Expanded Online Employer Services

Several new account management tools have been added to the Online Employer Services section of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) website (http://unemployment.wisconsin.gov). Use the Employer UI Account Information link in the Online Employer Services section to:

• Update employer contact information such as address, phone number and email address,
• View tax rates and taxable payroll by year,
• View a summary of your UI account information currently on file with the department,
• Request that your UI account be inactivated or re-opened, and
• Use an online calculator to determine whether a voluntary tax payment will improve your tax rate.

To access your online UI account:

• If you already use the Quarterly Tax & Wage Reporting System, use the same login and password.
• If you do not have a login ID, request an access code by email taxnet@dwd.wisconsin.gov or by calling 608-261-6700 in order to set up your login ID and password.
• If you are a payroll agent or service provider, contact your clients for access to their online accounts.

We will keep you informed as enhancements are added to the Online Employer Services site.

Expanded Online Claimant Services

Claimants can now inquire online about their Unemployment Insurance benefit information at http://unemployment.wisconsin.gov. Claimants will be able to access the internet inquiry system to view the status of their weekly claim for the previous week, their weekly benefit rate, the amount of benefits remaining, and the dates of their benefit year. This new service is being offered in addition to the current telephone inquiry system. This will increase accessibility for claimants who have difficulty using the telephone system and when telephone lines are busy due to heavy workload.

This new service is in addition to the other online services available at the same site:

• Filing an initial Unemployment Insurance claim
• Completing weekly claim certifications; and
• Retrieving annual 1099 Tax Form information for receipt of UI benefits in prior years.

Deferral of 1st Quarter Tax Payment

Employers who elected to defer payment on a portion of their first quarter 2008 tax liability are reminded that the final installment is due January 31, 2009. If the final 10% installment payment and any fourth quarter tax liability is not made by that date, interest will be assessed back to the April 30, 2008 first quarter due date.

Information regarding the first quarter 2009 deferral will be posted and/or mailed in March. If you have any questions, please call 608-261-6700.

Corporate Officer Exclusion for 2009

Corporations, and LLC’s electing to be treated as Corporations with UI taxable payroll of $500,000 or less during 2008 can elect to exclude certain principle officers from "employment" under Wisconsin’s UI Law. The election means that the wages of all officers having at least 25% ownership would not be subject to Wisconsin UI tax or be usable for UI benefits.

The corporation, or LLC’s electing to be treated as a corporation, must file an election with the Department by March 31, 2009. Corporations, or LLC’s electing to be treated as a corporation, who currently have an approved election do not need to file a new election unless they no longer wish to exclude the officers’ wages. This can be done with a letter to the Department.

Since the officers’ wages would continue to be subject to the FUTA (federal unemployment tax), we also have a worksheet and we recommend that you take the time to determine if the exclusion will benefit your corporation. An election form (Election to Exclude Principle Officers, UCT-7937) and worksheet (Worksheet -Corporate Officer Exclusion, UCT-8055) can be obtained by visiting our website at: http://unemployment.wisconsin.gov and click on “Forms” or by calling 608-261-6700.

All Governmental Units

Please note that amounts paid to elected officials chosen by public vote serving solely in their elected capacity should not be reported to us on the quarterly contribution or wage reports.

If an elected official is paid for work that person was not elected to do (such as plow snow, maintain buildings, etc.), those amounts should be reported on the quarterly reports.

If you have previously reported amounts paid to elected officials serving solely in their elected capacity, please send us a list of the names, social security numbers and the amounts reported by quarter and we will correct the reports.

If you have any questions, please call 608-266-9404.

New Hire Reporting

Did you know that 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/.

Labor Law Clinics

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:

January 21, 2009 - Kenosha
February 19, 2009 – Waukesha

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.state.wi.us. To receive notification of future clinic dates, an email subscription service is available through the web site at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/laborlaw/maillists.

Industry Verification Survey

We’ve made the Industry Verification Survey easier for you to complete!

Each year the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program asks employers to verify that we have your business activity and your Wisconsin physical location identified correctly. This year, we’ll survey about 30,000 employers.

Like everyone else in business, the state of Wisconsin wants to save time and money—both yours and ours! You can use our quick and easy Touchtone Response System for our Industry Verification Survey. If all the preprinted information on your survey form is correct, and you meet specific conditions, you can respond by phone. You'll save tax dollars, your call should take only a minute or two, the call is free, and you can call at your convenience. Our system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

25,000 employers are eligible to participate, so look for the survey and easy directions for using the Touchtone Response System to be mailed to you in mid-November.

Check out our website to discover how you can use the data that we collect and develop to make better informed business decisions: http://worknet.wisconsin.gov.

Contact Deb Holt (608-266-5321 or deb.holt@dwd.wisconsin.gov) if you have questions.

UCB-11618 (R. 11/2008)