IRS EXTENDS WOTC FILING DEADLINE FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY HURICANES DEBBY, HELENE, AND MILTON
In addition to those impacted by Hurricane Debby, the Internal Revenue Service recently announced disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton, including an extension of the 28-day Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) filing deadline. Businesses affected by this extension are those whose qualifying employee, company, or WOTC consultant is in a FEMA-declared disaster area.
For up-to-date details, visit our website.
As a reminder, no further action is needed from Thomas & Company WOTC clients at this time. At Thomas & Company, we understand the importance of staying compliant, even during challenging times. That’s why Thomas & Company WOTC clients can rest assured that our team will take care of every detail, from resubmitting the forms to working with state agencies, ensuring that our clients can still claim the WOTC benefits they are entitled to without any additional stress. For any submissions that are received marked as “not timely” due to missing the original 28-day window, we will handle the process of submitting these for review by the states since the deadline has now been extended.
ARKANSAS – REMINDER: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSEMENT CHANGES
As a reminder, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services Administrative Assessment was 0.125% for the first and second quarters of 2024 but dropped to 0.100% for the third and fourth quarters of 2024. To avoid any overpayments, please be sure to make the necessary adjustments on your third and fourth quarterly contribution reports for 2024 with your internal payroll department and/or third-party filing vendor.
Additional resources regarding the Administrative Assessment changes, and to confirm the correct SUI tax rate(s) to pay at for the third and fourth quarter, 2024 can be found below:
https://dws.arkansas.gov/workforce-services/employers/employer-ui-information/
https://www.workforce.arkansas.gov/Tax21/Home.aspx
COLORADO – HEALTHCARE STAFFING AGENCIES – SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTHCARE STAFFING MANDATORY REPORT DUE OCTOBER 31
Healthcare staffing client are reminded that the Fall 2024 Compliance Period for Supplemental Healthcare Staffing Agency (SHSA) reports closes tomorrow, October 31. After this date, reports will be considered delinquent. If you are required but have not already submitted your report, you can do so by accessing the Division’s Community Portal.
Should you need to request an extension, you can do so by emailing [email protected] with information about your reason for the extension request.
COLORADO – FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE (FAMLI) PREMIUMS ARE DUE OCTOBER 31
In order to avoid penalties and interest, employers are encouraged to report wages and pay the third quarter FAMLI premiums to avoid penalties and interest by October 31, 2024. This is the first quarter where penalties and interest will be applied. If your business has missing wage reports and/or unpaid premiums for prior quarters, the Division has mailed a “Notice of Unreported Wages or Unpaid FAMLI Premiums” indicating which quarterly wage reports and premiums are still outstanding. Log in to your My FAMLI+ Employer account to make sure your business is up to date on all quarterly reporting and premium payments.
MAINE – DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PARTNERS WITH USPS TO EXPAND UNEMPLOYMENT ID VERIFICATION OPTIONS
The Maine Department of Labor announced that, effective immediately, individuals who need to verify their identity for UI purposes can now do so at over 200 Maine post offices.
Previously, the only option available for identity verification was a secure electronic upload of documents through an online portal. While this option is still available, individuals now have the option to choose either the electronic upload or the in-person post office verification.
When an individual chooses to utilize a USPS location, specific instructions will be provided along with a unique code. Individuals should bring this unique code and applicable ID documentation to the post office.
MAINE – 2025 UNEMPLOYMENT TAX SCHEDULE TO REMAIN THE SAME, AT LOWEST LEVEL
The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced that tax rates would remain the same, under Schedule A, in 2025. Schedule A puts forth unadjusted UI tax rates that range from 0.28% to 6.03%, which includes the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund tax and the Unemployment Program Administration Fund tax.
The taxable wage base will also remain the same, at $12,000.
The MDOL estimates that the average tax liability will be approximately $253.20 per employee (who reached the taxable wage base) under Schedule A.
MAINE – PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE CONTRIBUTIONS BEGIN
Beginning in 2026, eligible workers in Maine will have access to up to 12 weeks of paid time off available under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Contributions. If a business has 15 or more Maine employees paid in 20 or more of the weeks, employer contribution premiums will be 1.0% of wages and employers may withhold up to half of the premium from your employees’ wages.
Although access to the program does not begin until May 2026, these contributions will begin starting the first pay day in January 2025. In January, employers will also be required to register in the Paid Leave Portal. The first set of contribution and wage reports will be due upon completion of Q1-25, no later than April 30, 2025.
Additional information and resources are available via https://www.maine.gov/paidleave.
MASSACHUSETTS – VETERAN’S BENEFITS AND SERVICES POSTER
Beginning November 6, 2024, employers with more than 50 employees must post, in a conspicuous place, a veterans’ benefits and services poster developed by the Massachusetts secretary of veterans’ services. The poster contains information related to veterans’ benefits and services, including eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits under state and/or federal law.
WASHINGTON – PAID LEAVE PREMIUM INCREASES FOR 2025
Beginning January 1, 2025, premiums for Paid Family & Medical Leave will increase to 0.92%, up from 0.74%. Employers will pay 28.48% of the total premium while employees pay 71.52%. First quarter premiums using the new rate will be due at the end of April 2025. The Washington Employment Security Department is in the process of updating their employer toolkit, mandatory poster, and paystub insert, which will be available in early November here.
