Blog

26 04, 2018

See how a company in Ludlow VT made life easier when paying seasonal employees

April 26th, 2018|New hire, Timekeeping|

    Dian Ponto, payroll manager, Resort Asset Management LLC, Ludlow, VT writes:   We dealt with an influx of seasonal workers every year, which made payroll extremely hectic.   Between entering their info into our system and making sure they were paid on time, it was tough to juggle it all.   Plus, with [...]

19 04, 2018

Form W-2: IRS plans to expand verification code

April 19th, 2018|2018 tax changes, W-2s|

    Year-end may seem far away right now, but get ready: The IRS has just released the 2018 Form W-2.   Although there aren’t any big changes to the form just yet, there are some developments you should watch for, mostly dealing with the verification code in Box 9.   Authenticating returns   As [...]

19 04, 2018

Latest info on new employer tax credit for paid family, medical leave

April 19th, 2018|FMLA, Recordkeeping, Timekeeping|

    How companies know if they’re eligible, what to track & more   More companies are offering workers paid medical and family leave. Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this could earn them a tax credit in the next two years.   The amount of the credit ranges from 12.5% if employees [...]

19 04, 2018

Absences & exempt employees: DOL issues key guidance on pay

April 19th, 2018|FMLA, Recordkeeping, Timekeeping|

    What’s included in Opinion Letter 2018-14   The Department of Labor (DOL) hasn’t always been clear about when you’re able to make deductions from exempt employees’ pay if they’re absent from work.   But now that the DOL has issued Opinion Letter FLSA 2018-14 on that topic, you have the guidance you need [...]

29 03, 2018

Do gift cards count as income? New tax act says….

March 29th, 2018|Recordkeeping|

    When it comes to employee achievement awards in the form of gift cards and cash, you’ve been right all along: These awards count as income and are taxable.   So say the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which finally puts this rule in writing to settle the issue.   Guidelines for awards   [...]

29 03, 2018

2018 Form W-4 is finally here: Important updates, next steps

March 29th, 2018|New hire, W-4s|

    IRS definition of ‘first date of employment’   The wait is finally over! The IRS has just issued its new Form W-4 in response to the changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.   Here’s a rundown of what Payroll needs to know.   Changes to boxes   For starters, you [...]

29 03, 2018

IRS releases latest guidance on W-4s: Vital info for Payroll

March 29th, 2018|Uncategorized|

    Handling new hires, employees claiming ‘exempt’   With 2018 already underway, and last year’s Form W-4 still in use, Payroll pros need clear-cut answers from the IRS about how to handle new hires and employees who claim they’re exempt from withholding.   So it’s a relief that the IRS has issued Notice 2018-14, [...]

22 03, 2018

New, clearer guidance from DOL on paying interns: Keys to compliance

March 22nd, 2018|Recordkeeping|

Courts reject old six-part test in favor of different standard   It just became a little easier to figure out how interns should be paid, thanks to several recent court decisions.   After the latest case, Benjamin et al. v. B & H Education, the Dept. of Labor (DOL) revamped its test to determine whether [...]

22 03, 2018

IRS: Tax reform won’t impact retirement plan limits

March 22nd, 2018|Social Security Limits|

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has changed many things for Payroll. But the IRS recently announced there’s at least one thing staying the same.   That’s the Tax Year 2018 dollar contribution limits for employee retirement plans.   Because the new legislation didn’t change any of the existing provisions that allow the Treasury Department [...]

1 03, 2018

Employer must install new timekeeping system after FLSA claims

March 1st, 2018|Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Timekeeping|

    Business will also pay 118K in wages, damages to 21 workers   As long as employees’ pay and time records are complete and accurate, employers can pick and use their own timekeeping methods.   But some employers are learning that if they fail to keep accurate records, the Dept. of Labor (DOL) may [...]