
UCB-11618 (R. 06/2011)