Unemployment Insurance Division

WARP on the Web - NOW FASTER AND MORE HELPFUL!

What is WARP on the Web?

Can I Download Data Directly from my Office's Payroll Package right into WARP on the Web?

Can I Access or Change My Previous Data?

When can I Submit my Reports via WARP on the Web?

What is my Taxable Wage Base?

What is my Unemployment Insurance Rate?

How Do I Make my Payment?

What is a Transmitter?

WARP on the Web - NOW FASTER AND MORE HELPFUL!

Employers (and transmitters who submit data on behalf of employers) all across the state of Montana can use WARP on the Web (WOW) to store and submit unemployment insurance tax information via the internet. Employer data is available online (with an authorized password) anytime, even after the required quarterly report has been completed and transmitted to the Department of Labor and Industry. No more diskettes.  No more hardcopy. 

If an employer chooses the electronic ACH Debit payment option supported by WOW, even using postal mail to send in quarterly checks can be a thing of the past.

WOW has a "bubble help" feature that displays quick reminders of how to correctly enter all necessary data. WOW displays a helpful hint about each field or button as the user passes their mouse pointer over the labels and buttons. For more detailed help, the Help link at the top of each WARP screen allows users to quickly open a help file that provides a more thorough explanation of all fields and buttons on WOW, screen by screen.

What is WARP on the Web (WOW)?

WOW (WARP on the Web) is Montana's employer tax and Wage Automated Reporting Program On the Web. It is the program which an employer, or their designated representative can electronically submit quarterly Unemployment Insurance reports and payments via the Internet. This application will:

• Record employee wages
• Compute excess wages
• Compute taxes due for unemployment insurance
• Eliminate filing paper quarterly reports for UI
• Accept ACH Debit Payments

Can I Download Data Directly from my Office's Payroll Package right into WOW?

WOW does not accept direct downloads from other software packages (like Quickbooks or Peachtree). We do offer two conversion spreadsheets to convert Quickbooks & ICESA formats into the downloadable CSV format.

What is my Unemployment Insurance (UI) Rate?

Each employer receives their Unemployment Insurance Rate on their annual Rate Notice, which is mailed directly to every employer statewide from the Department of Labor and Industry. WOW has a built-in function that will look up your UI Tax Rate for you automatically and post it to the Quarterly Report Creation screen when filing a report.

Can I Access or Change My Previous Data?

WOW allows employers (and authorized businesses that transmit for employers) to review all tax and wage data submitted via WOW for previous quarters.

WOW will not allow an employer to change report data transmitted for previous quarters, but will allow amended reports to be submitted anytime after the original has been sent (from the Quarterly Report Creation screen).

On the Quarterly Report Creation screen, WOW offers the option to submit an amended quarterly report for any prior reporting period (if that prior report was submitted via WOW). 

Currently WOW only allows one uploaded file per quarter so any previously uploaded data will have to be changed manually before an amended return can be filed.

Because UI was moved from the Department of Revenue to the Department of Labor and Industry in 2004, employers will still be required to file a hard copy amended report for reporting periods prior to the first quarter of 2004.

The WOW system is generally available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
State Law (MCA 15-30-204) effective January 1, 1999 states that "(2) (a) Every employer is required to file a quarterly report in the form required by the department."and" (b) The report is due on or before the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter."

The Taxable Wage Base changes from year to year.  WOW has a built-in function to look up the Taxable Wage Base for you and post it on the Quarterly report creation page when filing a report.

The Taxable Wage Base for 2006 has been set at $21,600 and for 2007 is $22,700.

Experience rated employers are required to report all wages paid to employees on a quarterly report, but to only pay taxes on wages paid up to and including the Taxable Wage Base amount for each employee.

Any wages paid to an employee over the Taxable Wage Base are considered Excess Wages.

Governmental rated, governmental employers and Non-profit employers electing the reimbursable method of payment pay tax on total wages and do not have excess wages

Click on "Pay UI online" from the Main Menu or from the Payment History screen, click the " Add a New Payment" link, to display the " Add/Modify Payment " screen. From this screen, select a Payment Method. WOW will display the choices available for the employer. Then fill in the payment amount, and the applicable year and quarter.