108.18(7)(i)1.1. An employer that suffers physical damage to its business caused by a catastrophic event for which the employer is not primarily responsible, and incurs benefit charges to its account for layoffs due to that damage may, by means of a voluntary contribution under par. (a), increase the employer’s reserve percentage to no greater than the reserve percentage that would have applied to the employer as of the next computation date had that damage not caused the employer to lay off its employees. An employer that makes a voluntary contribution under this subdivision shall notify the department of its election to have its contribution treated in the manner provided in this paragraph and shall submit proof, in the form and manner prescribed by the department, to establish that its employees were laid off due to the catastrophic event.
108.18(7)(i)2.2. If an employer makes a payment under subd. 1. after November 30 and before November 1 of the succeeding year, the department shall establish the payment as a credit and apply the payment as a voluntary contribution to the employer’s account when the next rate computation occurs. Any amount paid to the department in excess of the amount that may be applied under subd. 1 in any year may continue to be held as a credit, without interest, against future required or voluntary contributions for a calendar year or refunded to the employer, at the employer’s option.
108.18(8)(8)Solvency contributions. Each employer’s solvency contribution for each calendar quarter of any year shall be figured by applying the solvency rate determined for that year under sub. (9) to the employer’s payroll for that quarter, and shall be payable to the fund’s balancing account by the due date for payment of contributions by the employer for that quarter.
108.18(9)(9)Solvency rates. Except as provided in subs. (9c) and (9e), an employer’s solvency rate on its payroll for a given calendar year shall be based solely on the contribution rate of its account for the calendar year under this section. For purposes of rate determination under this subsection, an employer’s payroll shall be calculated for the 12-month period ending with the computation date preceding the calendar year to which the rate applies. [See Figure 108.18 (9) following]
108.18(9c)(9c)Reduction of solvency rate. The department shall reduce the solvency rate payable under sub. (9) by each employer for each year by the rates payable by that employer under s. 108.19 (1e) (a) and (1f) (a) for that year.
108.18(9e)(9e)Seasonal employer solvency rate. A seasonal employer shall pay an additional solvency contribution of 2 percent on its payroll for each calendar year unless that rate would result in the employer paying more than the maximum total contribution and solvency rate applicable to any employer in the same year in which the rate applies, in which case the employer shall pay that solvency rate which, when combined with its contribution rate, equals that maximum total rate.
108.18(9m)(9m)Solvency contribution exemption. No solvency contribution is required of any employer which qualifies for and elects an alternate contribution rate under sub. (2) (d).
108.19108.19Contributions to the administrative account and unemployment interest payment and program integrity funds.
108.19(1)(1)Each employer subject to this chapter shall regularly contribute to the administrative account at the rate of two-tenths of one percent per year on its payroll, except that the department may prescribe at the close of any fiscal year such lower rates of contribution under this section, to apply to classes of employers throughout the ensuing fiscal year, as will in the department’s judgment adequately finance the administration of this chapter, and as will in the department’s judgment fairly represent the relative cost of the services rendered by the department to each such class.
108.19(1e)(1e)
108.19(1e)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), each employer, other than an employer that finances benefits by reimbursement in lieu of contributions under s. 108.15, 108.151, or 108.152 shall, in addition to other contributions payable under s. 108.18 and this section, pay an assessment to the administrative account for each year prior to the year 2010 equal to the lesser of 0.01 percent of its payroll for that year or the solvency contribution that would otherwise be payable by the employer under s. 108.18 (9) for that year.
108.19(1e)(b)(b) The levy prescribed under par. (a) is not effective for any year unless the department, no later than the November 30 preceding that year, publishes a class 1 notice under ch. 985 giving notice that the levy is in effect for the ensuing year.
108.19(1e)(c)(c) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department may, if it finds that the full amount of the levy is not required to effect the purposes specified in par. (d) for any year, prescribe a reduced levy for that year and in such case shall publish in the notice under par. (b) the rate of the reduced levy.
