It’s On for Electronic Reporting to OSHA – Oops, Nope, Not Quite Yet

Like we are always saying here at The Payroll Department, there is constant and continual change from the government when it comes to employees and payroll taxes. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) reporting requirements were set to change on July 1, 2017 with the launching of its web portal in February 2017. However, because of a security breach, the portal has been temporarily suspended. What’s next?

Well, right now for the “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” rule, there is a proposed electronic reporting compliance date of December 1, 2017.

Originally, in an article explaining the change, OSHA noted it is making the change to electronic submission of forms to “improve safety for workers across the country.” The information we received indicated that OSHA is working with the ITA (Injury Tracking Application) developer to ascertain the extent of the breach, the damage done, and to secure it for the future. At this time it is unclear when the final compliance date will be determined.

Does this affect your small business?

Employers of all sizes must comply with OSHA standards, although some states have State Plans. The list of states with their own plans is here on the Department of Labor website. If your state does not have a plan, you must comply with the federal regulations.

The change in 2017 for the electronic submission of forms for all employers is the 2016 300A Form. In 2018, all employers with 250 or more employees required to keep logs will be required to submit all record keeping forms electronically. This includes the Form 300, 301 and 300A.

Businesses with 249 or fewer employees in certain industries will be required to submit the Form 300A electronically. The list of those industries is here on the Department of Labor website.

What is the new process?

According to the OSHA article, users will have three options for data submission:

• Manually enter data into a webform
• Upload a CSV file to process single or multiple establishments at the same time
• Transmit data electronically via an API (application programming interface)

The ITA will be accessible from the ITA launch page.

Please note that we are providing this information to make you aware of the new electronic reporting requirement, but cannot provide all the detail that would ensure complete accuracy for every business’s situation.

After years of providing payroll processing services, and now bookkeeping, here at The Payroll Department, we know how important it is to work with professionals. You must know exactly what your business is required to report, submit, or pay when it comes to labor law and payroll taxes.

Take the time to consult with someone who has expertise on OSHA requirements and remember that we can help you be certain when it comes to payroll regulations and bookkeeping. Give us a call at 317-852-2568 today.

-Elaine of The Payroll Department Blog Team