Indiana law now requires that all businesses that file more than 25 wage statements per calendar year must now file their WH-3 returns and W-2s electronically with the state. To comply with this law, these businesses will need to be registered to file electronically, and those that file more than 2,000 wage statements per calendar year must be certified to bulk upload those statements.

To better assist businesses in completing this process before the end of the year, the Department of Revenue has established a website to specifically help businesses quickly and easily register and certify to file their WH-3s and W2s in 2011.

Businesses can visit the website at: www.in.gov/dor/4455.htm

The deadline for businesses to register to file electronically, and to be certified for bulk upload of their wage statements is Dec. 31, 2010. WH-3s are due the end of February 2011. 

By Andy Fulford (Construction Executive magazine, September 2010 issue)

It's easy to renew commercial truck insurance without taking a close look at the policy, but a regular review can reveal several money-saving opportunities.

Here are six questions contractors should ask their agent to find out if they have the right insurance.

1. Are all employees covered when they drive company-owned trucks, even if they're not listed on the policy? Some insurance companies only cover drivers who are named on the policy. If a firm regularly employs temporary workers, it needs to call the insurer and add them to the policy to make sure they're covered. Other insurance companies allow "permissive use," which means temporary drivers are covered as long as they have the company's permission to operate the vehicle.

2. Will the insurance company pay to repair employees' personal vehicles if they get into an accident while running a business errand? If employees use rental vehicles or their personal cars or trucks for business errands, consider protecting those vehicles by adding optional coverages to the policy. In many cases, a standard commercial auto insurance policy does not cover damages in case of an accident.

3. How quickly are claims resolved? Find out how long, on average, it takes the insurer to resolve claims. The faster it takes care of the claim, the faster work can resume. Also, ask if the insurance company covers a rental vehicle or provides downtime payments. That way, work can continue even if a truck is out of commission.

4. Should the policy be maintained during the offseason when trucks are not in use?  When the weather changes, consider switching to comprehensive-only coverage instead of canceling the policy completely. This coverage protects against incidents like vandalism or hail while vehicles are idle for long periods of time. Before canceling liability insurance, check with the Department of Motor Vehicles, as some additional steps may be necessary to comply with state insurance laws.

5. Are all available discounts being utilized?  Because vehicle insurance can comprise as much as 40 percent of a firm's total operating budget, don't be shy about asking the insurance company for additional discounts. Options include discounts for customers that have been in business for three years or more, or that have a general liability or business owner's policy.

6. Is the right payment plan in place? When deciding how to pay the insurance premium, consider the business's cash flow. The firm could save money by paying the premium in full, but paying it in installments might be wiser. Choose a payment plan based on how much the company can put down and how often it wants to pay the remaining installments.