Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 872.1 - Monetary penalties(a) Any employer (whether or not liable for the payment of contributions under this act) or any officer or agent of such employer or any other person who does any of the following commits an offense for which a civil penalty shall be assessed by the department:(1) wilfully fails or refuses to produce or permit the inspection or copying of records as required hereunder;(2) wilfully fails or refuses to make any report required by section 315(a)(1) or (2) of this act, wilfully makes or attempts to make such a report containing a misrepresentation of fact, or wilfully makes or attempts to make such a report that fails to disclose a material fact;(3) wilfully fails or refuses to make any report required by section 315(a)(4) of this act, wilfully makes or attempts to make such a report containing a misrepresentation of fact, or wilfully makes or attempts to make such a report that fails to disclose a material fact;(4) wilfully reports or attempts to report the wages of one or more employes to the department on an unemployment compensation account other than the account of the employer under this act; or(5) wilfully advises, solicits, encourages or commands an employer or an officer or agent of an employer or any other person to engage in conduct that is an offense under this section.(b) The amount of a penalty under subsection (a)(1) shall not exceed fifteen hundred dollars for each day of failure or refusal.(c) The amount of a penalty under subsection (a)(2) of this section shall not exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars or the amount of the difference between the amount of contributions payable by the employer at the rate or rates of contribution assigned by the department in the absence of the report or based on a misrepresentation or nondisclosure in the report and the amount of contributions payable by the employer at the correct rate or rates of contribution. The penalty shall apply to contributions for calendar quarters from the quarter in which the report became due through the quarter in which a report is filed that does not contain a misrepresentation or nondisclosure. Each employer for whom a report is not made, or a report is made containing a misrepresentation or nondisclosure, or an attempt is made to make a report containing a misrepresentation or nondisclosure shall be the basis of a separate penalty.(d) The amount of the penalty under subsection (a)(3) of this section shall not exceed ten thousand dollars for each report that is not made, each report containing a misrepresentation or nondisclosure and each attempt to make a report containing a misrepresentation or nondisclosure.(e) The amount of the penalty under subsection (a)(4) of this section shall not exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars or the amount of the difference between the amount of contributions payable on the wages as reported on an incorrect account, or the amount of contributions that would have been payable if the attempt to report the wages on an incorrect account had been consummated and the amount of contributions payable on the wages as reported on the employer's account. Each calendar quarter and each employer for which wages are reported on an incorrect account or an attempt is made to report wages on an incorrect account shall be the basis of a separate penalty.(f) The amount of the penalty under subsection (a)(5) of this section shall not exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars or the amount of the penalty assessed against the employer, officer, agent or other person who is the object of the conduct that is an offense under subsection (a)(5) of this section. Each employer, officer, agent or other person who is the object of conduct that is an offense under subsection (a)(5) shall be the basis of a separate penalty.(g) An officer or agent of an employer or any other person assessed a penalty under this section shall be deemed to be an employer for purposes of the enforcement and collection provisions of this act. A penalty assessed under this section may be collected in the manner provided in sections 308.1, 308.2, 308.3 and 309 of this act and any other manner provided by this act for the collection of contributions, interest and penalty.(h) Penalties under this section shall be assessed in accordance with the procedures prescribed in section 304 of this act.(i) For purposes of this section, the terms "wilfully" and "willfully" shall have the meaning applicable to the term "willfully" under 18 Pa.C.S. § 302 (relating to general requirements of culpability)1936, Second Ex.Sess., Dec. 5, P.L. (1937) 2897, art. VIII, § 802.1, added 2005, June 15, P.L. 8, No. 5, § 12, imd. effective.