108.19(1e)(d)(d) The department may expend the moneys received from assessments levied under this subsection in the amounts authorized under s. 20.445 (1) (gh) for the renovation and modernization of unemployment insurance information technology systems, specifically including development and implementation of a new system and reengineering of automated processes and manual business functions.
108.19(1f)(1f)
108.19(1f)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), each employer, other than an employer that finances benefits by reimbursement in lieu of contributions under s. 108.15, 108.151, or 108.152 shall, in addition to other contributions payable under s. 108.18 and this section, pay an assessment for each year equal to the lesser of 0.01 percent of its payroll for that year or the solvency contribution that would otherwise be payable by the employer under s. 108.18 (9) for that year. Assessments under this paragraph shall be deposited in the unemployment program integrity fund.
108.19(1f)(b)(b) The levy prescribed under par. (a) is not effective for any year unless the department, no later than the November 30 preceding that year, publishes a class 1 notice under ch. 985 giving notice that the levy is in effect for the ensuing year. The department shall consider the balance of the unemployment reserve fund before prescribing the levy under par. (a). The secretary of workforce development shall consult with the council on unemployment insurance before the department prescribes the levy under par. (a).
108.19(1f)(c)(c) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department may, if it finds that the full amount of the levy is not required to effect the purposes specified in sub. (1s) (b) for any year, prescribe a reduced levy for that year and in such case shall publish in the notice under par. (b) the rate of the reduced levy.
108.19(1m)(1m)Each employer subject to this chapter as of the date a rate is established under this subsection shall pay an assessment to the unemployment interest payment fund at a rate established by the department sufficient to pay interest due on advances from the federal unemployment account under Title XII of the federal social security act, 42 USC 1321 to 1324. The rate established by the department for employers who finance benefits under s. 108.15 (2), 108.151 (2), or 108.152 (1) shall be 75 percent of the rate established for other employers. The amount of any employer’s assessment shall be the product of the rate established for that employer multiplied by the employer’s payroll of the previous calendar year as taken from quarterly employment and wage reports filed by the employer under s. 108.205 (1) or, in the absence of the filing of such reports, estimates made by the department. Each assessment made under this subsection is due within 30 days after the date the department issues the assessment. If the amounts collected from employers under this subsection exceed the amounts needed to pay interest due, the department shall use any excess to pay interest owed in subsequent years on advances from the federal unemployment account. If the department determines that additional interest obligations are unlikely, the department shall transfer the excess to the balancing account of the fund, the unemployment program integrity fund, or both in amounts determined by the department.
108.19(1n)(1n)The department shall publish as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 any rate established under sub. (1m) within 10 days of the date that the rate is established.
108.19(1p)(1p)Notwithstanding sub. (1m), an employer having a payroll of $25,000 or less for the preceding calendar year is exempt from any assessment under sub. (1m).
108.19(1q)(1q)There is created a separate, nonlapsible trust fund designated as the unemployment interest payment fund consisting of all amounts collected under sub. (1m) and all interest and penalties on those amounts collected under s. 108.22.
108.19(1s)(1s)
108.19(1s)(a)(a) There is created a separate, nonlapsible trust fund designated as the unemployment program integrity fund consisting of all of the following:
108.19(1s)(a)1.1. All amounts collected under s. 108.04 (11) (bh) other than the amounts required to be deposited in the fund under s. 108.16 (6) (n).
108.19(1s)(a)2.2. Assessments levied and deposited into the unemployment program integrity fund under sub. (1f).
108.19(1s)(a)3.3. Amounts transferred under sub. (1m).
108.19(1s)(a)4.4. Assessments under s. 108.221 (1) and (2).
108.19(1s)(a)5.5. Amounts transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (1) (aL).
108.19(1s)(a)6.6. Assessments under s. 108.225 (4) (b).
108.19(1s)(b)(b) The department shall use the moneys in the unemployment program integrity fund for payment of costs associated with program integrity activities.
