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.

A random audit of 10% of participating businesses is annually performed to ensure compliance with the Chamber Pass Program, typically in January and February during the winter season. Businesses that do not submit information at the request of the Chamber or are found to be in noncompliance will incur a fee. Each noncompliant pass must be upgraded to an individual pass at the regular pricing season (which could be a charge the difference of $1,700 for the Premier Pass). 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.

Each Chamber Pass is the property of the business that purchased it and it is the business’s responsibility to ensure that the passes purchased by the business are only being used by bona fide employees and spouses.

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. If an employee with a Chamber Pass resigns, is terminated or works less than the minimum requirement during the ski season, it is the business’s responsibility to revoke the pass from that individual (and spouse) and notify Aspen Skiing Company. Revoked passes are not eligible for refunds but may be transferred to another employee (or spouse).

Audit 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 in question in the time frame indicated by the Chamber of Commerce:

• 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.

If chosen to be part of the audit you will need to provide one of the following documents as verification for each spouse in question in the time frame indicated by the Chamber of Commerce:

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

Helpful hints for the audit process

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.