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ASC Audit Process

Aspen Snowmass Chamber Pass Program Audit Process

Every business who participates in the Chamber Pass Program should operate under the assumption that they will be audited.

More information can be found on the Aspen Skiing Company Chamber Passes Page, under the Chamber Qualifications and Chamber Pass Audit sections. 

Program Ownership & Business Responsibility

Each Chamber Pass remains the property of the business that purchased it.

  • Usage: Businesses must ensure passes are used only by the issued individual (the bona fide employee or eligible spouse – more below).

  • Restrictions: Passes may not be transferred, shared, or used by unauthorized individuals at any time.

  • Employment Changes: If an employee resigns, is terminated, or falls below the minimum hour requirement, the business must revoke the pass and notify Aspen Skiing Company (ASC).

  • Transfers: While revoked passes are not eligible for refunds, they may be transferred to another eligible employee or spouse.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the program, individuals must meet the following criteria (as outlined on the Aspen Skiing Company Chamber Passes page):

  • Bona Fide Employees: Aspen Skiing Company defines a bona fide employee/owner/manager as one who works a minimum of 20 hours a week during the winter season, receives a W2, and whose primary residence is in the Roaring Fork Valley.
  • Eligible Spouses: Only spouses of owners, managers, and employees living in the Roaring Fork Valley (as their primary residence) are eligible. The owner, manager, and employee must meet the qualifications above in order for the spouse to qualify. 

The Audit Process

A random audit of businesses will be performed each year to ensure compliance with the Chamber Pass Program, typically in January and February during the winter season. If your business is selected, you will be required to provide verification documents within a specific timeframe.

Failure to Comply: Businesses that do not submit information at the request of the Chamber or Aspen Skiing Company, or are found to be noncompliance, will incur a fee. Each noncompliant pass must be upgraded to an individual pass at the regular pricing season (which could be charged up to $1,810 PER PASS for the Premier Pass). Non-compliant businesses could also have all passes suspended for the duration of the season and/or be ineligible to participate in the Chamber Pass Program in subsequent years. Businesses not in compliance will be audited again the following year.

Audit documentation requirements

If chosen to be part of the audit, the business will need to provide one of the following documents as verification for each employee (and spouse) in question in the time frame indicated by the Chamber of Commerce.

Employee verification (W2 Employees):

  • A copy of the fourth quarter Colorado State Unemployment report: Form UITR-1.
  • If you are a Partnership or S-Corporation: Provide schedule K and individual partners’ schedule K-1 from the federal tax return, Form 1065.
  • If you are a sole proprietor: Provide schedule C from your tax return, Form 1040.
  • In lieu of a partnership K-1, S-Corporation or Individual Schedule C, a signed affidavit by an independent CPA including verification of compliance with the program guidelines listed above will be accepted for proprietors, partners or corporations only.

NOTE: Most of the above documents can be obtained from your bookkeeper or tax accountant.

Spouse verification:

  • Marriage License
  • Civil Union License
  • State of Colorado Affidavit of Common Law Marriage that is registered with the county

Common Special Cases & Scenarios

A spouse receives a pass, but not the W2 employee
Example: John Smith works for ABC Company. John does not ski, but his wife Jan does, and she gets a spouse pass.
ABC Company needs to provide documents verifying that John Smith meets the eligibility requirements for employees AND that John Smith and Jane Smith are married. ABC Company provides the chamber with its Q4 UITR-1 and a copy of the Smith’s marriage license.

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Married business partners – A couple are partners in business AND life
Example: Miranda and Bob co-own a outdoor guide business together – ACME Adventures – and both get a pass through the Chamber Pass Program. 
If a couple co-owns a business, since one of the passes could technically be either an employee/owner pass OR a spouse passes, the business can choose to provide employee/owner documentation for both, or employee documentation for one and spouse verification for the other—whichever is easier to produce.

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Brand new businesses (less than a year old) with no tax filings
Contact the chamber directly to discuss options.

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Proactive Tips for Businesses

Documentation: Make sure you can provide the correct documentation for your employees and spouses before you issue them a discount chamber pass voucher.

Keep track of your vouchers: It is the responsibility of the business to keep a record of recipients of the chamber discount pass vouchers. We suggest you keep a spreadsheet of all the voucher numbers and the corresponding name of the employee or spouse.

Please read the ASC Program Guidelines for additional details. If you have any questions regarding the requirements stated above, please call 877-872-7702 or email ASCPass@aspensnowmass.com.