Payroll

Jury’s discrimination award is subject to withholding

08/29/2013

A federal appeals court has ruled that a former employee’s Title VII jury award was taxable back pay and front pay. The employer, therefore, didn’t need to seek the trial court’s approval to withhold taxes, even though the award didn’t explicitly allow the employer to withhold.

September 2013: Employer’s business tax calendar

08/29/2013

NOTE: Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays as observed in the District of Columbia are taken into account to determine due dates. Under the federal deposit rules, you’re allowed a deposit shortfall of the greater of $100 or 2% of your tax liability.

What’s the right way to complete Form I-9?

08/27/2013

Question: How can the company fulfill the I-9 requirement to physically review new hires’ documents when employees work remotely? Can we have a notary review the documents, notarize a copy of them and send that copy to our main office?

Trying a creative approach to pay? Have your attorney run the numbers to ensure legality

08/26/2013

Before you approve a creative approach to paying hourly employees, be sure to get expert help. That’s essential if your employees may have to put in more than 40 hours of work per week, because you will have to calculate their regular rate of pay to calculate overtime compensation. And that’s something the DOL wants done right.

Payroll self-audits protect the company–and Payroll pros

08/23/2013

As a Payroll professional, what’s your job? According to Lisa Poole, CPP, corporate payroll manager for Simmons Bedding Corp., your job is to protect the company’s assets, protect employees’ data and remain compliant. Internal payroll audits help you do all three.

‘Back to school’ may mean employees need time off

08/22/2013

When working parents need time off for school activities, most employers are flexible. But just how far they’ll bend depends on whether employees are nonexempt or exempt under the FLSA and state short-term leave laws.

Managing termination pay: Beware trouble ahead

08/21/2013

What goes into a final paycheck, and when that check must be given to a terminating employee, is strictly a state issue. Here are the final-pay rules.

401(k) excess deferral project reveals payroll errors

08/19/2013

The results of the IRS’ 401(k) Excess Deferral Project are in, and they reveal a high failure rate for pretax contribution amounts that were reported on employees’ Forms W-2. The finding: 75% of employers needed to correct their W-2s.

Final IRS regs help combat growing problem of EIN theft

08/15/2013

Employer Identification Number theft is the poor stepchild to Social Security number theft—but it’s a growing problem. If it happens to you, EIN theft will cost time and money as you unravel the complications with the IRS. Final regulations begin to take aim at the problem.

ACA’s employer mandate postponed one year, until 2015

08/14/2013

The IRS has postponed until 2015 the Affordable Care Act’s mandate for large employers to provide health insurance to full-time employees or pay a free-rider penalty. Not postponed: The Oct. 1, 2013, opening of the individual exchanges and the small business exchanges, or SHOPs. Also not postponed: W-2 reporting of employees’ health benefits. Crucial: You also need to provide the exchange notices to all employees by Oct. 1