Keystone transfers employees to Fairfield

Tuesday's Business headlines

FAIRFIELD — Keystone Foods’ Springfield distribution center will soon lay off workers, many of whom will come to Fairfield, according to the company.

Known as M&M Restaurant Supply in Springfield, a notice was sent to the state by Keystone on March 1 that it will lay off 171 workers beginning May 1. Keystone spokeswoman Maureen Garrity said so far more than 80 of the workers have accepted jobs in Fairfield. More are expected to transfer still, according to Garrity.

Philadelphia-based Keystone Foods makes frozen meat products and prints paper products for the fast-food industry, including McDonald’s and Chipotle.

As business picks up in Springfield, it will be re-staffed, she said.

“In the meantime, we have successfully opened a distribution center in Fairfield and have provided positions to many of our employees from Springfield at that new location,” Garrity said.

Keystone opened its U.S. Distribution Fairfield facility Feb. 27.

Businesses may owe payment of use tax to Ohio

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Taxation said thousands of businesses may owe payment of use tax, and is offering a potential break to businesses that contact the state soon about it.

State tax officials estimate that as many as 380,000 businesses may owe use tax, which is applied to purchases of goods and services.

“Use tax is levied at the same rate as the sales tax and comes into play when a taxable purchase is made, but no sales tax is collected,” the Department of Taxation said in a statement distributed to news organizations.

The department has started an educational effort, from now until Aug. 1, to make businesses aware of the use tax, and offered opportunities for companies to potentially reduce the amount they owe.

Any business that contacts the department by Aug. 1, signs a voluntary disclosure agreement and pays its use tax bill will only be liable for up to three years of back tax and interest, department officials said. Otherwise, businesses could be liable for up to seven years back tax, plus penalties and interest.

For more information, visit the Department of Taxation’s website at www.tax.ohio.gov or call (614) 466-7351.

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