Chapter 443 Section 131 - 2024 Florida Statutes

2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXXI LABOR

Chapter 443 REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

SECTION 131Contributions.

443.131 Contributions.—

(1) PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.—Contributions accrue and are payable by each employer for each calendar quarter he or she is subject to this chapter for wages paid during each calendar quarter for employment. Contributions are due and payable by each employer to the tax collection service provider, in accordance with the rules adopted by the Department of Commerce or the state agency providing tax collection services. This subsection does not prohibit the tax collection service provider from allowing, at the request of the employer, employers of employees performing domestic services, as defined in s. 443.1216(6), to pay contributions or report wages at intervals other than quarterly when the nonquarterly payment or reporting assists the service provider and when nonquarterly payment and reporting is authorized under federal law. Employers of employees performing domestic services may report wages and pay contributions annually, with a due date of no later than January 31, unless that day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, in which event the due date is the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. For purposes of this subsection, the term “holiday” means a day designated under s. 110.117(1) and (2) or any other day when the offices of the United States Postal Service are closed. To qualify for this election, the employer must employ only employees performing domestic services, be eligible for a variation from the standard rate computed under subsection (3), apply to this program no later than December 1 of the preceding calendar year, and agree to provide the department or its tax collection service provider with any special reports that are requested, including copies of all federal employment tax forms. An employer who fails to timely furnish any wage information required by the department or its tax collection service provider loses the privilege to participate in this program, effective the calendar quarter immediately after the calendar quarter the failure occurred. The employer may reapply for annual reporting when a complete calendar year elapses after the employer’s disqualification if the employer timely furnished any requested wage information during the period in which annual reporting was denied. An employer may not deduct contributions, interests, penalties, fines, or fees required under this chapter from any part of the wages of his or her employees. A fractional part of a cent less than one-half cent shall be disregarded from the payment of contributions, but a fractional part of at least one-half cent shall be increased to 1 cent.

(2) CONTRIBUTION RATES.—Each employer must pay contributions equal to the following percentages of wages paid by him or her for employment:

(a) Initial rate.—Each employer whose employment record is chargeable with benefits for less than 8 calendar quarters shall pay contributions at the initial rate of 2.7 percent.

(b) Variable rates.—Each employer whose employment record is chargeable for benefits during at least 8 calendar quarters shall pay contributions at the standard rate in paragraph (3)(c), except as otherwise varied through experience rating under subsection (3). For the purposes of this section, the total wages on which contributions were paid by a single employer or his or her predecessor to an individual in any state during a single calendar year shall be counted to determine whether more remuneration was paid to the individual by the employer or his or her predecessor in 1 calendar year than constituted wages.

(3) VARIATION OF CONTRIBUTION RATES BASED ON BENEFIT EXPERIENCE.—

(a) Employment records.—The regular and short-time compensation benefits paid to an eligible individual shall be charged to the employment record of each employer who paid the individual wages of at least $100 during the individual’s base period in proportion to the total wages paid by all employers who paid the individual wages during the individual’s base period. Benefits may not be charged to the employment record of an employer who furnishes part-time work to an individual who, because of loss of employment with one or more other employers, is eligible for partial benefits while being furnished part-time work by the employer on substantially the same basis and in substantially the same amount as the individual’s employment during his or her base period, regardless of whether this part-time work is simultaneous or successive to the individual’s lost employment. Further, as provided in s. 443.151(3), benefits may not be charged to the employment record of an employer who furnishes the Department of Commerce with notice, as prescribed in rules of the department, that any of the following apply:

1. If an individual leaves his or her work without good cause attributable to the employer or is discharged by the employer for misconduct connected with his or her work, benefits subsequently paid to the individual based on wages paid by the employer before the separation may not be charged to the employment record of the employer.

2. If an individual is discharged by the employer for unsatisfactory performance during an initial employment probationary period, benefits subsequently paid to the individual based on wages paid during the probationary period by the employer before the separation may not be charged to the employer’s employment record. As used in this subparagraph, the term “initial employment probationary period” means an established probationary plan that applies to all employees or a specific group of employees and that does not exceed 90 calendar days following the first day a new employee begins work. The employee must be informed of the probationary period within the first 7 days of work. The employer must demonstrate by conclusive evidence that the individual was separated because of unsatisfactory work performance and not because of lack of work due to temporary, seasonal, casual, or other similar employment that is not of a regular, permanent, and year-round nature.