108.19(2)(2)If the department finds, at any time within a fiscal year for which it has prescribed lower contribution rates to the administrative account than the maximum rate permitted under sub. (1), that such lower rates will not adequately finance the administration of this chapter or are excessive for that purpose, the department may by general rule prescribe a new schedule of rates in no case exceeding the specified maximum to apply under this section for the balance of the fiscal year.
108.19(2m)(2m)Within the limit specified by sub. (1), the department may by rule prescribe at any time as to any period any such rate or rates or schedule as it deems necessary and proper hereunder. Unless thus prescribed, no such rate or rates or schedule shall apply under sub. (1) or (2).
108.19(4)(4)If section 303 (a) (5) of title III of the social security act and section 3304 (a) (4) of the internal revenue code are amended to permit a state agency to use, in financing administrative expenditures incurred in carrying out its employment security functions, some part of the moneys collected or to be collected under the state unemployment insurance law, in partial or complete substitution for grants under title III, then this chapter shall, by rule of the department, be modified in the manner and to the extent and within the limits necessary to permit such use by the department under this chapter; and the modifications shall become effective on the same date as such use becomes permissible under the federal amendments.
108.19 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. DWD 150, Wis. adm. code.
108.20108.20Administrative account.
108.20(1)(1)To finance the administration of this chapter and to carry out its provisions and purposes there is established the “administrative account”. This account shall consist of all contributions and moneys not otherwise appropriated paid to or transferred by the department for the account under s. 108.19, and of all moneys received for the account by the state or by the department from any source, including all federal moneys allotted or apportioned to the state or the department for the employment service or for administration of this chapter, or for services, facilities or records supplied to any federal agency from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (n). The department shall make to federal agencies such reports as are necessary in connection with or because of such federal aid.
108.20(2)(2)All amounts received by the department for the administrative account shall be paid over to the secretary of administration and credited to that account for the administration of this chapter and the employment service, for the payment of benefits chargeable to the account under s. 108.07 (5) and for the purposes specified in sub. (2m).
108.20(2m)(2m)From the moneys not appropriated under s. 20.445 (1) (gg) that are received by the administrative account as interest and penalties under this chapter, the department shall pay the benefits chargeable to the administrative account under s. 108.07 (5) and the interest payable to employers under s. 108.17 (3m), and may expend the remainder to pay interest due on advances to the unemployment reserve fund from the federal unemployment account under title XII of the social security act, 42 USC 1321 to 1324, to conduct research relating to the condition of the unemployment reserve fund under s. 108.14 (6), to administer the unemployment insurance program and federal or state unemployment insurance programs authorized by the governor under s. 16.54, to assist the department of justice in the enforcement of this chapter, to make payments to satisfy a federal audit exception concerning a payment from the fund or any federal aid disallowance involving the unemployment insurance program, or to make payments to the fund if such action is necessary to obtain a lower interest rate or deferral of interest payments on advances from the federal unemployment account under title XII of the social security act, except that any interest earned pending disbursement of federal employment security grants under s. 20.445 (1) (n) shall be credited to the general fund.
108.20(3)(3)There shall be included in the moneys governed by sub. (2m) any amounts collected by the department under ss. 108.04 (11) (c) and (cm) and 108.22 (1) (a), (ac), (ad), and (af) as tardy filing fees, forfeitures, interest on delinquent payments, or other penalties.
108.20(4)(4)Any moneys transferred to the administrative account from the federal administrative financing account pursuant to s. 108.161 shall be expended or restored to that account in accordance with s. 108.161.
108.205108.205Quarterly wage reports.
108.205(1)(1)Each employer shall file with the department, in such form as the department by rule requires, a quarterly report showing the name, social security number and wages paid to each employee who is employed by the employer in employment with the employer during the quarter. The employer shall file the report no later than the last day of the month following the completion of each quarter.
108.205(1m)(a)(a) The department shall prescribe the manner and form for filing reports under sub. (1) electronically.
108.205(1m)(b)(b) Each employer agent shall file its reports electronically in the manner and form prescribed by the department.
