A state agency estimates it will collect more than one-and-a-half MILLION dollars in new fees from procrastinators or from people trying to avoid paying the taxes to pay unemployment benefits.

Iowa Workforce Development will levy a 500-dollar fine to Iowa businesses that fail to properly register as an employer. Officials estimate 32-hundred business owners will try to skip registering, to avoid paying unemployment taxes, or they’ll fail to meet the quarterly registration deadlines. In addition, the agency has the go-ahead from lawmakers to assess a 200-dollar fine to businesses that send in their registration paperwork through the mail. The legislative committee that reviews state government rules was briefed on these new fees yesterday (Tuesday).

All Iowa businesses are required to pay unemployment taxes electronically.

(Radio Iowa)