There are several reasons why the Division of Employment Security audits employers. A former employee may have filed an unemployment insurance claim only to find that the wages reported to DES were different from their records. You may not have regarded that person as an employee. Sometimes there may be indications that an employer may have completed the quarterly tax report (Form NCUI 101) incorrectly, or the employer did not report employees.

A Division of Employment Security tax auditor will confirm that all wages have been reported correctly and that all taxable wages have been computed correctly. The most common types of payroll that are not reported involve payment for casual and contract labor, commissions, remuneration to corporate officers and independent contractors. The auditor will review your records to make sure that your payroll is classified correctly.

Often employers pay for what they believe are independent contractors not subject to the law. Later it’s found that these workers are employees and that tax payments should have been made. You may also have liability over casual labor, commission, payment or other remunerations to corporate officers. The auditor will make findings using clear legal and administrative guidelines.

A normal audit is for one calendar year, but it can be for up to five years. If there is an exception, the auditor will explain the situation to you.

Records reviewed include payroll records, W-2’s, 1099s, IRS records, North Carolina Department of Revenue records and general disbursement records such as your check record journal, invoices and canceled checks. Additional records may be reviewed depending upon the type of business or entity that you have.

The length of the audit depends on the number of employees, the condition of your records and any irregularities that are found. Some audits take three to four hours, while others may take longer. The auditor will best be able to answer this question for you.

DES may still want to conduct an audit to confirm that you do not have employees.

Audits usually take place at the employer’s primary place of business in North Carolina. Sometimes audits may be partially conducted at an accountant’s office, the local Division of Workforce Solutions, public employment office or virtually. In many cases, the auditor may need to visit an employer on site during the audit.

It is not required, but you may have your accountant available to answer questions about the audit if you choose.

When all the information is received and the audit has been completed, you will receive the audit results from the tax auditor.

If you can’t pay the entire amount immediately, the Division of Employment Security can usually work with you to arrange a payment schedule.

Your responsibilities to the Division of Employment Security are separate from those of other agencies. You need to contact the other agencies to determine if you owe additional tax.

After you receive the audit results letter (NCUI-673), you may be mailed a Tax Assessment and Demand for Payment. The tax assessment contains the instructions for protesting the auditor’s finding. The protest must be timely, in writing, state specifically why you believe that the tax assessment is incorrect and signed by an owner of the business. Send the timely protest and a copy of the tax assessment to the Raleigh address on the assessment. You will receive more information concerning a hearing after Division of Employment Security receives your protest.

No, your request for a hearing does not stop interest from accruing on the amount that the Division of Employment Security believes that you owe. You may stop the interest from accruing by paying the amount that the DES believes you owe. Your money will be refunded to you if you prevail at the hearing.