108.205(2)(2)Each employer of 25 or more employees, as determined under s. 108.22 (1) (ae), that does not use an employer agent to file its reports under this section shall file the quarterly report under sub. (1) electronically in the manner and form prescribed by the department. An employer that becomes subject to an electronic reporting requirement under this subsection shall file its initial report under this subsection for the quarter during which the employer becomes subject to the reporting requirement. Once an employer becomes subject to the reporting requirement under this subsection, the employer shall continue to file its quarterly reports under this subsection unless that requirement is waived by the department.
108.205 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. DWD 111, Wis. adm. code.
108.21108.21Record and audit of payrolls.
108.21(1)(1)Every employing unit which employs one or more individuals to perform work in this state shall keep an accurate work record for each individual employed by it, including full name, address and social security number, which will permit determination of the weekly wages earned by each such individual, the wages paid within each quarter to that individual and the salary reduction amounts that are not wages and that would have been paid by the employing unit to that individual as salary but for a salary reduction agreement under a cafeteria plan, within the meaning of 26 USC 125. Each such employing unit shall permit any authorized representative of the department to examine, at any reasonable time, the work record and any other records which may show any wages paid by the employing unit, or any salary reduction amounts that are not wages and that would have been paid by the employing unit as salary but for a salary reduction agreement under a cafeteria plan, within the meaning of 26 USC 125, regardless of the format in which such a record is maintained. If such a record is maintained by an employing unit in machine-readable format, the employing unit shall provide the department with information necessary to retrieve the record. If the department determines that the employing unit is unable to provide access to such a record or that the retrieval capability at the site where the record is maintained is not adequate for efficient examination, the employing unit shall provide a copy of the record to the department and shall allow the department to remove the copy from that site for such period as will permit examination at another location. Each such employing unit shall furnish to the department upon demand a sworn statement of the information contained in any such record.
108.21(2)(2)The findings of an authorized representative of the department, based on examination of the records of any such employing unit under sub. (1) and embodied in an audit report issued to the employing unit, are a determination under s. 108.10.
108.21(3)(3)If any such employing unit fails to keep adequate work records under this section or fails to file the reports required by this chapter or required by the department under this chapter, the employing unit’s contribution liability with respect to the period for which such records are lacking or deficient or for which such reports have not been filed may be estimated by the department in a determination made under s. 108.10.
108.21 HistoryHistory: 1987 a. 38; 1993 a. 373; 1997 a. 39; 2017 a. 157.
108.21 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. DWD 110, Wis. adm. code.
108.22108.22Timely reports, notices and payments.
108.22(1)(1)
108.22(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (cm), if any employer, other than an employer which has ceased business and has not paid or incurred a liability to pay wages in any quarter following the cessation of business, is delinquent in making by the assigned due date any payment to the department required of it under this chapter, the employer shall pay interest on the delinquent payment at that monthly rate that annualized is equal to 9 percent or to 2 percent more than the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal as of September 30 of the preceding year, whichever is greater, for each month or fraction thereof that the employer is delinquent from the date such payment became due. If any such employer is delinquent in filing any quarterly report under s. 108.205 (1) by the assigned due date, the department may assess a tardy filing fee to the employer for each delinquent quarterly report in the amount of $100 or $20 per employee, as reported on the employer’s most recent quarterly report, whichever is greater, or, if the report is filed within 30 days after the date that the department assesses a tardy filing fee, in the amount of $50. If the department cannot determine the number of the employer’s employees from the employer’s most recent quarterly report, the department may reasonably estimate the number of the employer’s employees for purposes of this paragraph.
108.22(1)(ac)(ac) In addition to any fee assessed under par. (a), the department may assess an employer or employer agent that is subject to the reporting requirement under s. 108.205 (2) and that fails to file its report in the manner and form prescribed under that subsection a penalty of $20 for each employee whose information is not reported in the manner and form prescribed under s. 108.205 (1m) (b) or (2).
