UI Quarterly News
1st Quarter 2008

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Unemployment Insurance Operations
www.coworkforce.com

Bill Ritter, Jr. Governor

Donald J. Mares Executive Director

COLORADO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ACT FOR 2007 AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT SECURITY

As part of a greening initiative, the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program has taken steps to reduce the need for hard copies of the Colorado Employment Security Act (CESA) 2007 and Regulations Concerning Employment Security (RCES). New features have been added to the online versions of CESA and RCES and are now available. Existing features have been improved as well. Improvements include the addition of:

• A main, introductory page with links to every article or part.
• A contents page at the beginning of each article or rule with links to each legal citation within the article or regulation within the part.
• Hyperlinks for references to another legal citation or regulation within the text of CESA or RCES.

Although the UI Program encourages use of the online CESA and RCES, hard copies can be ordered by sending an e-mail with your name and address to UI Operations.

NEW MINIMUM WAGE RATES

Effective 01/01/2008, the minimum wage for Colorado employees increased from $6.85 per hour to $7.02 per hour. The minimum wage rate for employees who regularly receive tips increased from $3.83 per hour to $4.00 per hour. In accordance with the Colorado Constitution, the Colorado minimum wage is adjusted annually for inflation as measured by the Colorado Price Index used for Colorado.

For more information about the minimum wage and inflation adjustment process in Colorado, click on Colorado Minimum Wage Fact Sheet.

LIABLE EMPLOYERS IN COLORADO

UI Operations receives the Form CR-0100, Colorado Business Registration, from employers who are not yet liable to pay UI taxes. In the past, UI Operations has issued Colorado Employer Account Numbers to employers who have not yet established liability. In order to comply with CESA 8-76-107, UI Operations cannot assign a Colorado Employer Account Number until the employer becomes liable. An employer who is found to be not liable to pay UI taxes will have their Colorado Business Registration returned. To become liable, an employer must have:

• Paid wages of at least $1,500 during any quarter in the current or preceding calendar year.
  - or -
• Employed at least one individual as an employee, for some portion of a day, for 20 weeks in the current or preceding calendar year.

TAX RATE NOTICES AND PAYMENTS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2008

Form UITR-7, Notice of Employer’s Tax Rate, was mailed to all employers in December 2007. This notice contains your new tax rate for calendar year 2008. Use the 2008 tax rate for the tax report that is due by 04/30/2008. If you use a payroll company, please forward the Notice of Employer’s Tax Rate to the payroll company.

Quarterly tax-and-wage reports must be submitted by the due date regardless of the amount owed. Please do not pay quarterly UI taxes that are less than $5. Remember to make all checks payable to the Colorado State Treasurer.

PUBLICATION UI-266, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE HANDBOOK FOR EMPLOYERS

An updated version of Publication UI-266, Unemployment Insurance Handbook for Employers, is available on the UI Tax Web site. Look for updated information about UI tax forms, procedures, and policies.

ADDRESS-CLEANSING SOFTWARE

The UI Program purchased an address-verification software suite from QAS Ltd, an Experian® company. The UI Program will implement the QuickAddress Software (QAS) during spring 2008. QAS will help reduce returned mail from claimants and employers as well as aide in addressing UI Program correspondence more accurately.

QAS provides real-time address verification when an address is entered into a UI Program application. It also regularly validates addresses maintained in the UI Program databases.

CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS AND BUSINESS STATUS CHANGES

RCES 7.2.7 requires that address or ownership changes are reported within ten days. Prompt notification of address changes helps to ensure you receive important forms and information regarding UI taxes and benefits in a timely manner.

To update your address online for location, mailing, benefit mailing, owner, or bank information, go to UI Employer-Change-of-Business-Address Web site.

You may also download Form UITL-2, Employer Change Request. Then follow the instructions to complete the form, sign, and return it.

If you have sold your business or changed the status of your business, you must download the Employer Change Request. Follow the instructions to complete the form, sign, and return it. If you do not have access to the Internet, call the Customer Contact Center at 303-318-9100 (Denver-metro area) or 1 800 480 8299 (outside Denver-metro area).

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

For UI tax questions and issues related to your account, e-mail UI Operations. You may also call 303 318 9100 (Denver-metro area) or 1 800 480 8299 (outside Denver-metro area).