Employment Security honored for fast, accurate tax operations - September 24, 2009

09-076

Media contact: Sheryl Hutchison, Communications Director, 360-902-9289

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Employment Security Department has won this year’s "High-Quality Tax Operations Award" from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Among 24 mid-sized states, Washington had the best performance results in 2008 for several timeliness and accuracy criteria that are measured by federal agency.

These include quickly opening new employer accounts, accurately posting unemployment-insurance tax payments so employers are properly credited, quickly processing three million wage records each quarter so the data are available to calculate benefits if workers are laid off, and conducting accurate audits.

In 2008, 99 percent of Washington employers paid their unemployment taxes on time, compared to the national average of 91 percent.

"This isn’t flashy stuff, but performing each of these activities well is crucial to running a stable, high-quality, fair tax system," said Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee. "I’m very proud of the staff in our Tax & Wage branch for this achievement."