(a) (1) Each employer shall file with the director within the time required by subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 1110 for payment of employer contributions, a report of contributions, a quarterly return, and a report of wages paid to the employer’s workers in the form and containing any information as the director prescribes. An electronic funds transfer of contributions pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1110 shall satisfy the requirement for a report of contributions. The quarterly return shall include the total amount of wages, employer contributions required under Sections 976 and 976.6, worker contributions required under Section 984, the amounts required to be withheld under Section 13020, or withheld under Section 13028, and any other information as the director shall prescribe. The report of wages shall include individual amounts required to be withheld under Section 13020 or withheld under Section 13028.

(2) (A) In order to enhance efforts to reduce tax fraud and to reduce the personal income tax reporting burden, effective January 1, 1997, the report of wages shall also include the full first name of the employee and total wages, as defined in Section 13009, paid to each employee. This paragraph shall apply to reports of wages for all periods ending on or before December 31, 1999.

(B) For all periods beginning on or after January 1, 2000, the report of wages shall also include total wages subject to personal income tax, as defined in Section 13009.5, paid to each employee.

(b) Each employer shall file with the director within the time required by subdivision (b) or (d) of Section 1110 for payment of worker contributions, a report of contributions containing the employer’s business name, address, and account number, the total amount of worker contributions due, and any other information as the director shall prescribe. The director shall prescribe the form for the report of contributions. An electronic funds transfer of contributions pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1110 shall satisfy the requirement for a report of contributions.

(c) In addition to the report of contributions, quarterly return, and report of wages required by employers under subdivision (a), an individual who has elected coverage under subdivision (a) of Section 708 is also required to file a separate report of contributions, and quarterly return, subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601).

(d) Any employer making an election under subdivision (d) of Section 1110 shall submit the report of wages described in subdivision (a), within the time required for submitting employer contributions under subdivision (a) of Section 1110.

(e) For purposes of making a report of wages under subdivision (a), employers that are required under Section 6011 of the Internal Revenue Code and authorized regulations thereunder to file magnetic media returns, shall, within 90 days of becoming subject to this requirement, do one of the following:

(1) File any subsequent reports of wages electronically.

(2) Establish to the satisfaction of the director that there is a lack of automation, a severe economic hardship, a current exemption from submitting magnetic media or electronic information returns for federal purposes, or other good cause for not complying with this subdivision. Approved waivers shall be valid for one year or longer, at the discretion of the director.

(f) The Franchise Tax Board shall be allowed access to the information filed with the department pursuant to this section.

(g) The requirement in subdivision (a) to file a quarterly return shall begin with the first calendar quarter of the 2011 calendar year.

(h) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), effective January 1, 2017, an employer with 10 or more employees shall file the report of contributions, quarterly return, and report of wages electronically.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), effective January 1, 2018, all employers shall file the report of contributions, quarterly return, and report of wages electronically.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), an employer may request a waiver from the electronic filing requirements of this subdivision. The department may grant the waiver when the employer has established to the satisfaction of the director that there is a lack of automation, a severe economic hardship, a current exemption from filing electronically for federal purposes, or other good cause. An approved waiver shall be valid for one year or longer, at the discretion of the director.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 222, Sec. 1. (AB 1245) Effective January 1, 2016.)