871—23.52(96) Employer liability appeal.
	23.52(1) An initial employer liability determination including employer status and liability, assessments, rate of contributions, successorships, worker’s status, and all questions regarding coverage of a worker or group of workers may be appealed to the department of workforce development for a hearing before an administrative law judge with the department of inspections and appeals.
	23.52(2) The appeal shall be in writing stating:
	a. 	The name, address and Iowa employer account number of the employer.
	b. 	The name and official position of the person filing the appeal.
	c. 	The decision which is being appealed.
	d. 	The grounds upon which the appeal is based.
	23.52(3) The appeal shall be addressed or delivered to: Department of Workforce Development, Tax Bureau, 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319. The employer shall provide adequate postage on appeals filed by mail. Appeals transmitted by facsimile that are received by the tax bureau after 11:59 p.m.	central time shall be deemed filed as of the next regular business day.
	23.52(4) Unless otherwise required, all determinations by the tax bureau will be sent by regular mail or e-mail, depending on how the employer elected to receive correspondence. The determination will be dated, and the employer or other interested party shall have 30 days from the mailing date printed on the notice to appeal the determination. The employer has 15 days to appeal a Notice of Reimbursable Benefit Charges, Form 65-5324.
	23.52(5) If the department concludes, upon reviewing an appeal, that the original determination is correct, the tax bureau may write to the employer and further explain the decision. If the employer still desires a hearing before an administrative law judge, the employer should notify the department within 30 days of the date of the letter from the department.
	23.52(6) Upon receipt of a request for hearing, the tax bureau will ask the department of inspections and appeals to schedule a hearing for the employer. A copy of the request will be mailed to the employer. A copy of the file containing all relevant information regarding the issue of the appeal shall be forwarded to the administrative law judge. Documents that may be sent to the administrative law judge include a copy of the disputed decision, the employer’s original letter of appeal, all relevant correspondence from the department, and the employer’s letter requesting a hearing. All employer liability appeals shall be heard by an administrative law judge and shall be scheduled for hearing at the earliest possible date. Procedures for employer liability hearings are set out in rule 871—26.5(17A,96).
	23.52(7) In those cases in which the department finds that a genuine controversy exists or has existed regarding an employing unit’s liability for contributions on all or a part of its employees or, a rate appeal or other employer liability question and the case has been resolved against such employing unit, then no interest or penalty will accrue from the date of such controversy between the department and the employing unit until 30 days after the decision becomes final.
[ARC 3303C, IAB 8/30/17, effective 10/4/17]