3. Benefits subsequently paid to an individual after his or her refusal without good cause to accept suitable work from an employer may not be charged to the employment record of the employer if any part of those benefits are based on wages paid by the employer before the individual’s refusal to accept suitable work. As used in this subparagraph, the term “good cause” does not include distance to employment caused by a change of residence by the individual. The department shall adopt rules prescribing for the payment of all benefits whether this subparagraph applies regardless of whether a disqualification under s. 443.101 applies to the claim.

4. If an individual is separated from work as a direct result of a natural disaster declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 5121 et seq., benefits subsequently paid to the individual based on wages paid by the employer before the separation may not be charged to the employment record of the employer.

5. If an individual is separated from work as a direct result of an oil spill, terrorist attack, or other similar disaster of national significance not subject to a declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, benefits subsequently paid to the individual based on wages paid by the employer before the separation may not be charged to the employment record of the employer.

6. If an individual is separated from work as a direct result of domestic violence and meets all requirements in s. 443.101(1)(a)2.c., benefits subsequently paid to the individual based on wages paid by the employer before separation may not be charged to the employment record of the employer.

(b) Benefit ratio.—

1. As used in this paragraph, the term “annual payroll” means the calendar quarter taxable payroll reported to the tax collection service provider for the quarters used in computing the benefit ratio. The term does not include a penalty resulting from the untimely filing of required wage and tax reports. All of the taxable payroll reported to the tax collection service provider by the end of the quarter preceding the quarter for which the contribution rate is to be computed must be used in the computation.

2. As used in this paragraph, the term “benefits charged to the employer’s employment record” means the amount of benefits paid to individuals multiplied by:

a. For benefits paid prior to July 1, 2007, 1.

b. For benefits paid during the period beginning on July 1, 2007, and ending March 31, 2011, 0.90.

c. For benefits paid after March 31, 2011, 1.

d. For benefits paid during the period beginning April 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020, 0.

e. For benefits paid during the period beginning January 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2021, 1, except as otherwise adjusted in accordance with paragraph (f).

3. For each calendar year, the tax collection service provider shall compute a benefit ratio for each employer whose employment record was chargeable for benefits during the 12 consecutive quarters ending June 30 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year for which the benefit ratio is computed. An employer’s benefit ratio is the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits charged to the employer’s employment record during the 3-year period ending June 30 of the preceding calendar year by the total of the employer’s annual payroll for the 3-year period ending June 30 of the preceding calendar year. The benefit ratio shall be computed to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place.

4. The tax collection service provider shall compute a benefit ratio for each employer who was not previously eligible under subparagraph 3., whose contribution rate is set at the initial contribution rate in paragraph (2)(a), and whose employment record was chargeable for benefits during at least 8 calendar quarters immediately preceding the calendar quarter for which the benefit ratio is computed. The employer’s benefit ratio is the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits charged to the employer’s employment record during the first 6 of the 8 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the calendar quarter for which the benefit ratio is computed by the total of the employer’s annual payroll during the first 7 of the 9 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the calendar quarter for which the benefit ratio is computed. The benefit ratio shall be computed to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place and applies for the remainder of the calendar year. The employer must subsequently be rated on an annual basis using up to 12 calendar quarters of benefits charged and up to 12 calendar quarters of annual payroll. That employer’s benefit ratio is the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits charged to the employer’s employment record by the total of the employer’s annual payroll during the quarters used in his or her first computation plus the subsequent quarters reported through June 30 of the preceding calendar year. Each subsequent calendar year, the rate shall be computed under subparagraph 3. The tax collection service provider shall assign a variation from the standard rate of contributions in paragraph (c) on a quarterly basis to each eligible employer in the same manner as an assignment for a calendar year under paragraph (e).

(d) Eligibility for variation from the standard rate.—An employer is eligible for a variation from the standard rate of contributions in any calendar year only if the employer’s employment record was chargeable for benefits throughout the 12 consecutive quarters ending on June 30 of the preceding calendar year. The contribution rate of an employer who, as a result of having at least 8 consecutive quarters of payroll insufficient to be chargeable for benefits, has not been chargeable for benefits throughout the 12 consecutive quarters reverts to the initial contribution rate until the employer subsequently becomes eligible for an earned rate.

