Previous TWC Tax Department Quarterly Report Inserts

Minimizing UI Tax Rates

The Texas Workforce Commission encourages all Texas employers to take note of two ways you can help minimize increases to your unemployment tax rates. Frequently overlooked, is employer participation in The Attorney General's "new-hire" reporting system. This data-sharing is critical to helping TWC detect individuals that are receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits after they have returned to work.

In addition, employers can help by responding to the Request for Earnings Information notice. TWC conducts a quarterly wage check using individual wages reported by employers to the agency and cross checks those wages with individuals that are receiving UI benefits. If an individual was receiving UI benefits and an employer reported wages for the individual during the same quarter, TWC mails a "Request for Earnings Information" to the employer. The request is to determine if the individual was employed during week(s) claimed.

Failure to report new hires and/or respond to "Request for Earnings Information" can cause the undetected improper payment of benefits. These improper payments can lead to a higher tax rate. Tax rates are calculated based on the amount of benefits paid to your former employees along with a statewide factor that includes all benefit payments. Please help us avoid these overpayments and unnecessary impacts to your tax rate by helping TWC identify these overpayments. We will continue to work hard in keeping your tax rates at the lowest possible level.

TWC Skills Training Grants Boost Competitiveness

Do you believe that a well-trained, highly skilled workforce can help a business increase its competitiveness? If so, then the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has two training opportunities - the Skills Development Fund and Skills for Small Business - that can help boost competitiveness while providing workers the cutting-edge skills that your business requires.

You can learn more about these opportunities by visiting the TWC website at:

• Skills Development Fund
• Skills for Small Business

You also may call the Workforce Business Service Project Development Team at 877-463-1777 or e-mail skills@twc.state.tx.us.

TWC Unemployment Hearings New Feature - Online Registration

Employers now have two options available when registering for an unemployment hearing:

1. Call in by phone during the 30 minute window provided in the hearing notice
2. Register online during the 48 hour window prior to the scheduled hearing.

No matter the option you choose: you will always need your hearing case number.

If you elect to register online please visit https://tx.c2tinc.com/register and follow the instructions.

When registering online for your hearing, be sure to:

• Check the Case Hearing Details to make sure you are registering for the right hearing.
• Enter a valid telephone number, including the area code and any extension number, where you can be reached at the time of the hearing
• Enter on whose behalf you are appearing, usually Claimant or Employer.
• Check the information you entered to make sure it is correct before you Submit your registration.
• Write down the confirmation number you will receive when you Submit your registration.
• After you write down the confirmation number, click Finish to complete your registration

Change any registration information prior to the hearing date by going to https://tx.c2tinc.com/register and following the Update instructions.

Reminder: if you have any problems registering online you can always dial 800-252-3749 to call in for your hearing.

Help Prevent Improper Unemployment Payments

Employers - You can help. Here are three easy actions you can take to help reduce your unemployment tax rates AND protect the integrity of the Unemployment Insurance program.

1. Report new hires immediately to the state Attorney General's (AG) office. The AG's offices use this information to locate parents who should be paying child support and TWC uses the same information to cut down on claimant fraud and overpayments. Report the date your employee started work as the new hire date. To report, go here: www.employer.oag.state.tx.us or call 1-888-TEX-Hire (839-4473).
2. Respond promptly and completely to a notice that a former employee has applied for unemployment benefits. We need your detailed separation information to make the right decision about paying benefits. Your notice tells you how to respond online, by telephone or by mail.
3. Respond promptly to an earnings information request. We reduce the claimant's weekly benefits by the amount of money the claimant has earned. You can respond online or by mail. Instructions are on the form.