(1) An employer may file any report and remit any contributions or reimbursements required under this chapter by electronic means. The Department of Economic Opportunity or the state agency providing unemployment tax collection services shall adopt rules prescribing the format and instructions necessary for electronically filing reports and remitting contributions and reimbursements to ensure a full collection of contributions and reimbursements due. The acceptable method of transfer, the method, form, and content of the electronic means, and the method, if any, by which the employer will be provided with an acknowledgment shall be prescribed by the department or its tax collection service provider. However, any employer who employed 10 or more employees in any quarter during the preceding state fiscal year must file the Employers Quarterly Reports (UCT-6) for the current calendar year and remit the contributions and reimbursements due by electronic means approved by the tax collection service provider. A person who prepared and reported for 100 or more employers in any quarter during the preceding state fiscal year must file the Employers Quarterly Reports (UCT-6) for each calendar quarter in the current calendar year, beginning with reports due for the second calendar quarter of 2003, by electronic means approved by the tax collection service provider.

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   (2)(a) An employer who is required by law to file an Employers Quarterly Report (UCT-6) by approved electronic means, but who files the report by a means other than approved electronic means, is liable for a penalty of $50 for that report and $1 for each employee. This penalty is in addition to any other penalty provided by this chapter. However, the penalty does not apply if the tax collection service provider waives the electronic filing requirement in advance. An employer who fails to remit contributions or reimbursements by approved electronic means as required by law is liable for a penalty of $50 for each remittance submitted by a means other than approved electronic means. This penalty is in addition to any other penalty provided by this chapter.

   (b) A person who prepared and reported for 100 or more employers in any quarter during the preceding state fiscal year, but who fails to file an Employers Quarterly Report (UCT-6) for each calendar quarter in the current calendar year by approved electronic means, is liable for a penalty of $50 for that report and $1 for each employee. This penalty is in addition to any other penalty provided by this chapter. However, the penalty does not apply if the tax collection service provider waives the electronic filing requirement in advance.

   (3) The tax collection service provider may waive the requirement to file an Employers Quarterly Report (UCT-6) by electronic means for employers that are unable to comply despite good faith efforts or due to circumstances beyond the employer’s reasonable control.

   (a) As prescribed by the Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax collection service provider, grounds for approving the waiver include, but are not limited to, circumstances in which the employer does not:

   1. Currently file information or data electronically with any business or government agency; or

   2. Have a compatible computer that meets or exceeds the standards prescribed by the department or its tax collection service provider.

   (b) The tax collection service provider shall accept other reasons for requesting a waiver from the requirement to submit the Employers Quarterly Report (UCT-6) by electronic means, including, but not limited to:

   1. That the employer needs additional time to program his or her computer;

   2. That complying with this requirement causes the employer financial hardship; or

   3. That complying with this requirement conflicts with the employer’s business procedures.

   (c) The department or the state agency providing unemployment tax collection services may establish by rule the length of time a waiver is valid and may determine whether subsequent waivers will be authorized, based on this subsection.

   (4) As used in this section, the term “electronic means” includes, but is not limited to, electronic data interchange; electronic funds transfer; and use of the Internet, telephone, or other technology specified by the Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax collection service provider.

s. 35, ch. 99-208; s. 52, ch. 2002-218; s. 40, ch. 2003-