Each employer eligible for a rate computation shall have his base rate determined in the following manner:

1. (1) If, on the computation date as of which an employer's base rate is to be computed, as provided in Section 41-31-40, the total of all his contributions paid on his own behalf for all past periods exceeds the total benefits charged to his account for all the periods his contribution base rate for the period specified in Section 41-31-40 is, except for the provisions of Section 41-31-80, as follows:

   1. (a) With respect to the calendar year 1973:

      1. (i) two and thirty-five hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds five percent but is less than six percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      2. (ii) two percent, if the excess equals or exceeds six percent but is less than seven percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      3. (iii) one and sixty-five hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds seven percent but is less than eight percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      4. (iv) one and thirty hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds eight percent but is less than nine percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      5. (v) ninety-five hundredths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds nine percent but is less than ten percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      6. (vi) six-tenths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds ten percent but is less than eleven percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      7. (vii) twenty-five hundredths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds eleven percent of his most recent annual payroll.

   2. (b) With respect to calendar years 1974 through 1985:

      1. (i) two and thirty-five hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds three percent but is less than four percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      2. (ii) two percent, if the excess equals or exceeds four percent but is less than five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      3. (iii) one and sixty-five hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds five percent but is less than six percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      4. (iv) one and thirty hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds six percent but is less than seven percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      5. (v) ninety-five hundredths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds seven percent but is less than eight percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      6. (vi) six-tenths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds eight percent but is less than nine percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      7. (vii) twenty-five hundredths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds nine percent of his most recent annual payroll.

   3. (c) With respect to any calendar year commencing with the calendar year 1986:

      1. (i) two and twenty-nine hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds three percent but is less than four percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      2. (ii) one and ninety-four hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds four percent but is less than five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      3. (iii) one and fifty-nine hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds five percent but is less than six percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      4. (iv) one and twenty-four hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds six percent but is less than seven percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      5. (v) eighty-nine hundredths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds seven percent but is less than eight percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      6. (vi) fifty-four hundredths of one percent if the excess equals or exceeds eight percent but is less than nine percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      7. (vii) nineteen hundredths of one percent, if the excess equals or exceeds nine percent of his most recent annual payroll.

   4. (d) With respect to any calendar year commencing with the calendar year 2000:

      1. (i) two and sixty-four hundredths percent, if the excess is less than four percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      2. (ii) two and twenty-nine hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds four percent but is less than five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      3. (iii) one and ninety-four hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds five percent but is less than six percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      4. (iv) one and fifty-nine hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds six percent but is less than seven percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      5. (v) one and twenty-four hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds seven percent but is less than eight percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      6. (vi) eighty-nine hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds eight percent but is less than nine percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      7. (vii) fifty-four hundredths percent, if the excess equals or exceeds nine percent of his most recent annual payroll.

2. (2) If, on the computation date as of which an employer's base rate is to be computed, as provided in Section 41-31-40, the total of all his contributions paid on his own behalf for all past periods is less than the total benefits charged to his account for all the periods his contribution base rate for the period specified in Section 41-31-40 is, except for the provisions of Section 41-31-80, as follows:

   1. (a) With respect to any calendar year prior to the calendar year 1985:

      1. (i) three and five hundredths percent, if the deficit equals five percent but is less than ten percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      2. (ii) three and forty hundredths percent, if the deficit equals ten percent but is less than fifteen percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      3. (iii) three and seventy-five hundredths percent, if the deficit equals fifteen percent but is less than twenty percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      4. (iv) four and ten hundredths percent, if the deficit equals or exceeds twenty percent of his most recent annual payroll.

   2. (b) With respect to the calendar year 1985:

      1. (i) three and five hundredths percent, if the deficit equals five percent but is less than ten percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      2. (ii) three and forty hundredths percent, if the deficit equals ten percent but is less than fifteen percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      3. (iii) three and seventy-five hundredths percent, if the deficit equals fifteen percent but is less than twenty percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      4. (iv) four and ten hundredths percent, if the deficit equals twenty percent but is less than twenty-five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      5. (v) four and forty-five hundredths percent, if the deficit equals twenty-five percent but is less than thirty percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      6. (vi) four and eighty hundredths percent, if the deficit equals thirty percent but is less than thirty-five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      7. (vii) five and fifteen hundredths percent, if the deficit equals thirty-five percent but is less than forty percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      8. (viii) five and forty hundredths percent, if the deficit equals or exceeds forty percent of his most recent annual payroll.

   3. (c) With respect to any calendar year commencing with the calendar year 1986:

      1. (i) two and sixty-four hundredths percent, if the deficit is less than five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      2. (ii) two and ninety-nine hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds five percent but is less than ten percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      3. (iii) three and thirty-four hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds ten percent but is less than fifteen percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      4. (iv) three and sixty-nine hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds fifteen percent but is less than twenty percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      5. (v) four and four hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds twenty percent but is less than twenty-five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      6. (vi) four and thirty-nine hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds twenty-five percent but is less than thirty percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      7. (vii) four and seventy-four hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds thirty percent but is less than thirty-five percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      8. (viii) five and nine hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds thirty-five percent but is less than forty percent of his most recent annual payroll;
      9. (ix) five and forty hundredths percent if the deficit equals or exceeds forty percent of his most recent annual payroll.
3. (3) In determining an employer's contribution rate, contributions for the quarter immediately preceding the computation date are considered as paid before the computation date if they are paid by the employer on or before the end of the month following the quarter or within any period of grace allowed by the commission for payment of the quarter's contribution.
4. (4) For calendar year 1986 and any subsequent calendar year, voluntary payments are not permitted for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of required contributions.