Effective 28 Aug 2014

285.230. Transient employers, defined, bonding requirements — exceptions — specific requirements — penalties — records to be kept, how — discontinuance in activity, notice to director of revenue — inapplicability to certain out-of-state businesses. — 1. As used in this section, "transient employer" means an employer as defined in sections 143.191, 287.030, and 288.032 making payment of wages taxable under chapters 143, 287, and 288 who is not domiciled in this state and who temporarily transacts any business within the state, but shall not include any employer who is not subject to Missouri income tax because of the provisions of 15 U.S.C. Section 381. The transaction of business shall be considered temporary at any time it cannot be reasonably expected to continue for a period of twenty-four consecutive months. Professional athletic teams and professional entertainers domiciled in a state other than Missouri shall be deemed a "transient employer" for the purposes of this section, unless the person or entity who pays compensation to the nonresident entertainer has fully complied with the provisions of section 143.183 in which case the nonresident entertainer shall not be considered a transient employer.

2. Employers meeting the following criteria shall not be required to file a financial assurance instrument as required by this section:

(1) The principal place of business of the employer must be in a county of another state which is contiguous to the state of Missouri; and

(2) The employer must have been under contract to perform work in Missouri for at least sixty days cumulatively out of twelve months during each of the two calendar years immediately preceding the employer's initial application for exemption from the provisions of this section; and

(3) The employer must have in his possession a tax clearance from the department of revenue and the division of employment security stating that the employer has faithfully complied with the tax laws of this state during the period set out in subdivision (2) of this subsection.

­­Within ninety days of August 13, 1988, such employers must obtain initial tax clearances in accordance with subdivision (3) of this subsection. Any tax clearance issued under the provisions of this section by the division of employment security shall be submitted to the department of revenue. On or before January thirty-first of each year, except January thirty-first following the year during which the employer first meets these criteria, the employer shall submit application to the department of revenue and division of employment security for a renewed tax clearance. Failure to submit such renewal applications or failure to comply with applicable Missouri taxing and employment security laws during the period between annual renewal dates or removal of the employer's principal place of business from a county in another state which is contiguous to Missouri to a state other than Missouri shall immediately subject the employer to all provisions of this section. An employer meeting the requirements of this subsection shall still be subject to the provisions of subsection 5 of this section.

3. Every transient employer shall file with the director of revenue a financial assurance instrument including, but not limited to, a cash bond, a surety bond, or an irrevocable letter of credit as defined in section 400.5-103 issued by any state or federal financial institution. The financial assurance instrument shall be in an amount not less than the average estimated quarterly withholding tax liability of the applicant, but in no case less than five thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars. Any corporate surety shall be licensed to do such business in this state and approved by the director of revenue to act as a surety. The transient employer shall be the principal obligor and the state of Missouri shall be the obligee. The financial assurance instrument shall be conditioned upon the prompt filing of true reports and the payment by such employer to the director of revenue of any and all withholding taxes which are now or which hereafter may be levied or imposed by the state of Missouri, upon the employer, together with any and all penalties and interest thereon, and generally upon the faithful compliance with the provisions of chapters 143, 287, and 288.

4. Any transient employer who is already otherwise required to file a financial assurance instrument as a condition of any contract, provided said financial assurance instrument guarantees payment of all applicable state taxes and all withholding taxes levied or imposed by the state and provided that such financial assurance instrument is delivered by certified mail to the department of revenue by the applicable awarding entity at least fourteen days before the execution of the contract for the performance of work, may use the same financial assurance instrument to comply with the provisions of this section. Before such financial assurance instrument is approved by the awarding entity, the director of revenue shall be satisfied that such financial assurance instrument is sufficient to cover all taxes imposed by this state and the director shall so notify the awarding entity of the decision within the fourteen days prior to the execution of the contract. Failure to do so by the director shall waive any right to disapprove such financial assurance instrument. Before a financial assurance instrument is released by the entity awarding the contract, a tax clearance shall be obtained from the director of revenue that such transient employer has faithfully complied with all the tax laws of this state.