108.22(1)(ad)1.1. An employer agent that is subject to the reporting requirements under s. 108.17 (2g) and that fails to file a contribution report in accordance with s. 108.17 (2g) may be assessed a penalty by the department in the amount of $25 for each employer whose report is not filed electronically in the manner and form prescribed by the department.
108.22(1)(ad)2.2. An employer that is subject to the reporting requirements under s. 108.17 (2b) and that fails to file a contribution report in accordance with s. 108.17 (2b) may be assessed a penalty by the department in the amount of $25 for each report that is not filed in accordance with s. 108.17 (2b).
108.22(1)(ae)(ae) For purposes of par. (ac), the number of employees employed by an employer is the total number of employees employed by the employer at any time during the reporting period.
108.22(1)(af)(af) In addition to the fee assessed under par. (a), the department may assess an employer or employer agent that is subject to a requirement to make contributions by means of an electronic funds transfer under s. 108.17 (7) and that pays contributions by any method inconsistent with s. 108.17 (7) a penalty of the greater of $50 or an amount equal to one-half of one percent of the total contributions paid by the employer or employer agent for the quarter in which the violation occurs.
108.22(1)(am)(am) The interest, penalties, and tardy filing fees levied under pars. (a), (ac), (ad), and (af) shall be paid to the department and credited to the administrative account.
108.22(1)(b)(b) If the due date of a report or payment under s. 108.15 (5) (b), 108.151 (5) (f) or (7), 108.155, 108.16 (8), 108.17, or 108.205 would otherwise be a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday under state or federal law, the due date is the next following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday under state or federal law.
108.22(1)(c)(c) Any report or payment, except a payment required by s. 108.15 (5) (b), 108.151 (5) (f) or (7), or 108.155, to which this subsection applies is delinquent, within the meaning of par. (a), unless it is received by the department, in the form prescribed by law or rule of the department, no later than its due date as determined under par. (b). Any payment required by s. 108.15 (5) (b), 108.151 (5) (f) or (7), or 108.155 is delinquent, within the meaning of par. (a), unless it is received by the department, in the form prescribed by law, no later than the last day of the month in which it is due.
108.22(1)(cm)(cm) In limited circumstances as prescribed by rule of the department, the department may waive or decrease the interest charged under par. (a) or s. 108.17 (2c) (c).
108.22(1)(d)(d) The tardy payment fee or filing fee may be waived by the department if the employer later files the required report or makes the required payment and satisfies the department that the report or payment was tardy due to circumstances beyond the employer’s control.
108.22(1)(e)(e) Any notice filed under s. 108.15 (3) (a) or (b), 108.151 (3) (a), or 108.152 (2) (a) or assurance filed under s. 108.151 (2) (a) or (4) (a) 2. is timely if it is received by the department by December 31 or, if mailed, is either postmarked no later than that due date or is received by the department no later than 3 days after that due date.
108.22(1)(f)(f) Any notice of assurance filed under s. 108.151 (2) (c) is timely if it is received by the department by its due date or, if mailed, is either postmarked no later than that due date or is received by the department no later than 3 days after that due date.
108.22(1m)(1m)If any person owes any contributions, reimbursements or assessments under s. 108.15, 108.151, 108.155, or 108.19 (1m), benefit overpayments, interest, fees, payments for forfeitures, other penalties, or any other amount to the department under this chapter and fails to pay the amount owed, the department has a perfected lien upon the right, title, and interest in all of the person’s real and personal property located in this state in the amount finally determined to be owed, plus costs. Except where creation of a lien is barred or stayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency law, the lien is effective upon the earlier of the date on which the amount is first due or the date on which the department issues a determination of the amount owed under this chapter and shall continue until the amount owed, plus costs and interest to the date of payment, is paid, except as provided in sub. (8) (d). If a lien is initially barred or stayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency law, it shall become effective immediately upon expiration or removal of such bar or stay. The perfected lien does not give the department priority over lienholders, mortgagees, purchasers for value, judgment creditors, and pledges whose interests have been recorded before the department’s lien is recorded.
