Phone area code changes will affect some HOAs

Editor’s note: Barbara Holland takes a break from her Q&A column format to look at how new state laws are affecting area homeowners associations.

A new area code number, 725, will be added to the greater Las Vegas area, serving Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Mesquite, Moapa Valley, North Las Vegas and Spring Mountain.

The new dialing procedures for local calls will require the caller to dial the area code then the telephone number. The change began Aug. 3.

Beginning May 3, you must use the new code whenever you place a call from the 702 area code. If you do not, your call will not be completed.

Beginning June 3, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 725 area code. In addition to changing the current dialing procedures, all services, automatic dialing equipment or other types of equipment that are programmed with a 7 digit number (such as your gate system if you live in a gated community) will need to be reprogrammed.

I have been told that some of the current operating systems within gated communities are not capable of reprogramming with 10 digits, which means they must contact their provider and may incur the cost of a new software system.

You will need to check the procedure for automatic downloading of your current numbers to see if the system will add the area code automatically or if you will need to manually input all of the telephone numbers in the new system.

Associations with employees should be aware of the passage of Assembly Bill 482 during the 2013 legislative session that created the interest repayment fund. It is for the payment of the interest accruing and payable on advances received by the state from the U.S. Treasury Department related to paying unemployment insurance benefits. (Meaning, Nevada borrowed money from the federal government to help provide unemployment benefits because of high unemployment rates.).

It is a temporary assessment that is to be kept separate from your quarterly unemployment insurance contributions and is not charged against the experience rating record for your association. This is a separate payment that is not to be combined with your quarterly payments.

In 2013, the amount of the temporary assessment was based on the association’s total taxable wages that were paid during the 2012 calendar year. The first payment started in July.

Since 2013, Nevada obtained bonds by which they were able to repay the federal government. Starting this year, employers will be paying an extra fee on a quarterly basis to pay off the bonds. This “temporary assessment” is scheduled to continue until late 2017 or early 2018.

This new fee will be based upon the quarterly taxable wages times some bond factor that will be determined. You should be receiving this information soon.

And finally, associations and management companies, please note this information from the state Taxation Department.

If your association purchases gate controllers for example at $25 each and then resells them for $100 each, your association is required to collect Nevada sales tax on the $100 sales price. The association will receive credit for the sales tax paid on its initial purchase of the $25 gate controller Associations who mark up their gate remotes will need to register with the Taxation Department and obtain a sales and use tax permit.

You can access this information by going to www.tax.state.nv.us and download the registration form, or you can directly register online at www.nevadatax.nv.gov. For more information, call 866-962-3707.

Barbara Holland, certified property manager, broker and supervisory certified association manager, is president and owner of H&L Realty and Management Co. Questions may be sent to the Association Q&A, P.O. Box 7440, Las Vegas, Nev., 89125. Fax is 702-385-3759, email is support@hlrealty.com.