Reporting & Paying FAQs

You can find information about delinquent reports and past due liabilities for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in your Uplink Employer Self Service (ESS) account. When you log in to ESS, your dashboard will display a banner indicating if your account is in good standing or if something requires your attention. If you have delinquent reports or past due liabilities, you can click the "Fix Now" option to file any missing reports or make overdue payments.

Key Points:

1. Delinquent Reports: Failing to file required quarterly wage and employment reports on time can result in penalties and a higher premium rate.
2. Past Due Liabilities: Unpaid unemployment insurance taxes, penalties, or interest will show as a balance due. Continued non-payment can lead to additional penalties, interest, and collection actions.
3. Penalty Rate: If you have any outstanding reports or liabilities, your premium rate may increase by 2% for the following year.
4. How to Resolve: Log in to Uplink ESS, review your dashboard, and use the provided options to address any issues.

For more details, please refer to the Employer Guide.

To file your wage report (UC-5) with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), follow these steps:

1. File Online Using Uplink ESS

• Log in to Uplink ESS.
• Navigate to the wage reporting section.
• If you have 50 or fewer employees, you can enter wage data directly on the screen or upload a file.
• If you have more than 50 employees, you must upload a file in either .CSV (Excel) or ICESA format.

2. Prepare Your File (if uploading)

• Use the DWD CSV template or your payroll software to create the file.
• Make sure your file includes all required fields: SUTA number, FEIN, employee SSN, names, start date, SOC code, work location zip, employment type, gross wages, and 12th day of month employment status.

3. Submit the Report

• Upload your file or enter data manually in Uplink ESS.
• Review for errors and correct any issues flagged by the system.
  Submit the report before the due date (last day of the month following the end of the quarter).

4. Need Help?

• Refer to the ESS Wage Reporting Guide for detailed instructions.
• Call DWD at 1-800-891-6499 for assistance.

Note: E-filing is required unless you have an approved waiver.

When you make a payment in the Employer Self-Service (ESS) portal, the payment is generally applied to your account in real time if you use the integrated payment option (e-check or credit card). This means you should see the payment reflected in your balance almost immediately after the transaction is completed.

However, if you use other payment methods (such as mailing a check or using a non-ESS electronic payment), the payment is applied when it is received and processed by DWD, which may take additional time. Payments must be received by the due date to avoid penalties, and delays caused by delivery services are the employer’s responsibility.

Key points:
ESS real-time payments: Reflected almost immediately.
Other payment methods: Reflected after DWD receives and processes the payment, which may take longer.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information about your payment status, always check your ESS account dashboard.

For more details, see the Employer Self Service FAQ and the Employer Guide.

Yes, you are still required to file your wage reports with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) even if you do not have any Indiana employees for a particular quarter. In this case, you should file a "zero wage report" to indicate that you had no employees or wages to report for that period.

Failing to file wage reports, even if no wages were paid, can result in penalties or your account being flagged as delinquent. If you have permanently ceased having employees in Indiana and do not expect to have any in the future, you should notify DWD to inactivate or close your account via ESS, filing SF46800, or via phone at 800-891-6499.

For more information, see the Employer Guide and the Employer Self Service FAQ.

DWD does not take payments by phone. To make a payment as an employer to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), follow these steps:

1. Log in to Uplink Employer Self Service (ESS):

• Go to Uplink ESS and log in with your credentials.

2. Navigate to the Payment Section:

• Once logged in, use the menu to find the payment or tax section. Here, you can view your balance and make payments.

3. Choose Your Payment Method:

• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT/ACH): Pay directly from your bank account (no fee).
• Credit/Debit Card: Fees may apply.
• Mail: You can print a payment coupon from ESS and mail a check or money order to DWD at PO Box 847 Indianapolis, IN 46206-0847. Please provide your SUTA number on the memo line of your payment. Note - payments that are mailed will have an effective date of when they are received by DWD. DWD does not evaluate the postmark date of mailed payments to determine timeliness, as electronic payment is required.

4. Submit Your Payment:

• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your payment.

5. Confirmation:

• After submitting, you will receive a confirmation. Keep this for your records.

Employers filing a currently quarterly wage and employment report should use the immediate payment option in ESS to ensure the payment is directed to that specific liability. Per policy, payments are applied to the oldest liability on the account that are not in an active tax warrant.

If you need more detailed information or have questions about how a payment was applied, you can contact the Indiana Department of Workforce Development Customer Service Center at 1-800-891-6499.