We at Unemployment Solutions for You proudly offer our unemployment claims management services across the United States. We are a leader in our industry not only because we offer an outstanding product, but also because we have a deep knowledge-base in the many differing unemployment laws across the 50 states. Part of our mission is to also educate about how these laws may differ in your state because they affect you directly. So, we have begun a series in which we will explore the differences in unemployment eligibility, tax rate ranges, base periods, and much more in each state. This month, in Your State’s Unemployment Tax Laws, we’ll be looking at Ohio.
In Ohio, the maximum amount of earned individual employee income (Taxable Wage Base) upon which an employer is required to pay unemployment taxes each year is $9,000. This amount is calculated based on the first $9,000 that an employee has earned in a calendar year. However, for a claimant to qualify for unemployment benefits, s/he must have worked 20 weeks during the base period, established by the first four calendar quarters of the last five before the benefit account would begin. If the claimant does not qualify for this “regular” base period, s/he may still be eligible under an “alternate” base period for unemployment benefits if s/he has worked 20 weeks in the last four calendar quarters. The following is an example of how both the “regular” and “alternate” base periods are determined.
| If the claim began between these dates: | The regular base period would be: |
| January 1, 2017 – April 1, 2017 | October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016 |
| If the claim began between these dates: | The alternate base period would be: |
| January 1, 2017 – April 1, 2017 | January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 |
If a claimant is found to be eligible for unemployment benefits, the Taxable Wage Base amount is then multiplied by the annual unemployment tax rate.
Once employers have been chargeable with benefits for four consecutive quarters (ending June 30), they are eligible for an experience tax rate based on taxable wages reported, contributions paid, and benefits charged. However, if an employer is not eligible for an experience rate, they are instead assigned the New Employer Tax Rate (unless in the construction industry). Additionally, Ohio has a Mutualized Tax Rate, which has been designed to maintain unemployment trust funds at a safe level by recovering benefits that are not chargeable to any individual business, but is instead collected from all contributory employers. The unemployment tax rates for Ohio have recently fluctuated as provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS):
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||
| Lowest Experience Tax Rate | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | |
| Highest Experience Tax Rate | 8.6% | 8.7% | 8.8% | |
| Mutualized Tax Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.6% | |
| New Employer Tax Rate | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | *except construction |
| *Construction Industry | 6.5% | 6.4% | 6.2% | |
| Delinquency Tax Rate | 10.8% | 10.9% | 11.8% |
Employers’ Tax Returns are also required by the state of Ohio each quarter of the year in order to determine the unemployment taxes that are due for the quarter. These Unemployment Compensation Quarterly Tax Returns also include the annual tax rate. Employers must complete these Tax Returns to remain in state compliance even if they had no employees or paid wages during a given quarter. The consequences of not filing these Tax Returns on time can be severe, which is why ODJFS urges employers to file even if they are unable to pay the tax. Although your unpaid taxes will accrue interest, you will at least be able to avoid forfeitures in the amount of $50 to $1000. If you are in need of a tax extension make sure you contact your accountant and the IRS as soon as you can to discuss your needs as to why an extension on your taxes is warrented.
Of course, there are resources available to employers that will ensure that these processes are properly managed and that no employer will need to pay forfeitures for a missed Tax Return deadline. Unemployment Solutions for You is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your best possible unemployment tax rate, as well as in managing your unemployment claims. For more information, please give us a call toll free at 800-928-5750.
