May 2024 Michigan Employer Advisor | Tax Collections Units, MiUI, Employer Seminars

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity sent this bulletin at 05/20/2024 01:48 PM EDT

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A Newsletter for Employers May 2024

A short update on UIA Local Office temporary closures for claimants who want to meet in person with a UIA agent.

The Sterling Heights office reopened May 6 for in-person appointments following renovations to create a welcoming atmosphere for Michiganders who make appointments. The office at 43015 Hayes Rd. has a new lobby, furniture, customer service windows, and security upgrades.

At the same time, UIA’s Grand Rapids Local Office has closed temporarily for renovations that are expected to take two months. Staff will serve workers in person at a temporary office co-located with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE, Grand Rapids.

Both offices are among five UIA locations that will undergo remodeling this year. The Saginaw Local Office is nearing completion of its renovations. In June, the Lansing Local Office is scheduled to close temporarily (with staff moving to the Capital Area Michigan Works! office, 2110 South Cedar Street, Lansing), and the Detroit Local Office is expected to close temporarily later this year (with staff moving to office space across the lobby in Cadillac Place, 3024 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit).

Please take a couple of minutes to watch the UIA’s latest video aimed at employers and which offers tips about fighting fraud: Protecting Your Business and Employees From Fraud. Share it with your team for awareness and reminders about best practices.

Screenshot from POWTOON about employer cybercrime security

There is also a similar video focusing on how employees can protect themselves against fraud: How Workers Can Protect Their Unemployment Insurance Account from Cyber Fraud. This one is also worth sharing throughout your organization.

If you want to suggest an article or topic for a future edition of the Employer Advisor newsletter, or just want to tell us how much you enjoy reading it, please send a message to UIA-EmployerAdvisor@Michigan.gov. You can view past newsletters on the Employer Homepage at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Collections Teams Help Employers with Many Needs, from Reports to Levies

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s (UIA) Tax and Employer Services Division includes the Tax Collection Unit, Reimbursing Unit, and Tax Enforcement Unit. The goal of these three units is to help employers bring their accounts up to date by getting all reports filed, errors corrected, and balances paid in full.

Here’s a closer look at each unit, how to contact staff, its areas of interest, and related UIA forms.

Tax Collection Unit

This unit is the front line for collections. They make proactive calls to employers, respond to incoming calls, and help employers and their representatives with questions they may have. The areas of interest are Determination of Assessments, Collection Notices, Collection Protest and Appeals, setting up payment plans, requests for waiver of penalty and interest, Clearance of Account statements, payoff balances, and recording and discharging real estate and personal property tax liens.

Phone: 855-484-2636, Option 5 and Option 1

Areas of interest and related forms

Reimbursing Unit

This unit is part of TCU and works with the four types of reimbursing employers: Nonprofit organizations, governmental entities including Indian tribes and tribal units, state agencies, and group accounts.

A reimbursing employer does not pay quarterly taxes to UIA and instead pays dollar-for-dollar the amount of benefits paid by UIA in a calendar quarter to former employees. Governmental entities (such as a city, county, township, and school district) are, by law, reimbursing employers. An Indian tribe or tribal unit is a reimbursing employer unless they request to be a contributing employer. A nonprofit organization is a contributing employer, but may elect, with approval from UIA, to become a reimbursing employer. Proof of Section 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service is required.

NOTE: All Reimbursing employers are required to file Quarterly Wage Reports.

Phone: 855-484-2636 Option 5 and Option 4

Areas of interest and related forms

Tax Enforcement Unit

Image of a calculator with Taxes for the number

This unit enforces collection of outstanding unemployment insurance taxes by processing bank levies (commonly referred to as Notice to Withhold Garnishment) on employer accounts, negotiates and monitors payment plans, and responds to calls regarding bank levies and the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). TEU also reviews and processes Employer TOP Review requests, works with employers and their representatives to correct and update employer accounts, and refers accounts to the Field Audit Unit where they conduct field visits to verify an employer’s status. TEU refers accounts to the Department of the Attorney General for legal action, negotiates settlement agreements, monitors accounts for compliance with legal judgments, and attends legal and administrative hearings as needed.

Phone: 855 484-2636 Option 5 and Option 2

Areas of interest and related forms

Tracking Change Impacts Plays Big Role in MiUI System Planning, Rollout

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is being innovative in installing a new system but is also being thoughtful about how we do it and conscious about downstream impacts.

The agency is proactively working to minimize the impact customers will feel in the transition from the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) to MiUI. Many discussions and studies have been completed to identify, document, and analyze change impacts. These changes will have an impact on employers, third-party administrators, claimants, and external partners. They'll also play a vital role in helping UIA prepare for a smooth transition.

MiUI will also support UIA’s Vision and Execution Pillars as the agency transforms itself into a national leader for fast, fair, and fraud-free service. Here’s how:

Integrity: MiUI will help prioritize fraud-free service through a variety of updates.
Performance: MiUI will help create fast and efficient workflows.
Modernization: MiUI will update processes for employers, TPAs, claimants, external partners, and staff.
Equity & Access: MiUI's user-friendly design will make it easier to provide fair and equitable access to unemployment insurance for those that are eligible to receive it.

Stay tuned for more details to come in future issues of the Employer Advisor newsletter regarding some of the most prominent changes in MiUI.

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