VETS Reporting Delayed Until January 2012

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it has delayed the filing deadline for Vets-100/Vets-100A reporting forms for the 2011 cycle to January 15, 2012. The filing deadline was set for today.

“All paper reports and electronic files received at the Service Desk by January 15th will be included as part of the 2011 filing cycle and will not be considered late,” the DOL announced in a statement.

Federal contractors use the VETS-100/VETS-100A reporting forms to detail the number of protected veteran employees and new hires in their workforce. Regulations require contractors to submit this form by September 30 of each year. Technical issues have delayed the reporting requirement this year.

Please visit the VETS website for more information on VETS-100/VETS-100A  rules and regulations, including a federal contractor fact sheet.

Gail Cecchettini Whaley, CalChamber Employment Law Editor/Staff Counsel

VETS 100 Reporting Delayed by Technical Problems

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans' Employment & Training Service (VETS) announced that  it extended the 2011 deadline for federal contractors to submit their VETS-100/VETS-100A reporting forms.

The deadline is pushed back to November 30, 2011. The VETS’s website states that the DOL planned to begin accepting electronic submissions of VETS-100/100A  forms on August 1, 2011. However, technical problems currently prevent such submissions. The DOL said it believes that it can resolve the problems and go online by October 1, 2011.

To address the delays caused by the technical problems, the DOL stated that it “will not initiate enforcement actions against contractors who submit the VETS-100/VETS-100A from October 1, 2011 through November 30, 2011.”

Federal contractors use the VETS-100/VETS-100A reporting forms to detail the number of protected veteran employees and new hires in their workforce. Regulations require contractors to submit this form by September 30 of each year. 

The Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment and Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA) requires eligible federal contractors to submit the VETS-100/VETS-100A annual reports to the Secretary of Labor. Please visit the VETS website for more information on VETS-100/VETS-100A  rules and regulations, including a federal contractor fact sheet.

Gail Cecchettini Whaley, CalChamber Employment Law Editor/Staff Counsel

New EDD Services for California Employers

California's Employment Development Department (EDD) introduced expanded e-Services for Business on March 1. Employers will be able to conduct more transactions with the EDD online, including:

• Viewing account information
• Filing reports
• Paying tax deposits and liabilities

Also, the new Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (DE 9) and the Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (Continuation) (DE 9C), the DE 34 and the DE 542 will be filed online through this new service, according to the EDD.

All current users of EDD's e-Services will need to re-enroll to receive a username and password for the expanded services. Employers can check out e-Services for Business to learn about the new services and get details on enrolling.

Employers will still use the DE 6, DE 7 and DE 678 for years prior to 2011.

Quarterly Reporting

Starting with the first quarter of 2011, employers will begin filing certain reports quarterly. The EDD also announced that final versions of the new quarterly reporting forms are available:

• Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (DE 9)
• Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (Continuation) (DE 9C)

The EDD's 2011 Payroll Tax Reporting Changes FAQs can help employers with more information about 2011 payroll tax changes.

New Email Option for WARN Notices

Employers may now submit their notices via email to the Employment Development Department (EDD) in accordance with Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Employers can email their WARN notices to the EDD by sending them to eddwarnnotice@edd.ca.gov.

The state and federal WARN Acts require you to send a plant closing notification to employees at least 60 days before anticipated separation, and you must also notify state and local governments. Failure to do so can subject you to substantial penalties.

The EDD's website offers instructions on how to submit WARN notices pursuant to California law.

Read the EDD's full announcement online. CalChamber members can visit HRCalifornia for detailed information about the state and federal WARN Acts. Not a member? Try HRCalifornia free.

Employers Beware: You Have a New Quarterly Return Requirement

A new law that takes effect January 1, 2011, requires employers to file returns with the EDD regarding an employee’s wages, contributions, taxes withheld and other required information quarterly instead of annually.

Employers must use new forms for the new reporting requirements:

• Report total subject wages, Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Disability Insurance (DI) taxable wages and contributions, by filing a New Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (DE 9) quarterly instead of annually.
• Continue to report employee wages and personal income tax withheld quarterly on the New Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (Continuation) (DE 9C).

These forms will replace the Annual Reconciliation Statement (DE 7) and the Quarterly Wage and Withholding Report (DE 6) except for years prior to 2011. Registered employers will receive the new forms automatically by mail. They will also be available online and at local EDD offices in December 2010. The DE 6 and DE 7 will continue to be available online for years prior to 2011.

Visit the Employment Development Department for more information on the new requirements.