The following article was originally printed in the March issue
of Axiom's newsletter. To view the newsletter in its original format
visit the Axiom web site.

In the last month we have had several clients
express surprise regarding the new hire reporting
law in Florida. This has nothing to do with taxes or
accounting but it affects small business so we are
often asked for clarification or direction when
clients have questions.

Since 1996 every employer in Florida has been
required to report new hires to the state. This
information is used to track down dead beat parents
who are not paying their court mandated child
support payments. It is possible that if one of your
employees is in this situation you will be contacted
by the Department of Children and Families to
initiate garnishment of the employee's wages for
child support.

While reporting is mandatory it is not enforced very
well and the New Hire Reporting Center’s efforts are
not publicized or coordinated with other agencies
that have more teeth (Florida Department of Revenue
for instance). This isn’t necessarily bad because it
allows the Center to take a more collaborative role
with businesses and encourage them to ‘do the right
thing’ for kids who may be dependent on a child
support check that never comes.

Employers are required to report new hires within 20
days of hire. The information that must be included
is the employers name, address and FEIN and the
employee’s name, address, social security number and
date of hire. This information can be filed
electronically through the Center’s web site or it can be
filed in paper with the office in Tallahassee.

If you are not in compliance with the new hire
reporting law you should report any employees hired
within the last 180 days and then continue to report
new hires within the 20 day deadline. The Center’s
web site mentioned above provides a lot of helpful
information including frequently asked questions
that cover most of the situations we have run into
with clients.