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AZURE Frequently Asked Questions and Responses

What is AZURE Bulk Filing?

AZURE (pronounced AZ - ure) Bulk Filing is part of the Arizona UI Tax Bulk File Upload Project that was implemented by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS), Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax Office in July, 2010.  The Bulk File Upload Project uses a system, referred to as the AZ UI Tax Reporting for Employers (AZURE) system.  The AZURE system allows bulk filers (all referred to as Transmitters)  to upload quarterly Unemployment Tax & Wage Reports in a file using the XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format via a secure server-to-server File Transfer Protocol (FTP) process.
  
The AZURE system:

  • Receives XML-formatted file(s) containing tax and wage data
  • Accepts the payment method of ACH Credit
  • Sends two levels of acknowledgements for file receipt and file validation
  • Stores Tax & Wage Report data in the Department’s imaging system
  • Updates employer accounts on the Department’s Accounting mainframe system

 

What type of payment method is accepted for AZURE Bulk Filing?

Currently, the only payment method accepted with the AZURE Bulk Filing is ACH Credit.  

The Arizona UI online Tax & Wage System (TWS) does accept ACH Debit payments.  For TWS, you must log in and file for a single employer at a time, and the employee count cannot exceed 999 within a filing. Detailed information on TWS can be found here.

Who can file using the AZURE Bulk Filing System?

Anyone who has the system capabilities to upload reports in the required XML format is open to use the AZURE system to file quarterly Tax & Wage Reports.  This includes employer representatives as well as the large-employer (999+ employees) populations.  All users, however, are required to enroll by submitting a Bulk Filer Application (52 KB PDF) in order to be allowed to file via the AZURE Bulk Filing system.

How do I register for AZURE Bulk Filing?

All users are required to complete the enrollment process prior to accessing the AZURE Bulk Filing system.  Users must register by completing the Bulk Filer Application (52 KB PDF) to obtain approval as a Bulk Filer (Transmitter).

Once your AZURE Bulk Filing application has been approved, the Department will email you a Welcome Packet that will consist of the following:

  • Login ID and password credentials
  • User Requirements and Specifications
  • AZURE Test & Production Filing Schedule
  • Summary of UI Tax & Wage Report Filings (Frequently Made Mistakes)

 

How soon can my company begin bulk filing once the application submitted?

Once your bulk filing application has been approved, your company must successfully complete all levels of testing prior to filing ‘live’.   A Test & Production Schedule will be provided in the Welcome Packet that outlines testing timeframes.

Is the filing timeframe policy different when filing via the AZURE Bulk Filing System?

Filing through the AZURE Bulk Filing system does not change the Arizona UI Tax & Wage reporting schedule.  

All users (Transmitters) must adhere to the UI Tax & Wage Report filing policy and schedule as established by the Arizona Department of Economic Security.  Click on the following links for information regarding the UI Tax & Wage Report Schedule or to review the Employer Handbook on Unemployment Insurance Tax.

Who do I contact for technical questions on the AZURE system?

You may contact the UI Tax Employer Accounting Unit:

Telephone:      (602) 771-6601
Email:              [email protected]  

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