(e) Assignment of variations from the standard rate.—

1. As used in this paragraph, the terms “total benefit payments,” “benefits paid to an individual,” and “benefits charged to the employment record of an employer” mean the amount of benefits paid to individuals multiplied by:

a. For benefits paid prior to July 1, 2007, 1.

b. For benefits paid during the period beginning on July 1, 2007, and ending March 31, 2011, 0.90.

c. For benefits paid after March 31, 2011, 1.

d. For benefits paid during the period beginning April 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020, 0.

e. For benefits paid during the period beginning January 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2021, 1, except as otherwise adjusted in accordance with paragraph (f).

2. For the calculation of contribution rates effective January 1, 2012, and thereafter:

a. The tax collection service provider shall assign a variation from the standard rate of contributions for each calendar year to each eligible employer. In determining the contribution rate, varying from the standard rate to be assigned each employer, adjustment factors computed under sub-sub-subparagraphs (I)-(IV) are added to the benefit ratio. This addition shall be accomplished in two steps by adding a variable adjustment factor and a final adjustment factor. The sum of these adjustment factors computed under sub-sub-subparagraphs (I)-(IV) shall first be algebraically summed. The sum of these adjustment factors shall next be divided by a gross benefit ratio determined as follows: Total benefit payments for the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)3. are charged to employers eligible for a variation from the standard rate, minus excess payments for the same period, divided by taxable payroll entering into the computation of individual benefit ratios for the calendar year for which the contribution rate is being computed. The ratio of the sum of the adjustment factors computed under sub-sub-subparagraphs (I)-(IV) to the gross benefit ratio is multiplied by each individual benefit ratio that is less than the maximum contribution rate to obtain variable adjustment factors; except that if the sum of an employer’s individual benefit ratio and variable adjustment factor exceeds the maximum contribution rate, the variable adjustment factor is reduced in order for the sum to equal the maximum contribution rate. The variable adjustment factor for each of these employers is multiplied by his or her taxable payroll entering into the computation of his or her benefit ratio. The sum of these products is divided by the taxable payroll of the employers who entered into the computation of their benefit ratios. The resulting ratio is subtracted from the sum of the adjustment factors computed under sub-sub-subparagraphs (I)-(IV) to obtain the final adjustment factor. The variable adjustment factors and the final adjustment factor must be computed to five decimal places and rounded to the fourth decimal place. This final adjustment factor is added to the variable adjustment factor and benefit ratio of each employer to obtain each employer’s contribution rate. An employer’s contribution rate may not, however, be rounded to less than 0.1 percent. In determining the contribution rate, varying from the standard rate to be assigned, the computation shall exclude any benefit that is excluded by the multipliers under subparagraph (b)2. and subparagraph 1. The computation of the contribution rate, varying from the standard rate to be assigned, shall also exclude any benefit paid as a result of a governmental order related to COVID-19 to close or reduce capacity of a business. In addition, the contribution rate for the 2021 and 2022 calendar years shall be calculated without the application of the positive adjustment factor in sub-sub-subparagraph (III).

(I) An adjustment factor for noncharge benefits is computed to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by dividing the amount of noncharge benefits during the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)3. by the taxable payroll of employers eligible for a variation from the standard rate who have a benefit ratio for the current year which is less than the maximum contribution rate. For purposes of computing this adjustment factor, the taxable payroll of these employers is the taxable payrolls for the 3 years ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of the same calendar year. As used in this sub-sub-subparagraph, the term “noncharge benefits” means benefits paid to an individual, as adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)2. and subparagraph 1., from the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund which were not charged to the employment record of any employer, but excluding any benefit paid as a result of a governmental order related to COVID-19 to close or reduce capacity of a business.

