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NJ DCA, 2011. All rights reserved.

CUTTING RED TAPE

THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Online UEZ Business Registration and Reporting System Update

STATE OF NEW JERSEY Chris Christie, Governor

Kim Guadagno, Lt. Governor

NJ DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS Lori Grifa, Commissioner

NJ URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE AUTHORITY Caren Franzini, Chairperson


UEZ Certification Process

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The UEZ Certification/Recertification process is 100% web-based and paperless.

The UEZ Business Certification System allows—

− Businesses to apply for Certification, submit Annual Reports, and submit Recertifications

− UEZ to review and approve applications

− Zones to monitor Program activity


UEZ Business Certification System

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Application Completed and Submitted ONLINE

Approval (or other Status)

Premier Business Services Login Add UEZ Business

Application Review

Automatic BRC Verification

Automatic Tax Clearance

GIS Location Address Verification

Email notification to business

Revenueissues permits/

certificates

NJ

Business

Portal

www.newjerseybusiness.gov


New Jersey Business Portal

4 www.newjerseybusiness.gov

Use Premier Business Services

UEZ Financing & Incentives page


Premier Business Services Open Account and Login Page

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• Open a Premier Business Services account

• Add a business

• Complete and submit applications and/or forms

Step-by-step instructions are available on the DCA website (click the UEZ icon)

Register ONCE for

PBS


Premier Business Services Adding a Business

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NJ Tax ID # or SS # with three digit extension (000)


UEZ Business Certification System Select UEZ in Premier Business Services

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UEZ Business Certification System Tax Clearance Terms & Conditions

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UEZ Business Certification System Main Menu

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UEZ Business Certification System Enter (or Select) NJ Tax ID Number

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UEZ Business Certification System Verify Business Address

(Certification Only)

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UEZ Business Certification System GIS Mapping – Pinpoint Exact Location


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UEZ Business Certification System Location Verified – Start Application


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UEZ Business Certification System Business Information Screen

Certification Annual Report Recertification

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Almost all fields are

pre-populated

Use the System’s navigation tools, instead of your browser’s


UEZ Business Certification System CERTIFICATION

Employment & Investment Screen

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Replaces UZ1


UEZ Business Certification System ANNUAL REPORT


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UEZ Business Certification System RECERTIFICATION


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UEZ Business Certification System Terms & Conditions Submit Application

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Recertification Only

(Certification, Annual Reporting, Recertification)


UEZ Business Certification System Print or Save Confirmation

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UEZ Business Certification System Notifications

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• On-screen confirmation (print or save) • Email confirmation – application

received • Email notification – application or

report approved or denied

This is why it is so important that the business provides an accurate email address.


Zone Reports Under Development

Weekly activity (one-click) reports— • Certification activity previous week • Businesses late to date • Businesses with tax issues • Inactivation activity previous week

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Help! UEZ Business Certification System • Download the instructions from the DCA UEZ

website • Follow system error messages, which will direct

users to the appropriate resources • Refer to the instructions for general UEZ questions • Contact the UEZ Help Desk for more intricate UEZ

questions NJ Premier Business Services Contact Revenue for help with— • PIN number • Business Registration • Duplicate PBS accounts • PBS prime role assignment

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Certification/Recertification Cycle Recertification is required every three years

• Initial Certification

• Annual Report (end of year 1)

• Annual Report (end of year 2)

• Recertification (end of year 3)

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Repeat the 3 year cycle Annual Report Annual Report Recertification


Employee Data Workbooks Not Submitted – Retain Files

• Workbooks are provided to assist businesses in determining − Employment

− 25% factor

− Capital investments

− Sales tax exemptions

• Workbooks do not need to be submitted with applications, but should be retained, and must be provided if requested by UEZ

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Notifications ALL via Email

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The system generates notifications following a standardized process that alerts businesses―

1. Email notification 30 days before a due date,

2. Email notification 10 days after a due date,

3. Email notification 30 days after a due date, participation in the UEZ Program will be automatically inactivated in 15 days if requirement not met.


Program Procedures Employment

Full-time Employees at Certification or Recertification

Additional Employees Required

0 to 5 0 6 to 10 1 part-time

11 to 49 1 full-time or 2 part-time 50 or more 1 full-time

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The number of employees at the time of Certification determines how many new employees a UEZ business may be required to add.

2 part-time = 1 full-time


Program Procedures 25% Factor

By a UEZ business’s FIRST Recertification, at least 25% of its newly-hired employees must meet one or more of the following criteria • Residents of any zone or any zone municipality

• NJ residents unemployed for at least six months prior to being hired

• Recipients of New Jersey public assistance programs for at least six months prior to being hired

• Determined to be low-income individuals pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998

If fewer than four new full-time employees are hired, the FIRST newly hired employee must meet the 25% factor.

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Use the 25% Factor Workbook


Program Procedures Options for Businesses Unable to Meet

Employment or 25% Requirements

• In-Lieu Payments (increased employment) • Good Faith Waiver (25% Factor) • Extension to Comply (up to 6 months) • Inactivation

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Program Procedures Employment Requirement Option

In Lieu Payment

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees that are unable to meet the increased employment requirement may (with UEZ approval) make annual investments in the zone until the employment requirement is met • Businesses with 10 or fewer employees are required to

invest $5,000 per year

• Businesses with over 10 employees are required to invest $500 per current employee per year

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Program Procedures Employment Requirement Option What constitutes an In Lieu payment?

1. Investments can be improvements to the exterior appearance or customer facilities of the business.

• All improvements must be permanent

• The qualified business must submit at least one vendor's estimate of the project's costs

• A paid-in-full bill must be submitted to the UEZ Program

• Improvements that are made to comply with existing ordinances are not eligible

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Continued


Program Procedures Employment Requirement Option What constitutes an In Lieu payment?

2. Financial or in-kind contributions to the zone municipality for improvements that increase the safety or attractiveness of the zone, can be— • Litter clean up and control • Landscaping • Creation or improvement of parking areas and facilities • Creation or improvement of recreational and rest area

facilities • Repair or improvement of public streets, curbing,

sidewalks and pedestrian thoroughfares • Creation or improvement of street lighting • Increase in police, fire or sanitation services

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Continued from previous page


Program Procedures 25% Factor Options Good Faith Waiver

Businesses unable to meet the 25% factor may (with UEZ approval) undertake one or more of the following— • Provide a letter to UEZ describing the position to be added to their

workforce, including— • Type of position, salary, job description, number of positions available

• Methods that the business used to fill the position locally and the results of those efforts

• Proof of advertisement for the position(s)

• Send a request to New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development for assistance in filling the position

• Perform other evidence to support an effort to hire additional personnel to satisfy the 25% factor

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Program Procedures Employment and/or 25% Factor Option

Extension to Comply

A maximum of two 90-day extensions may be granted

to give the business an opportunity to supply the

necessary information that demonstrates compliance

with the recertification requirements of the program.

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Program Procedures Employment and/or 25% Factor Option

Inactivation

Businesses unable to meet the employment and/or 25%

requirement that have not applied and/or qualified for

relief (In-Lieu Payment, Good Faith Waiver, or Extension)

will be inactivated and lose UEZ tax benefits.

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Program Assistance • UEZ Help Desk

‒ (877) 913-6837

‒ [email protected]

• UEZ Website http://www.nj.gov/dca click UEZ icon - bottom left ‒ Forms & Information

(UEZ & other NJ departments)

‒ Program overview & benefits

‒ Announcements

‒ Meetings

‒ Contacts

http://www.nj.gov/dca

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