Companies may soon be able to file unemployment reports online

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The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to create and implement a system that will allow Missouri employers to submit required quarterly wage reports to the Division of Employment Security on the Internet.|ret||ret||tab|

Work has already begun on the new system, which will be particularly advantageous to small- and medium-sized employers who are now filing paper forms each quarter. |ret||ret||tab|

The system will help cut down on the number of errors in the calculation of contributions owed. And employers will be able to file their reports quicker and easier, helping them avoid penalties for filing late.|ret||ret||tab|

The system will also save the Division of Employment Security time and money now spent on paper forms and mail processing.|ret||ret||tab|

"This is a project we are very excited about," said Gracia Yancey Backer, director of the Missouri Division of Employment Security. "Online wage reporting is another way we can help make our services better and more efficient. This will definitely save our employers, and our state government, time and money."|ret||ret||tab|

All employers subject to Missouri's unemployment insurance law must file a combined contribution and wage report with the Division of Employment Security each calendar quarter. |ret||ret||tab|

There are almost 130,000 liable, active employers in Missouri. Employers with fewer than 250 employees now file the reports by sending in paper forms with a check. |ret||ret||tab|

Employers with more than 249 employees file their reports on magnetic media (computer disk or tape).|ret||ret||tab|

With the new system, employers will be able to access a secure Web site from any personal computer with Internet access, enter quarterly changes to their reports and submit them electronically. In addition to filing wage reports, employers will be able to use the Web site to calculate their unemployment taxes due, make contribution payments electronically, submit information concerning changes to their account information, and e-mail questions to the division's staff.|ret||ret||tab|

Division officials expect the system to be operational within a year. |ret||ret||tab|

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