(II) An adjustment factor for excess payments is computed to the fifth decimal place, and rounded to the fourth decimal place by dividing the total excess payments during the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)3. by the taxable payroll of employers eligible for a variation from the standard rate who have a benefit ratio for the current year which is less than the maximum contribution rate. For purposes of computing this adjustment factor, the taxable payroll of these employers is the same figure used to compute the adjustment factor for noncharge benefits under sub-sub-subparagraph (I). As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term “excess payments” means the amount of benefits charged to the employment record of an employer, as adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)2. and subparagraph 1., during the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)3., but excluding any benefit paid as a result of a governmental order related to COVID-19 to close or reduce capacity of a business, less the product of the maximum contribution rate and the employer’s taxable payroll for the 3 years ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of the same calendar year. As used in this sub-sub-subparagraph, the term “total excess payments” means the sum of the individual employer excess payments for those employers that were eligible for assignment of a contribution rate different from the standard rate.

(III) With respect to computing a positive adjustment factor:

(A) Beginning January 1, 2012, if the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund on September 30 of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the contribution rate is being computed is less than 4 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar year, a positive adjustment factor shall be computed. The positive adjustment factor is computed annually to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar year into a sum equal to one-fifth of the difference between the balance of the fund as of September 30 of that calendar year and the sum of 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls for that year. The positive adjustment factor remains in effect for subsequent years until the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund as of September 30 of the year immediately preceding the effective date of the contribution rate equals or exceeds 4 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar year.

(B) Beginning January 1, 2018, and for each year thereafter, the positive adjustment shall be computed by dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar year into a sum equal to one-fourth of the difference between the balance of the fund as of September 30 of that calendar year and the sum of 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls for that year. The positive adjustment factor remains in effect for subsequent years until the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund as of September 30 of the year immediately preceding the effective date of the contribution rate equals or exceeds 4 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar year.

(IV) If, beginning January 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund as of September 30 of the year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the contribution rate is being computed exceeds 5 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar year, a negative adjustment factor must be computed. The negative adjustment factor shall be computed annually beginning on January 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of the calendar year into a sum equal to one-fourth of the difference between the balance of the fund as of September 30 of the current calendar year and 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls of that year. The negative adjustment factor remains in effect for subsequent years until the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund as of September 30 of the year immediately preceding the effective date of the contribution rate is less than 5 percent, but more than 4 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar year. The negative adjustment authorized by this section is suspended in any calendar year in which repayment of the principal amount of an advance received from the federal Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund under 42 U.S.C. s. 1321 is due to the Federal Government.

(V) The maximum contribution rate that may be assigned to an employer is 5.4 percent, except employers participating in an approved short-time compensation plan may be assigned a maximum contribution rate that is 1 percent greater than the maximum contribution rate for other employers in any calendar year in which short-time compensation benefits are charged to the employer’s employment record.

(VI) As used in this subsection, “taxable payroll” shall be determined by excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a calendar year in excess of the first $7,000. Beginning January 1, 2012, “taxable payroll” shall be determined by excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a calendar year as described in s. 443.1217(2). For the purposes of the employer rate calculation that will take effect in January 1, 2012, and in January 1, 2013, the tax collection service provider shall use the data available for taxable payroll from 2009 based on excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a calendar year in excess of the first $7,000, and from 2010 and 2011, the data available for taxable payroll based on excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a calendar year in excess of the first $8,500.

b. If the transfer of an employer’s employment record to an employing unit under paragraph (g) which, before the transfer, was an employer, the tax collection service provider shall recompute a benefit ratio for the successor employer based on the combined employment records and reassign an appropriate contribution rate to the successor employer effective on the first day of the calendar quarter immediately after the effective date of the transfer.

3. The tax collection service provider shall reissue rates for the 2021 calendar year. However, an employer shall continue to timely file its employer’s quarterly reports and pay the contributions due in a timely manner in accordance with the rules of the Department of Commerce. The Department of Revenue shall post the revised rates on its website to enable employers to securely review the revised rates. For contributions for the first quarter of the 2021 calendar year, if any employer remits to the tax collection service provider an amount in excess of the amount that would be due as calculated pursuant to this paragraph, the tax collection service provider shall refund the excess amount from the amount erroneously collected. Notwithstanding s. 443.141(6), refunds issued through August 31, 2021, for first quarter 2021 contributions must be paid from the General Revenue Fund.

