(1) An employer that has no employees or covered corporate officers for eight consecutive quarters is automatically considered an inactive employer at the end of the eighth consecutive quarter.

(2) An active employer may change to inactive status if the employer notifies the department that it is no longer an active employer, has no employees at that time or for the foreseeable future, and has not elected coverage under RCW 50.24.160. The employer is considered inactive on the date the employer asks the department to close the account.