5. Every transient employer shall certify to the director of revenue that such employer has sufficient workers' compensation insurance either through a self-insurance program or a policy of workers' compensation insurance issued by an approved workers' compensation carrier. The self-insurance program shall be approved by the division of workers' compensation pursuant to section 287.280. The insurance policy shall be in a contract form approved by the department of commerce and insurance.

6. In the event that liability upon the financial assurance instrument thus filed by the transient employer shall be discharged or reduced, whether by judgment rendered, payment made or otherwise, or if in the opinion of the director of revenue any surety on a bond theretofore given or financial institution shall have become unsatisfactory or unacceptable, then the director of revenue may require the employer to file a new financial assurance instrument in the same form and amount. If such new financial assurance instrument shall be furnished by such employer as above provided, the director of revenue shall upon satisfaction of any liability that has accrued, release the surety on the old bond or financial institution issuing the irrevocable letter of credit.

7. Any surety on any bond or financial institution issuing an irrevocable letter of credit furnished by any transient employer as provided in this section shall be released and discharged from any and all liability to the state of Missouri accruing on such bond or irrevocable letter of credit after the expiration of sixty days from the date upon which such surety or financial institution shall have lodged with the director of revenue a written request to be released and discharged; but the request shall not operate to relieve, release or discharge such surety or financial institution from any liability already accrued or which shall accrue during and before the expiration of said sixty-day period. The director of revenue shall promptly on receipt of notice of such request notify the employer who furnished such bond or irrevocable letter of credit and such employer shall on or before the expiration of such sixty-day period file with the director of revenue a new financial assurance instrument satisfactory to the director of revenue in the amount and form provided in this section.

8. Notwithstanding the limitation as to the amount of any financial assurance instrument fixed by this section, if a transient employer becomes delinquent in the payment of any tax or tenders a check in payment of tax which check is returned unpaid because of insufficient funds, the director may demand an additional instrument of such employer in an amount necessary, in the judgment of the director, to protect the revenue of the state. The penal sum of the additional instrument and the instrument furnished under the provisions of the law requiring such instrument may not exceed two quarters' estimated tax liability.

9. For any period when a transient employer fails to meet the requirements of this section, there shall be added to any deficiency assessed against a transient employer, in addition to any other addition, interest, and penalties, an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the deficiency.

10. A taxpayer commits the crime of failure to file a financial assurance instrument if he knowingly fails to comply with the provisions of this section.

11. Failure to file a financial assurance instrument is a class A misdemeanor. Pursuant to section 560.021*, a corporation found guilty of failing to file a financial assurance instrument may be fined up to five thousand dollars or any higher amount not exceeding twice the amount the employer profited from the commission of the offense.

12. Failing to register with the department of revenue and execute the financial assurance instrument herein provided, prior to beginning the performance of any contract, shall prohibit the employer from performing on such contract until he complies with such requirements.

13. Each employer shall keep full and accurate records clearly indicating the names, occupations, and crafts, if applicable, of every person employed by him together with an accurate record of the number of hours worked by each employee and the actual wages paid. The payroll records required to be so kept shall be open to inspection by any authorized representative of the department of revenue at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary and such records shall not be destroyed or removed from the state for a period of one year following the completion of the contract in connection with which the records are made.

14. The entering into of any contract for the performance of work in the state of Missouri by any such employer shall be deemed to constitute an appointment of the secretary of state as registered agent of such employer for purposes of accepting service of any process, or of any notice or demand required or permitted by law. The service of any such process, notice or demand, when served on the secretary of state shall have the same legal force and validity as if served upon the employer personally within the state.

15. In addition, any employer who fails to file a financial assurance instrument as required by this section shall be prohibited from contracting for or performing labor on any public works project in this state for a period of one year.

16. Whenever a transient employer ceases to engage in activity within the state it shall be the duty of such transient employer to notify the director of revenue in writing at least ten days prior to the time the discontinuance takes effect.

17. The provisions of this section shall not apply to out-of-state businesses operating under sections 190.270 to 190.285.

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(L. 1988 S.B. 488 § 1, A.L. 1994 S.B. 477, et al., A.L. 1997 H.B. 472, A.L. 1998 S.B. 724, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1190)

*Section 560.021 was repealed by S.B. 491, 2014, effective 1-01-17.