4. The tax collection service provider shall calculate and assign contribution rates effective January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, excluding any benefit charge that is excluded by the multipliers under subparagraph (b)2. and subparagraph 1.; without the application of the positive adjustment factor in sub-sub-subparagraph 2.a.(III); and without the inclusion of any benefit charge directly related to COVID-19 as a result of a governmental order to close or reduce capacity of a business, as determined by the Department of Commerce, for each employer who is eligible for a variation from the standard rate pursuant to paragraph (d). The Department of Commerce shall provide the tax collection service provider with all necessary benefit charge information by August 1, 2021, including specific information for adjustments related to COVID-19 charges resulting from a governmental order to close or reduce capacity of a business, to enable the tax collection service provider to calculate and issue tax rates effective January 1, 2022. The tax collection service provider shall calculate and post rates for the 2022 calendar year by March 1, 2022.

¹5. Subject to subparagraph 6., the tax collection service provider shall calculate and assign contribution rates effective January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025, excluding any benefit charge that is excluded by the multipliers under subparagraph (b)2. and subparagraph 1.; without the application of the positive adjustment factor in sub-sub-subparagraph 2.a.(III); and without the inclusion of any benefit charge directly related to COVID-19 as a result of a governmental order to close or reduce capacity of a business, as determined by the Department of Commerce, for each employer who is eligible for a variation from the standard rate pursuant to paragraph (d). The Department of Commerce shall provide the tax collection service provider with all necessary benefit charge information by August 1 of each year, including specific information for adjustments related to COVID-19 charges resulting from a governmental order to close or reduce capacity of a business, to enable the tax collection service provider to calculate and issue tax rates effective the following January.

6. If the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund on June 30 of any year exceeds $4,071,519,600, subparagraph 5. is repealed for rates effective the following years. The Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall advise the tax collection service provider of the balance of the trust fund on June 30 by August 1 of that year. After the repeal of subparagraph 5. and notwithstanding the dates specified in that subparagraph, the tax collection service provider shall calculate and assign contribution rates for each subsequent calendar year as otherwise provided in this section.

(f) Adjustment in benefit ratio multiplier.—For purposes of calculating the benefits charged for the period beginning January 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2021, pursuant to sub-subparagraphs (b)2.e. and (e)1.e., the amount of benefits paid to individuals shall be multiplied by 1, unless such calculation results in estimated total contributions of more than $475.5 million for calendar year 2022 as estimated by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, based on the preliminary 2022 computed rate. If the estimated total contributions calculated are more than $475.5 million, the multiplier in sub-subparagraphs (b)2.e. and (e)1.e. shall be reduced by increments of 0.05 until the estimated total contributions are $475.5 million or less. The Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall provide the incremental reduction, if any, to the tax collection service provider by January 1, 2022.

(g) Transfer of employment records.—

1. For the purposes of this subsection, two or more employers who are parties to a transfer of business or the subject of a merger, consolidation, or other form of reorganization, effecting a change in legal identity or form, are deemed a single employer and are considered to be one employer with a continuous employment record if the tax collection service provider finds that the successor employer continues to carry on the employing enterprises of all of the predecessor employers and that the successor employer has paid all contributions required of and due from all of the predecessor employers and has assumed liability for all contributions that may become due from all of the predecessor employers. In addition, an employer may not be considered a successor under this subparagraph if the employer purchases a company with a lower rate into which employees with job functions unrelated to the business endeavors of the predecessor are transferred for the purpose of acquiring the low rate and avoiding payment of contributions. As used in this paragraph, notwithstanding s. 443.036(14), the term “contributions” means all indebtedness to the tax collection service provider, including, but not limited to, interest, penalty, collection fee, and service fee. A successor employer must accept the transfer of all of the predecessor employers’ employment records within 30 days after the date of the official notification of liability by succession. If a predecessor employer has unpaid contributions or outstanding quarterly reports, the successor employer must pay the total amount with certified funds within 30 days after the date of the notice listing the total amount due. After the total indebtedness is paid, the tax collection service provider shall transfer the employment records of all of the predecessor employers to the successor employer’s employment record. The tax collection service provider shall determine the contribution rate of the combined successor and predecessor employers upon the transfer of the employment records, as prescribed by rule, in order to calculate any change in the contribution rate resulting from the transfer of the employment records.

2. Regardless of whether a predecessor employer’s employment record is transferred to a successor employer under this paragraph, the tax collection service provider shall treat the predecessor employer, if he or she subsequently employs individuals, as an employer without a previous employment record or, if his or her coverage is terminated under s. 443.121, as a new employing unit.

