09/07/07 Social Security Mismatch Part 2

Social Security Mismatch Part 2. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. As of September 15th, any employer receiving a social security mismatch letter must respond or face a penalty. Mike Gempler, Executive Director of the Washington Growers League says the new policy is retroactive, but only to last year. GEMPLER: In a defacto way it is retroactive because the federal government delayed issuing the mismatch letters for the 2006 tax year. They were waiting to see again what would happen with immigration reform legislation. Now that the comprehensive bill failed they plan to issue the letters for the 2006 tax year in September this year. Before the new policy, it was pretty much just informational for the employer. GEMPLER: If an employer doesn't jump through these hoops, which are called the safe harbor provisions. In other words, if the employer jumps through all the hoops he will be considered to have safe harbor from prosecution from knowingly employing an illegal alien. If the employer doesn't go through these processes and check out the documents according to these government regulations, then they are open to prosecution by the federal government for knowingly employing illegal aliens. Gempler says that those who don't comply are open to fines as well. GEMPLER: Along with this announcement of this new regulation the administration announced a whole slew of enforcement provisions including an increase in the fines. And so supposedly fines for not complying with this and being accused of illegally employing an illegal alien are up to $10-thousand dollars per employee. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.