108.22(1r)(1r)If any person fails to pay to the department a covered unemployment compensation debt, as defined in 26 USC 6402 (f) (4), provided that no appeal or review permitted under this chapter is pending and that the time for taking an appeal or review has expired, the department or any authorized representative of the department may set off the amount against a federal overpayment under 26 USC 6402 (f).
108.22(1t)(1t)If any person fails to pay to the department any amount under this chapter, provided that no appeal or review permitted under this chapter is pending and that the time for taking an appeal or review has expired, the department or any authorized representative of the department may set off the amount against a refund, overpayment, or disbursement under s. 71.93.
108.22(2)(2)
108.22(2)(a)1.1. If any person fails to pay to the department any amount due or determined to be owed under this chapter, the department or any authorized representative of the department may record the lien created under sub. (1m) by issuing a warrant directed to the clerk of circuit court for any county of the state.
108.22(2)(a)2.2. The clerk of circuit court shall enter in the judgment and lien docket the name of the person mentioned in the warrant, the amount owed, and the date on which the warrant is entered.
108.22(2)(a)3.3. A warrant entered under subd. 2. shall be considered in all respects as a final judgment.
108.22(2)(a)4.4. The department or any authorized representative of the department may thereafter file an execution with the clerk of circuit court for filing by the clerk of circuit court with the sheriff of any county where real or personal property of the person is located, commanding the sheriff to levy upon and sell sufficient real and personal property of the person located in that county to pay the amount stated in the warrant in the same manner as upon an execution against property issued upon the judgment of a court of record, and to return the warrant to the department and pay to it the money collected by virtue thereof within 60 days after receipt of the warrant.
108.22(2)(b)(b) The clerk of circuit court shall accept, file, and enter each warrant under par. (a) and each satisfaction, release, or withdrawal under subs. (5), (6), and (8m) in the judgment and lien docket without prepayment of any fee, but the clerk of circuit court shall submit a statement of the proper fee semiannually to the department covering the periods from January 1 to June 30 and July 1 to December 31 unless a different billing period is agreed to between the clerk of circuit court and the department. The fees shall then be paid by the department, but the fees provided by s. 814.61 (5) for entering the warrants shall be added to the amount of the warrant and collected from the person when satisfaction or release is presented for entry.
108.22(2)(c)(c) At least 15 days before issuing any warrant to a person under par. (a), the department shall issue a demand to the person for payment of the amounts owed and give written or electronic notice that the department may issue a warrant. The refusal or failure of the person to receive the notice does not prevent the department from issuing the warrant. The department is only required to give the notice required under this paragraph to a person the first time the department issues a warrant to the person, and not for any subsequent warrant issued to that person.
108.22(3)(3)
108.22(3)(a)(a) The department may issue a warrant of like terms, force, and effect to any employee or other agent of the department, who may file a copy of such warrant with the clerk of circuit court of any county in the state, and thereupon the clerk shall enter the warrant in the judgment and lien docket and the warrant shall have the same force and effect as is provided in sub. (2). In the execution of the warrant, the employee or other agent shall have all the powers conferred by law upon a sheriff, but shall not be entitled to collect from the person any fee or charge for the execution of the warrant in excess of the actual expenses paid in the performance of his or her duty.
108.22(3)(b)(b) In executing a warrant under par. (a), the employee or agent may conduct, or may engage a 3rd party to conduct, an execution sale of property in any county of this state and may sell, or may engage a 3rd party to sell, the property in any manner that, in the discretion of the department, will bring the highest net bid or price, including an Internet-based auction or sale. The cost of conducting each auction or sale shall be reimbursed to the department out of the proceeds of the auction or sale.
108.22(4)(4)If a warrant is returned not satisfied in full, the department shall have the same remedies to enforce the amount due as if the department had recovered judgment against the person for the same and an execution is returned wholly or partially not satisfied.
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2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated through all Supreme Court and Controlled Substances Board Orders filed before and in effect on January 1, 2025. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after January 1, 2025, are designated by NOTES. (Published 1-1-25)