3. The state agency providing reemployment assistance tax collection services may adopt rules governing the partial transfer of experience rating when an employer transfers an identifiable and segregable portion of his or her payrolls and business to a successor employing unit. As a condition of each partial transfer, these rules must require the following to be filed with the tax collection service provider: an application by the successor employing unit, an agreement by the predecessor employer, and the evidence required by the tax collection service provider to show the benefit experience and payrolls attributable to the transferred portion through the date of the transfer. These rules must provide that the successor employing unit, if not an employer subject to this chapter, becomes an employer as of the date of the transfer and that the transferred portion of the predecessor employer’s employment record is removed from the employment record of the predecessor employer. For each calendar year after the date of the transfer of the employment record in the records of the tax collection service provider, the service provider shall compute the contribution rate payable by the successor employer or employing unit based on his or her employment record, combined with the transferred portion of the predecessor employer’s employment record. These rules may also prescribe what contribution rates are payable by the predecessor and successor employers for the period between the date of the transfer of the transferred portion of the predecessor employer’s employment record in the records of the tax collection service provider and the first day of the next calendar year.

4. This paragraph does not apply to an employee leasing company and client contractual agreement as defined in s. 443.036, except as provided in s. 443.1216(1)(a)2.a. The tax collection service provider shall, if the contractual agreement is terminated or the employee leasing company fails to submit reports or pay contributions as required by the service provider, treat the client as a new employer without previous employment record unless the client is otherwise eligible for a variation from the standard rate.

(h) Transfer of unemployment experience upon transfer or acquisition of a business.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon transfer or acquisition of a business, the following conditions apply to the assignment of rates and to transfers of unemployment experience:

1.a. If an employer transfers its trade or business, or a portion thereof, to another employer and, at the time of the transfer, there is any common ownership, management, or control of the two employers, the unemployment experience attributable to the transferred trade or business shall be transferred to the employer to whom the business is so transferred. The rates of both employers shall be recalculated and made effective as of the beginning of the calendar quarter immediately following the date of the transfer of the trade or business unless the transfer occurred on the first day of a calendar quarter, in which case the rate shall be recalculated as of that date.

b. If, following a transfer of experience under sub-subparagraph a., the department or the tax collection service provider determines that a substantial purpose of the transfer of trade or business was to obtain a reduced liability for contributions, the experience rating account of the employers involved shall be combined into a single account and a single rate assigned to the account.

2. Whenever a person is not an employer under this chapter at the time it acquires the trade or business of an employer, the unemployment experience of the acquired business shall not be transferred to the person if the department or the tax collection service provider finds that such person acquired the business solely or primarily for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of contributions. Instead, such person shall be assigned the new employer rate under paragraph (2)(a). In determining whether the business was acquired solely or primarily for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of contributions, the tax collection service provider shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors:

a. Whether the person continued the business enterprise of the acquired business;

b. How long such business enterprise was continued; or

c. Whether a substantial number of new employees was hired for performance of duties unrelated to the business activity conducted before the acquisition.

3. If a person knowingly violates or attempts to violate subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. or any other provision of this chapter related to determining the assignment of a contribution rate, or if a person knowingly advises another person to violate the law, the person shall be subject to the following penalties:

a. If the person is an employer, the employer shall be assigned the highest rate assignable under this chapter for the rate year during which such violation or attempted violation occurred and for the 3 rate years immediately following this rate year. However, if the person’s business is already at the highest rate for any year, or if the amount of increase in the person’s rate would be less than 2 percent for such year, then a penalty rate of contribution of 2 percent of taxable wages shall be imposed for such year and the following 3 rate years.

b. If the person is not an employer, such person shall be subject to a civil money penalty of not more than $5,000. The procedures for the assessment of a penalty shall be in accordance with the procedures set forth in s. 443.141(2), and the provisions of s. 443.141(3) shall apply to the collection of the penalty. Any such penalty shall be deposited in the penalty and interest account established under s. 443.211(2).

4. For purposes of this paragraph, the term:

a. “Knowingly” means having actual knowledge of or acting with deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard for the prohibition involved.

b. “Violates or attempts to violate” includes, but is not limited to, intent to evade, misrepresent, or willfully nondisclose.

