Press release
September 18, 2008

Story Contact: Jock Connell
County Administrator
770.822.7095
jock.connell followed by ‘@’ gwinnettcounty.com

OCCUPATION TAX CERTIFICATE APPLICANTS

LEGAL STATUS TO BE CHECKED

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Sept. 18, 2008) – Starting Monday, Sept. 15, Gwinnett County will check the legal immigration status of applicants for an occupation tax certificate. All sole owner and sole-member limited liability corporation (LLC) applicants will be required to sign one of two affidavits. The first is for U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. The other, for qualified aliens and nonimmigrants, will trigger verification through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program operated by the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Board Chairman Charles Bannister requested several weeks ago that screening be extended to these applications. The program is already in place for applicants for housing assistance, as required under the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (Senate Bill 529). Gwinnett has been using the federal online E-Verify system since July 2007 to verify the immigration status of applicants for jobs at the County and its primary contractors and subcontractors, also required by Senate Bill 529.

Bannister said, “We’ve been a leader in the state in using these verification systems, and I feel strongly that tax dollars should be administered according to the full spirit and intent of the law.”

The County will pay a 50-cent fee per SAVE transaction starting Oct. 1. The County’s Licensing and Revenue Board of Appeals will review denied occupation tax certificate applications upon request.

###