(a) As used in this chapter, the term "employer" means:

(1) Any employing unit which, in either the current or preceding calendar year:

(A) Paid in any calendar quarter wages of $1,500.00 or more for service in employment; or

(B) Had in employment at least one individual, irrespective of whether the same individual was in employment on each such day, for some portion of a day in each of 20 different calendar weeks, whether or not such weeks were consecutive;

(2) Any employing unit which, within either the current or preceding calendar year, paid for domestic service, as defined in subsection (l) of Code Section 34-8-35, cash remuneration of $1,000.00 or more during any calendar quarter;

(3) Any employing unit which within either the current or preceding calendar year:

(A) Paid, during any calendar quarter, remuneration in cash of $20,000.00 or more to individuals employed in agricultural labor; or

(B) Had ten or more individuals employed in agricultural labor, regardless of whether they were employed at the same moment of time, for some portion of a day in each of 20 different calendar weeks in a calendar year.

For the purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph, service in agricultural labor performed before January 1, 1993, by an alien admitted to the United States to perform service in agricultural labor pursuant to Sections 214(c) and 101(a)(15)(H) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act shall not be taken into account;

(4) Any religious, charitable, educational, or other organization if the following conditions are met:

(A) The organization's employment is excluded from the Federal Unemployment Tax Act by reason of Section 3306(c)(8) of that act; and

(B) The organization had, within either the current or preceding calendar year, four or more individuals in employment for some portion of a day in each of 20 different weeks, whether or not such weeks were consecutive and regardless of whether they were employed at the same time;

(5) Any governmental entity for which service in employment as defined in subsection (h) of Code Section 34-8-35 is performed;

(6) Any employing unit which is or becomes an employer subject to this chapter within any calendar year shall be subject to this chapter during the whole of such calendar year. Any employer subject to this chapter shall remain an employer unless liability has been terminated in accordance with Code Section 34-8-163;

(7) Any employing unit which has elected to become an employer subject to this chapter pursuant to the following:

(A) An employing unit not otherwise subject to this chapter which files with the Commissioner its written election to become an employer subject to this chapter for not less than two calendar years shall, with the written approval of the Commissioner, become an employer subject to the same extent as all other employers as of the date stated in such approval. The employer shall cease to be subject as of January 1 of any calendar year subsequent to such two calendar years only if prior to April 30 in any calendar year it has filed with the Commissioner a written notice to that effect. However, any employing unit which has elected coverage under this Code section and subsequently becomes liable by operation of law may terminate coverage only as provided in Code Section 34-8-163; or

(B) Any employing unit for which services are performed that do not constitute employment as defined in this chapter may file with the Commissioner a written election that all such services performed by individuals in its employ in one or more distinct establishments or places of business shall be deemed to constitute employment for all purposes of this chapter. The election must be for not less than two calendar years. Upon the written approval of the Commissioner, such services shall be deemed to constitute employment subject to this chapter after the date stated in such approval. Such services shall cease to be deemed employment as of January 1 of any calendar year subsequent to such two calendar years only if prior to April 30 in any calendar year such employing unit has filed with the Commissioner a written notice to that effect;

(8) Any employing unit which acquired the organization, trade or business, or substantially all of the assets of another which at the time of such acquisition was an employer subject to this chapter;

(9) Any employing unit which acquired the organization, trade or business, or substantially all of the assets of another employing unit, if the employment record of such employing unit subsequent to such acquisition together with the employment record of the acquired unit prior to such acquisition, both within the same calendar year, would be sufficient to meet any other definition of employer within this chapter; or

(10) Any employing unit which is not an employer by reason of any other paragraph of this Code section:

(A) For which services are performed within the state with respect to which such employing unit is liable for any federal tax against which credit may be taken for contributions paid into a state unemployment compensation fund; or

(B) Which, as a condition for full tax credit against the tax imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, is required to be covered under this chapter.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require identical coverage to that provided by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, as amended, nor shall interpretations as to liability or nonliability by federal administrative agencies be binding on the department.