To obtain a hard copy of the UI Quarterly News, send an e-mail to unemp.tax@state.co.us or call one of the numbers below.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Unemployment Insurance Operations
P.O. Box 8789, Denver, CO 80201-8789
303-318-9100 (Denver-metro area)
1-800-480-8299 (outside Denver-metro area)
www.coloradoworkforce.com
| Bill Owens |
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Rick Grice |
| Governor | Executive Director |
SUPER SYSTEM UPDATE: ACCENTURE CONTRACT TERMINATED
A mutual agreement has been reached between the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) and Accenture LLC to terminate the contract for the genesis Project and the implementation of the State Unemployment Program E-government Resource (SUPER) system. CDLE is committed to replacing the existing legacy system and maintaining components of the SUPER system currently in production for efficient delivery of unemployment insurance services to the public.
The termination of the contract with Accenture LLC places a temporary hold on the development of the new system. At this time, an evaluation is being conducted to determine the best method for completing the computer-system redesign. Most features of the SUPER system will carry over to the redesigned computer system. As plans become known for completion of the new system, information will be provided.
You can monitor the implementation progress of the new system by clicking on the SUPER System Information link at www.coworkforce.com/UIT/. This Web page contains any updates to implementation dates.
STATE UNEMPLOYMENT TAX ACT DUMPING LEGISLATION
State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) dumping is a tax-avoidance method used by some employers to reduce their unemployment insurance (UI) tax rate and is a national problem. To address SUTA dumping at the national level, in August 2004, Congress passed and the President signed legislation requiring all states to amend their UI laws to close loopholes used by some employers to avoid paying the correct amount of UI taxes. In May 2005, the Colorado legislature passed and the Governor signed House Bill 05-1092, SUTA Dumping Prevention, which changes Colorado’s UI law to close existing loopholes. This legislation allows the UI Program to enforce laws preventing SUTA dumping.
FILING TAX REPORTS ONLINE
Unemployment Insurance Operations encourages you to file your tax and/or wage reports online. The Internet application allows you to report wages for up to 100 employees. If you are reporting wages for more than 100 employees, you must file the wage report by another method. However, regardless of the number of employees you must report, your tax report can be filed online by bypassing the wage report. From www.coworkforce.com, click on File Your Tax/Wage Report. On the second page of the Unemployment Insurance Quarterly Wage and Tax Report Web Site, enter all required information and click on Tax Report (located on the lower-left corner of the page). You will be taken directly to the tax report. Follow the instructions for entering the wage information required for calculating the amount owed. These instructions also apply if you want to file a tax report that indicates zero wages were paid for the quarter.
NOTE: By clicking on Total, the system automatically calculates your Total Taxable Wages, Taxes Due, and Total Amount Due.
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TAX RATE NOTICES AND PAYMENTS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2006
Form UITR-7, Notice of Employer’s Tax Rate, was mailed to all employers in December 2005. This notice contains your new tax rate for calendar year 2006.
Please do not pay quarterly unemployment insurance (UI) tax-report payments that are less than $5. Quarterly tax-and-wage reports must be submitted by the due date regardless of the amount owed. Remember to make all checks payable to the Colorado State Treasurer.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT REGISTERING A BUSINESS IN COLORADO
Effective immediately, Form CR 100, Colorado Business Registration, must be submitted to establish a new employer account for unemployment insurance (UI) purposes.
In the past the UI Program registered new employer accounts using information contained on tax reports, checks, and documents other than the Colorado Business Registration. The Colorado Business Registration was then mailed to the employer to obtain the necessary information to complete the account setup. In many cases, the Colorado Business Registration was not returned and the employer account does not have complete information. In an effort to obtain complete information, employer accounts will no longer be established based on documents other than the Colorado Business Registration.
If, due to time constraints, you need to submit a UI tax and wage report and payment with the Colorado Business Registration, please send the documents and your payment to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, P.O. Box 8789, Denver, CO 80201. Once your account is established, send your UI tax and wage reports and payments in the preaddressed, return envelope that is included with your tax-and-wage-report packet.
The Colorado Business Registration can be submitted via the Internet by visiting www.coworkforce.com and clicking on Register a Business. A downloadable version of the form can be found at www.coworkforce.com/UIT/EmployersHandbook; click on Forms in the right column. Hard copies of the Colorado Business Registration can be obtained by calling 303-318-9100 (Denver-metro area) or 1-800-480-8299 (outside Denver-metro area).
NOTE: Due to law changes effective January 1, 2006, if all or a portion of a business is acquired, the predecessor employer’s information must be provided in the appropriate section of the Colorado Business Registration.
CUBLINE ONLINE IS HERE
Unemployment insurance (UI) benefit payments can be requested by calling the Colorado Unemployment Benefits Line (CUBLine), a telephone-based interactive-voice-response system. In addition to CUBLine, claimants now have the option of requesting UI benefit payments online by going to www.coworkforce.com/UIB/ and clicking on CUBLine Online.
NEW HIRE VERIFICATION
Colorado’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program participates in a federal data-matching program whereby information provided by private employers and government agencies is made available through the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH). UI programs nationwide are implementing this new program after successful pilots in several states. The purpose of the NDNH data-matching program is to stop or limit the overpayment of UI benefits to claimants who fail to report new employment, to improve fraud-detection efforts, and ultimately to protect the UI Trust Fund.
As with other monitoring efforts, the data-matching program is dependent on assistance from employers to verify information. The UI Program is placing emphasis on this program by calling employers to verify new-hire start dates to ensure UI benefits are discontinued for claimants who are employed. Form UIB-144, Request to Employer for Earnings Data, may be mailed to you for verification of a new-hire date and earnings. Please complete and return this form in a timely manner.
It is important that employers and payroll service companies maintain current telephone numbers and addresses with the UI Program. To verify that the Colorado UI Program has your correct contact information, call 303-318-9100 (Denver-metro area) or 1-800-480-8299 (outside Denver-metro area) or visit www.coworkforce.com. Select the E-Services link located at the top of the page. Then select the Employer-Change-of-Business-Address link located under Online Transactions.
GREEN WITH PRIDE
A recent addition to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) building, which is the home to the Unemployment Insurance Program, has received national recognition by the U.S. Green Building Council. The council is the foremost coalition of leaders from the construction and architectural industries, working together to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible. This addition received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System® certification for its sustainable site and conservation of materials and resources during the construction phase as well as its energy efficiency, water conservation, use of recycled materials, and indoor environmental quality. The project received special recognition for adopting a green housekeeping program and using more than 25 percent postconsumer and postindustrial recycled content in construction.
The renovated space was constructed using the LEED design principals and materials, including superior interior air quality, access to views, maximum use of daylight, and natural ventilation.
The CDLE project is the first state-owned office building in Colorado to become LEED certified and is one of fewer than 100 LEED certified projects in the country. CDLE envisions that this building will become a demonstration project for future LEED certification projects across the state.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
For tax questions and issues related to your account, you can contact Unemployment Insurance Operations by calling 303-318-9100 (Denver-metro area) or 1-800-480-8299 (outside Denver-metro area) or by sending an e-mail to unemp.tax@state.co.us. If you have questions about a claim for UI benefits, call one of the numbers above or send an e-mail to internet.claims@state.co.us.
