Flashings

Kansas passes registration act

Gov. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) has signed into law the Kansas Roofing Contractor Registration Act, which requires residential and commercial roofing contractors to register with the state of Kansas. The act will become part of the Consumer Protection Act, which is administered and enforced by the attorney general. The act also will create a registry in the office of the attorney general.

To obtain a roofing registration certificate under the act, an applicant must be at least 18 years old and provide a statement of experience and qualifications; a copy of certificate of liability insurance of no less than $500,000; proof that workers' compensation coverage is satisfactory under the workers' compensation act or an affidavit of exemption or self-insurance as authorized pursuant to the workers' compensation act; contact information for the roofing contractor; and other information that may be requested by the attorney general.

The law went into effect July 1 and provides for certain statements of affirmation by the applicant, sets maximum applicant fees, outlines renewal requirements and details when registration is not required.

IRS announces closure dates

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced additional details about closures planned for July 5, July 22 and Aug. 30.

Because of the current budget situation, including the sequester, all IRS operations will be closed July 5, July 22 and Aug. 30. This means all IRS offices, including all toll-free hotlines, the Taxpayer Advocate Service and the IRS' nearly 400 taxpayer assistance centers throughout the U.S., will be closed these days. No tax returns will be processed, and no compliance-related activities will take place.

The IRS noted taxpayers should continue to file their returns and pay any taxes due as usual.

Taxpayers needing to contact the IRS about their returns or payments should be sure to take these dates into account. Because none of the furlough days are considered federal holidays, the closures will have no effect on any tax-filing deadlines. The IRS will be unable to accept or acknowledge receipt of electronically filed returns on any day the agency is closed.

Tax-payment deadlines also are unaffected. The only tax-payment deadlines coinciding with the furlough days relate to employment and excise tax deposits made by business taxpayers. These deposits must be made through the Treasury Department's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, which will operate as usual.

However, the agency will give taxpayers extra time to comply with a request to provide documents to the IRS. This includes administrative summonses, requests for records in connection with a return examination, review or compliance check, or document requests related to a collection matter. No additional time is given to respond to other agencies or the courts.

Some Web-based online tools and telephone-based automated services will continue to function on furlough days, while others will be shut down. Available services include Withholding Calculator, Order A Transcript, EITC Assistant, Interactive Tax Assistant, the PTIN system for tax professionals, Tele-Tax and the Online Look-up Tool for those needing to repay the first-time homebuyer credit. Services not available on furlough days include Where's My Refund? and the Online Payment Agreement.

At a later date, the IRS may announce one or two additional furlough days if necessary.

More information is available at www.irs.gov.

OSHA to extend crane operator compliance date

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced it will propose to extend the compliance date for its crane operator certification requirement by three years to Nov. 10, 2017. The proposal also would extend, to the same date, the existing phase-in requirement that employers ensure their operators are qualified to operate the equipment.

OSHA issued a final standard addressing requirements for cranes and derricks in construction work Aug. 9, 2010. The standard requires crane operators on construction sites to meet one of four qualification and certification options by Nov. 10, 2014. After OSHA issued the standard, a number of parties raised concerns about the qualification and certification requirements. OSHA is considering addressing these concerns through a later, separate rulemaking. The agency will propose to extend the compliance date so the qualification and certification requirements do not take effect during potential rulemaking or disrupt the construction industry.

OSHA held three stakeholder meetings addressing operator certification and qualification issues in April and posted detailed notes about the meetings at www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/stakeholders.html. The agency also will post a list of frequently asked questions on its Cranes and Derricks in Construction Web page, www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks.

USGBC enters partnership with Hanley Wood

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Hanley Wood LLC have entered a strategic partnership whereby Hanley Wood has acquired the Greenbuild® International Conference and Expo.

USGBC will continue to produce the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo's programming, including pre-conference sector summits, education, USGBC Leadership Awards and other events. Hanley Wood will help the expo expand and position the brand globally.

The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, a global event dedicated to green building, features more than 900 exhibiting companies and attracts 30,000 attendees. This year's conference will be held Nov. 20-22 in Philadelphia.

Website addresses tax reform

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairmen of the congressional tax committees, have launched taxreform.gov, a website dedicated to obtaining input from the U.S. public regarding tax reform.

NRCA has been working with members of Congress in support of tax reform and submitted recommendations to committees to lower and simplify taxes. NRCA urges roofing professionals to support the roofing industry's priorities for tax reform by using the new website.

In May, NRCA issued an action alert, "NRCA Action Alert: Tax Reform," which addresses NRCA's position on tax reform and the new tax reform website. To read the action alert, go to www.nrca.net/GovernmentAdvocacy and click on Updates.