5. In addition to the penalty imposed by subparagraph 3., any person who violates this paragraph commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

6. The department and the tax collection service provider shall establish procedures to identify the transfer or acquisition of a business for the purposes of this paragraph and shall adopt any rules necessary to administer this paragraph.

7. For purposes of this paragraph:

a. “Person” has the meaning given to the term by s. 7701(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

b. “Trade or business” shall include the employer’s workforce.

8. This paragraph shall be interpreted and applied in such a manner as to meet the minimum requirements contained in any guidance or regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor.

(i) Additional conditions for variation from the standard rate.—An employer’s contribution rate may not be reduced below the standard rate under this section unless:

1. All contributions, reimbursements, interest, and penalties incurred by the employer for wages paid by him or her in all previous calendar quarters, except the 4 calendar quarters immediately preceding the calendar quarter or calendar year for which the benefit ratio is computed, are paid;

2. The employer has produced for inspection and copying all work records in his or her possession, custody, or control which were requested by the Department of Commerce or its tax collection service provider pursuant to s. 443.171(5). An employer shall have at least 60 days to provide the requested work records before the employer is assigned the standard rate; and

3. The employer entitled to a rate reduction has at least one annual payroll as defined in subparagraph (b)1. unless the employer is eligible for additional credit under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. If the Federal Unemployment Tax Act is amended or repealed in a manner affecting credit under the federal act, this section applies only to the extent that additional credit is allowed against the payment of the tax imposed by the act.

The tax collection service provider shall assign an earned contribution rate to an employer for the quarter immediately after the quarter in which all contributions, reimbursements, interest, and penalties are paid in full and all work records requested pursuant to s. 443.171(5) are produced for inspection and copying by the Department of Commerce or the tax collection service provider.

(j) Notice of determinations of contribution rates; redeterminations.—The state agency providing tax collection services:

1. Shall promptly notify each employer of his or her contribution rate as determined for any calendar year under this section. The determination is conclusive and binding on the employer unless within 20 days after mailing the notice of determination to the employer’s last known address, or, in the absence of mailing, within 20 days after delivery of the notice, the employer files an application for review and redetermination setting forth the grounds for review. An employer may not, in any proceeding involving his or her contribution rate or liability for contributions, contest the chargeability to his or her employment record of any benefits paid in accordance with a determination, redetermination, or decision under s. 443.151, except on the ground that the benefits charged were not based on services performed in employment for him or her and then only if the employer was not a party to the determination, redetermination, or decision, or to any other proceeding under this chapter, in which the character of those services was determined.

2. Shall, upon discovery of an error in computation, reconsider any prior determination or redetermination of a contribution rate after the 20-day period has expired and issue a revised notice of contribution rate as redetermined. A redetermination is subject to review, and is conclusive and binding if review is not sought, in the same manner as review of a determination under subparagraph 1. A reconsideration may not be made after March 31 of the calendar year immediately after the calendar year for which the contribution rate is applicable, and interest may not accrue on any additional contributions found to be due until 30 days after the employer is mailed notice of his or her revised contribution rate.

3. May adopt rules providing for periodic notification to employers of benefits paid and charged to their employment records or of the status of those employment records. A notification, unless an application for redetermination is filed in the manner and within the time limits prescribed by the Department of Commerce, is conclusive and binding on the employer under this chapter. The redetermination, and the finding of fact of the department in connection with the redetermination, may be introduced in any subsequent administrative or judicial proceeding involving the determination of the contribution rate of an employer for any calendar year. A redetermination becomes final in the same manner provided in this subsection for findings of fact made by the department in proceedings to redetermine the contribution rate of an employer. Pending a redetermination or an administrative or judicial proceeding, the employer must file reports and pay contributions in accordance with this section.

(k) Employment records of employers entering the armed forces.—

1. If the tax collection service provider finds that an employer’s business is closed solely because of the entrance of one or more of the owners, officers, partners, or the majority stockholder into the Armed Forces of the United States, or any of its allies, or of the United Nations, the employer’s employment record may not be terminated. If the business is resumed within 2 years after the discharge or release from active duty in the armed forces of that person or persons, the employer’s benefit experience is deemed to have been continuous throughout that period. The benefit ratio of the employer for the calendar year in which he or she resumed business and the 3 calendar years immediately after resuming business is a percentage equal to the total of his or her benefit charges, including charges of benefits paid to any individual during the period the employer was in the armed forces based on wages paid by him or her before the employer’s entrance into the armed forces for the 3 most recently completed calendar years divided by that part of his or her total payroll, for which contributions were paid to the tax collection service provider, for the 3 most recent calendar years during the whole of which, respectively, the employer was in business.

