Inova Payroll Blog

Have you ever watched MythBusters, the science experiment television show that sets out to test myths and prove or debunk them once and for all? The hosts’ mission is to unveil the truth behind urban myths, folktales, and legends. Well, that's what we're doing in this post! We are debunking eight payroll myths we often hear in our industry. Chances are good you've heard one or two of these myths before.

If you’ve received an official IRS notice, the likely response is to panic. But panicking is not really necessary. Notices are often just a matter of a clerical error or payment discrepancy that is easily resolved. Sometimes the required fixes are simple, and sometimes they are complex, but the important thing is to be active and transparent.

Payroll service companies can be a big help when it comes to calculating and filing your company’s payroll taxes, printing checks, and being available to answer important payroll-related questions. Industry-leading companies have streamlined processes and controls that lead to greater efficiency and fewer errors, which can save your company time and money.

When considering payroll service options, it is important to choose a reputable company because ultimately your business is responsible for paying the taxes, not your payroll company. That means you must do your homework to ensure the payroll company is compliant with regulatory standards and that your taxes are paid in full and on time.

Payroll is an important part of any business that employs workers. Paying your employees the right amount at the right time is essential to maintaining goodwill with your employees, not to mention staying in compliance with employment laws.

While payroll is a basic function of an employer’s daily operation, it can also be difficult to get your arms around. So we’ve identified some of the most frequently asked questions about payroll and provided answers and resources to point you in the right direction.

Updated December 7, 2017

Employers in Pennsylvania are subject to some of the country’s most complex payroll tax laws. Pennsylvania is one of 43 states that have a state income tax and one of 14 states that have local taxes. In addition to withholding state and local income tax from employees’ wages, Pennsylvania employers must also comply with special tax rules.

For example, Pennsylvania is one of the few states that requires state unemployment tax withholding and does not fully follow federal law on pretax deductions. Pennsylvania has also established reciprocal agreements with six other states – which adds another layer of complexity to state withholding.

Here’s an overview of the unique withholding requirements in Pennsylvania and tips for remitting and reporting taxes.

Q4 has arrived and that means it’s time to begin preparing for year-end. Waiting until December to complete all of your year-end tasks is not an option this year. Along with satisfying the typical payroll obligations, this year employers must adhere to fresh rules – including new overtime guidelines and an earlier W-2 filing date. With the flurry of activity surrounding payroll at year-end, starting early and having a checklist of key tasks is vital to gaining direction and reducing stress. Here’s how you can prepare now for a successful year-end.

The mazelike world of payroll taxes can be perplexing for employers. The key to breaking through the initial confusion is to identify the two categories of payroll taxes: employee taxes, which are withheld from employees’ wages; and employer taxes, which are the employer’s portion of taxes. Employee and employer taxes are imposed on federal, state and local levels – knowing which ones pertain to your business is an essential element of staying in compliance and avoiding payroll tax penalties.

This handy guide provides a basic understanding of payroll taxes, including withholding, remittance and reporting guidelines, plus important tips for employers who outsource payroll duties.

In 2014 payroll fraud comprised 10.2 percent of global occupational fraud cases, with organizations suffering a median loss of $50,000 per year.

Social Security numbers, addresses, wages, and bank account numbers are just some of the sensitive data you will find in a payroll department. Breaches in this data can be detrimental to your company’s reputation and financial standing; small businesses, especially, may never recover.

While you cannot stop criminals from attempting to steal your data, you can thwart their efforts by following these best practices for payroll data security.

Update May 18, 2016: The new overtime rule was announced today and takes effect December 1. The threshold is $47,476 and will be updated every three years. Incentive pay like bonuses can account for up to 10% of the threshold amount.

Update November 23, 2016: A preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge has delayed the new FLSA overtime rule that was set to take effect December 1. With the delay in the rule, employers are not required to meet the rule's increased salary threshold of $47,476 for exempt status starting December 1. The rule will continue to be reviewed by the court and a final decision will be issued at a later date.

On March 14, 2014, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum, directing the U.S. Department of Labor to revise the Fair Labor Standards Act overtime protection rules. The DOL subsequently issued a proposed rule that would raise the annual salary for the overtime exemption from $23,660 to $50,440. The final rule is expected within days and the general consensus is that employers should start preparing for the change now as they may have 60 days to comply.

Tip income represents special payroll and reporting challenges for restaurant employers. Underreporting of tip income triggers a two-fold effect: inadequate withholding of the employee’s share of taxes and underpayment of the employer’s portion. Still, that’s just one side of the tip reporting coin. On the other side are requirements you must meet, such as minimum wage, tax withholding and tip allocation.