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Sales Tax, Cell Phones, Workers, Registration, Emergency, Development and Magazine
The District of Columbia offers another Sales Tax Holiday, Saturday, August 7 through midnight Sunday, August 15, 2004. The Sales Tax Holiday provides buyers an exemption from the 5.75% sales tax for shoes, clothing, accessory items, and school supplies. The exemption covers each item costing $100 or less. During the nine-day, two-weekend break, the sales tax exemption applies to each eligible item regardless of how many items are sold on the same bill to a customer. It also applies to layaway sales, if the retailer and customer enter into a layaway agreement or the customer makes the final payment on the layaway order during the exemption period. The result of a legislative initiative by Councilwoman Carol Schwartz, the purpose of the "holiday" is to encourage people to purchase items in the District of Columbia. The August Sales Tax Holiday is held to encourage families, who are preparing their children for the upcoming school year, to shop in the District. Two previous August "holidays" were held in 2001 and 2002. Retailers filing monthly or annual Sales and Use tax returns should enter the total amount of tax exempted due to the Sales Tax Holiday along with any other exempt taxes on line 11 of the Sales Tax portion of the return. Retailers are also encouraged to clearly state in their records the type of item sold and the sales price of tax-exempt merchandise sold during the Sales Tax Holiday period. In addition to this August Sales Tax Holiday, there will be a second one held in November 2004, beginning the weekend following Thanksgiving, November 26, 2004, and continuing through midnight December 5, 2004. For further information, the public may contact the Office of Tax and Revenue Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX. Read the retailer guidelines or the Sales Tax Holiday.
Visit the Taxpayer Service Center.
2. Reminder: New Law Requires Hands-Free Devices for Drivers Using Cell Phones Beginning July 1, 2004, it is illegal for motorists to use a mobile phone or other electronic device while driving in the District of Columbia, unless the telephone or device is equipped with a hands-free accessory. The Distracted Driving Safety Act of 2004 is designed to improve traffic safety in DC by reducing the number of crashes caused by inattentive drivers who become distracted by the use of phones or other electronic devices. Note: The Metropolitan Police Department issued warnings only to violators during the first month the law was in effect. Actual ticketing began August 1, 2004. The Tax Sale is required by DC statute and will be held at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC, on the 4th floor. The Tax Sale will begin on Monday, July 12, 2004, and will continue each day that week during the hours of 8:30 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm, or until all properties advertised for that day are sold. Prospective bidders must register to participate. Read more information about the Distracted Driving Safety Act of 2004.
Visit MPDC
3. Workers Compensation Coverage Required of All Employers The Department of Employment Services is continuing to educate employers regarding their workers' compensation insurance responsibilities. In the District of Columbia, workers' compensation is a no fault insurance program which provides benefits to workers who are injured on their job. The employee has given up the right to sue the employer, in return for the guaranteed payment of medical treatment and cash benefits to replace lost wages. The employer gives up the common law defenses of contributory negligence, assumption of risk and injuries caused by a fellow employee. Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage is required of all private employers, with one or more employees, in the District of Columbia. Most employers secure coverage for workers' compensation by purchasing an insurance policy from a licensed insurance company. Employers may apply to the Office of Workers' Compensation for certification as self-insurers where they will retain the liability to provide statutory benefits. Applicants for self-insured status may be required to post a substantial security deposit. Employers must secure coverage until self-insured status is approved. The District of Columbia Workers' Compensation Act of 1979, DC Law 3-77, is administered by the Department of Employment Services, Labor Standards Bureau, Office of Workers' Compensation. Businesses that fail to obtain coverage can be fined up to $10,000. For further information you may contact the Office of Workers' Compensation at (202) 671-1000. Visit DOES. Visit OTR.
4. Businesses Must Register All Weighing and Measuring Devices by October 1, 2004 Effective October 1, 2004, under the Regulation and Inspection of Weighing and Measuring Devices Amendment Act of 2004, the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs will implement a new program requiring businesses to register all Universal Product Code scanners and commercially used weighing and measuring devices. This new Device Registration and Inspection Program will have positive benefits to merchants, citizens and the economy of the District of Columbia. It will allow the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to accurately track the location of all commercially used weighing and measuring devices, prevent illegal weighing and measuring devices from entering the commercial marketplace and ensure that devices used in commercial transactions are appropriate for the intended use. Device inspections will occur semi-annually to validate that devices are properly calibrated and displaying accurately. The program will also provide consumer and seller protection, as well as promote an atmosphere whereby merchants and citizens will want to conduct business in the District of Columbia. Visit DCRA.
5. DC Implements New Emergency Notification System Mayor Anthony A. Williams formally unveiled Alert DC, the District of Columbia's new emergency notification system [on: date. Seems needed here, or say "has formally announced"]. The program provides businesses, residents, and commuters with three different [what is 3rd way?] ways to learn about emergencies in the District and surrounding areas. Text Alert DC allows registered users to receive emergency messages about an event on text-capable devices-cell phone, computer email, pager and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). You can enroll online Voice Alert DC allows emergency managers to notify citizens by telephone of an actual or impending incident that may require them to take some protective action (evacuate, shelter-in-place, etc.). Emergency managers can select very precise geographic areas and call the phones in that area to deliver emergency instructions. Instructions can be delivered in multiple languages and formatted for devices for the hearing impaired. Home and most business lines are automatically registered; the system will be modified at a future date to register cell phone numbers. Read the announcement. Visit the Emergency Center.
6. Deputy Mayor Announces Significant Economic Development Progress The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) issued two press releases related to major economic development and revitalization initiatives. On July 14, 2004, the DC Council approved legislation as proposed by Mayor Anthony Williams to establish the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation (AWC). This new public entity will be charged with leading the revitalization of the District's Anacostia Waterfront. The AWC will coordinate the implementation of a 25-year plan that calls for the redevelopment of land currently either underutilized or not utilized at all. Additionally, the AWC will help coordinate efforts to a clean up the river with the goal of making the river swimmable by 2025. Read the announcement. On the same day, DMPED released additional information regarding several economic development projects including DC USA, Skyland, and Anacostia. Read the announcement.
7. Black Enterprise Magazine Names DC the Second Best City for African Americans The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced that Black Enterprise magazine released the 10 Best Cities for African Americans to live, work and play. There is a striking resemblance between the July 2004 listing and the 2001 ranking. Readers once again selected Washington, DC, as the second best city for African Americans. As in the 2001 survey, 4,000 participants were asked to evaluate their level of satisfaction with 21 "quality-of-life" factors. While all factors were weighted equally, four were of high priority: income earnings potential, cost of living, housing prices and entrepreneurial opportunities. Read the article on Best Cities. Read the announcement from DMPED. Visit DMPED.
8. DC Business Tools Available
Previous editions of the BRC Bulletin newsletter feature articles for small businesses and nonprofits regarding incentives, training, licenses, procurement, commuting, emergency preparedness, and other topics. View the BRC Bulletin Archives.
Submit Feedback to brc@dc.gov
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