Montana Title 39. Labor § 39-51-1217. Schedule of rates assigned based on trust fund reserve

(1) The rate schedule for each calendar year is assigned based upon the ratio of the trust fund balance as of October 31 prior to the rate year to total wages in covered employment for the 12-month period ending June 30 prior to the computation date.

(2) The ratio at the top of each tax schedule in the tax table shown in 39-51-1218 represents the minimum fund level required for a specific tax schedule to be in effect.

(3) Employer rates are assigned in accord with the rates provided in each schedule for eligible and deficit employers, based upon their experience as defined in this section.

(4) For the calendar year 1990 and each year thereafter, any employer classified as a new employer must be assigned a rate equal to the average rate of contributions paid by employers in the same major industrial classification for the calendar year preceding the computation date, plus an adjustment for the difference between the average tax rate assigned for the previous calendar year and the average rate in effect for the current calendar year. At no time may a new employer be assigned a rate lower than 1%. The computation of the average rate of contributions in a major industrial classification must exclude those employer accounts that are not eligible for the computation of an experience rating solely by reason of insufficient experience. The department shall develop the major industrial classifications for the state and shall annually determine the contribution rate for each classification.