FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Contact: Jessica Robinson, (573)751-0290
Blunt Announces More than $600,000 in Grants for Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY—Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that Missouri has received more than $600,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Missouri received $500,000 for tax projects for Internet employer registration. The Internet Employer Tax Registration System will provide new employers with secure, private and convenient methods for filing employer registration information, determining employer liability, and offering a link to file tax and wage reports on-line. This approach will save the Missouri Division of Employment Security from keypunching data, allow employers to register on-line for unemployment tax, and will give liable users the opportunity to file reports via the Internet at the same time by linking to the agency’s tax and wage reporting system. The Internet enabled Employer Tax Registration System will allow employers doing business with the Division of Employment Security to register and file forms, report data, and communicate on-line via a website.
Missouri was also awarded $108,035 following the passage of the State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) Dumping Prevention Act of 2004. The law requires states to implement laws that deter employer tax rate manipulation and impose penalties for those found guilty of violating the laws. This grant will help Missouri implement procedures to prevent and detect unemployment insurance tax rate manipulation schemes. The law was designed to combat “shell” transactions involving artificial manipulation of corporate structures or employees to reduce state tax payments in a process called dumping, which shifts costs to other employers.