2. A refund made under this paragraph shall be made in accordance with s. 443.141(6).

(l) Applicability to contributing employers.—This subsection applies only to contributing employers.

(4) REIMBURSING EMPLOYERS.—Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to reimbursing employers.

(5) INVALIDITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS.—If any provision of this section prevents the state from qualifying for any federal interest relief provisions provided under s. 1202 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 1322, or prevents employers in this state from qualifying for the limitation on credit reduction as provided under s. 3302(f) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, chapter 23 of Title 26 U.S.C., that provision is invalid to the extent necessary to maintain qualification for the interest relief provisions and federal unemployment tax credits.

History.—s. 8, ch. 18402, 1937; s. 5, ch. 19637, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 4151(495); s. 8, ch. 20685, 1941; s. 1, ch. 21981, 1943; s. 1, ch. 22946, 1945; s. 1, ch. 23918, 1947; s. 11, ch. 25035, 1949; ss. 5, 6, ch. 26879, 1951; s. 1, ch. 26958, 1951; ss. 2, 3, 4, ch. 26878, 1951; ss. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ch. 28242, 1953; s. 4, ch. 29771, 1955; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 29817, 1955; s. 3, ch. 57-247; s. 2, ch. 57-268; ss. 1, 2, ch. 59-98; s. 2, ch. 61-119; s. 4, ch. 61-132; s. 1, ch. 63-154; s. 1, ch. 63-137; s. 1, ch. 65-243; s. 1, ch. 65-25; s. 1, ch. 67-225; s. 1, ch. 67-244; ss. 17, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-296; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 6, ch. 71-225; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 71-227; s. 2, ch. 72-155; s. 118, ch. 73-333; s. 3, ch. 74-198; ss. 5, 7, ch. 77-262; s. 2, ch. 77-393; s. 5, ch. 77-399; s. 11, ch. 78-95; s. 2, ch. 78-295; s. 5, ch. 78-386; s. 3, ch. 79-293; s. 4, ch. 79-308; s. 1, ch. 79-355; s. 185, ch. 79-400; ss. 4, 8, 9, ch. 80-95; ss. 1, 2, ch. 80-252; s. 5, ch. 80-345; s. 10, ch. 83-174; s. 2, ch. 83-186; s. 2, ch. 83-285; s. 1, ch. 83-313; s. 2, ch. 84-40; s. 3, ch. 87-383; ss. 7, 8, ch. 88-289; ss. 1, 2, ch. 89-346; s. 3, ch. 92-38; s. 131, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 1, ch. 92-352; s. 7, ch. 94-347; ss. 6, 10, ch. 96-378; s. 5, ch. 96-411; s. 1063, ch. 97-103; s. 7, ch. 98-149; s. 21, ch. 2000-157; s. 50, ch. 2002-218; s. 32, ch. 2003-36; s. 26, ch. 2003-254; s. 496, ch. 2003-261; s. 6, ch. 2005-209; s. 23, ch. 2005-280; s. 2, ch. 2009-99; s. 4, ch. 2010-1; s. 9, ch. 2010-90; s. 36, ch. 2011-4; s. 365, ch. 2011-142; s. 9, ch. 2011-235; ss. 14, 15, ch. 2012-30; s. 45, ch. 2013-39; s. 112, ch. 2014-17; s. 12, ch. 2014-40; s. 19, ch. 2015-3; s. 44, ch. 2017-36; s. 2, ch. 2019-80; s. 112, ch. 2020-2; s. 16, ch. 2021-2; s. 186, ch. 2024-6.

¹Note.—Repealed by subparagraph 6. of s. 443.131(3)(e), effective upon the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund exceeding $4,071,519,600 on June 30 of any year. In a letter dated April 2, 2024, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research certified that the balance exceeded $4,071,519,600 on March 31, 2024.

Note.—Former s. 443.08.