State Legislation

State Legislative Update

It's that time of year again. Many states link their minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index so the minimum wage is announced in October after the figures are in. So far the following states have announced new minimum wages for 2009, effective January 1:

	Arizona: $7.25
	Colorado: $7.28
	Missouri: $7.05 tipped employees are $3.525
	Montana: $6.90
	Ohio: $7.30 Tipped to $3.65
	Oregon: $8.40
	Vermont: $8.06 tipped is $3.91
	Washington:$8.55

The states are announcing their State Unemployment Insurance wage bases for 2009. Here are a few that have been reported in the last weeks:

	Iowa: $23,700
	New Mexico: $20,900.
	Oklahoma: $14,200.
	New Jersey: $28,900
	Washington: $35,700
	Wyoming: $21,500.

In addition states with State Disability Insurance and/or Family Leave are also releasing wage bases:

New Jersey: $28,900

States are announcing changes to filing and/or depositing requirements for 2009. Here are the ones that have come in so far:

Utah Changes Tax Forms in 2009:

Withholding tax forms will change from the TC-96 series to the TC-941 series in 2009.

Employers must file withholding tax on the new TC-941 forms for periods beginning Jan. 1,

2009. See the new forms online at tax.utah.gov/forms/finals/release.html. Continue using the current TC-96 forms for 2008 filing periods. Those employers who are currently paying and filing monthly, starting Jan. 1, 2009, will continue to pay monthly, but will file quarterly. If using substitute forms, they must exactly match the TC-941 forms series and be approved by the Tax Commission before filing 2009 returns. Employers will receive a packet with all the forms needed for 2009. The table shows the forms that should be used, based on the employer’s current filing frequency:

If you currently file:	You will file:	You will pay:	Your packet will contain:
Monthly (TC-96M	Quarterly (TC-941)	Monthly (TC-941PC)	· 4 returns (TC-941) (Mar, Jun, Sept, Dec) · 12 payment coupons (TC-941PC) (Jan through Dec) · 1 annual reconciliation (TC-941R) (Dec)
Quarterly (TC-96Q) or Annually (TC-96Y)	Quarterly (TC-941)	Quarterly (TC-941PC)	· 4 returns (TC-941) with attached payment coupons (TC-941PC) (Mar, Jun, Sept, Dec) · 1 annual reconciliation (TC-941R) (Dec)
Annually (TC-96Y) for reporting only household employment taxes	Annually (TC-941)	Annually (TC-941PC)	· 1 return (TC-941) with attached payment coupon (TC-941PC) (Dec) · 1 annual reconciliation (TC-941R)(Dec)

Electronic Payments:

Starting with the 2009 periods, withholding tax payments (including EFT) will not count as the employer’s return. Employers must file returns (TC-941) separately. Use one of the following payment options:

• ACH Credit • ACH Debit Requests – (Available early 2009) • PaymentExpress

States are announcing any changes to filing requirements for the Form W-2. The following have been released:

Wisconsin Officially No Longer Accepting Magnetic Media: For 2008 wage statements and information returns the Department of Revenue has updated its Publication 509 to reflect the fact that the department no longer accepts magnetic media.

States are issuing new tax tables for 2009. Here are the ones that have come in so far:

California

Iowa: $23,700

New Mexico: $20,900.

Send mail to webmaster@vickimlambert.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 01/05/2009

Send mail to webmaster@vickimlambert.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 01/05/2009