This week’s question comes from Elizabeth, a small-business owner. We just hired a part-time employee who is seventy years old. He’s already collecting social security benefits so I’m not sure if I should still withhold it from his wages. At what age does social...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for May 16, 2009
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending May 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 631,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 643,000. The 4-week moving average was 628,500, a decrease of...
Tip of the Week: Top Ten Tips for Employee Relationships
As companies continue to use layoffs in an effort to control costs, they must consider whether those layoffs can cost more in the long-run due to losses in revenue generation and service quality. It is critical that companies retain their most talented employees so...
IRS Releases Withholding Adjustment Procedures for Pension Plans
In IR-2009-050, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the release of Notice 1036-P, Additional Withholding for Pensions for 2009, in order to help some pensioners avoid a smaller refund or a balance due when filing their 2009 Form 1040. Although using the...
FL Taxpayers Receive Extension of Time to File Returns and Pay Taxes
Due to severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds in Florida on March 26, 2009, President Barack Obama declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Calhoun, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty,...
GA Taxpayers Receive Extension of Time to File Returns and Pay Taxes
Due to severe storms and flooding in Georgia on March 26, 2009, President Barack Obama declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller,...
AR Taxpayers Receive Extension of Time to File Returns and Pay Taxes
Due to severe storms and tornadoes in Arkansas on April 9, 2009, President Barack Obama declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Ashley, Miller, Polk and Sevier. Therefore, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced recently that it will waive...
Question of the Week: What Are the 2010 Health Savings Account Inflation Adjustments?
This week’s question comes from Joel, an HR director. We just implemented a Health Savings Account plan at our company. We know the amounts employees can contribute for 2009. What are the 2010 Health Savings Account inflation adjustments? Answer: the Internal Revenue...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for May 9, 2009
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending May 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 637,000, an increase of 32,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 605,000. The 4-week moving average was 630,500, an increase of...
Tip of the Week: MTA Payroll Tax Imposed on MCTD Taxpayers
Employers and self-employed individuals within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) are now subject to the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax or MTA Payroll Tax as of March 1, 2009. This tax will provide revenues to the Metropolitan...
ND Taxpayers Receive Extension of Time to File Returns and Pay Taxes
Due to severe storms and flooding in North Dakota on March 24, 2009, President Barack Obama declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Adams, Barnes, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder,...
Memorial Day Holiday May Require Change in Processing Schedule
Monday, May 25, 2009 will be Memorial Day, a federal holiday. The offices of Vision Payroll will close May 22 at 5 pm EDT and re-open Tuesday May 26. Most banks will also be closed in observance of the holiday. Date Paid Process Deadline 5/25/09 5/20/09 5/26/09...
US Department of Labor Releases 2010 Budget
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis recently released the US Department of Labor’s (DOL) fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget request. The budget requests $104.5 billion including $13.3 billion in discretionary funding and 17,477 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). This...
Unemployment Rate Rose to 8.9 Percent in April
Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline in April (-539,000), and the unemployment rate rose from 8.5% to 8.9%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor reported recently. Since the recession began in December 2007, 5.7 million jobs have...
Question of the Week: Why Is My COBRA Credit Limited?
This week’s question comes from Rosa, a business owner. I paid over $5,000 in premiums for former employees who are eligible for the COBRA premium subsidy. The reduction in the federal tax deposit was only about $3,000. Why is my COBRA credit limited? Answer: Pursuant...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for May 2, 2009
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending May 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 601,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 635,000. The 4-week moving average was 623,500, a decrease of...
10 Action Items against H1N1 aka Swine Flu Threat
You’ve certainly heard stories in the media about the swine flu, officially known as influenza a virus subtype H1N1 “A(H1N1)”. The global response is being coordinated by the World Health Organization or WHO, but how your company responds can impact both the health of...
Taxpayers Receive Extension of Time to File Returns and Pay Taxes
Due to severe storms and flooding in Minnesota on March 16, 2009, President Barack Obama declared the following counties a federal disaster area: Clay, Norman, Traverse, Wilkin, Beltrami, Marshall, and Polk. Therefore, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced...
US Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter on Convention and Visitors Services Sales Manager
The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued Administrator signed Opinion Letter FLSA2009-4. Although Opinion Letters only apply to the exact set of facts and circumstances presented in each case, they are a valuable aid in understanding current interpretations of...
US Department of Labor Issues Opinion Letter on Retroactive Overtime Calculation
The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued Administrator signed Opinion Letter FLSA2009-3. Although Opinion Letters only apply to the exact set of facts and circumstances presented in each case, they are a valuable aid in understanding current interpretations of...
Arizona Withholding Tax Changes Take Effect
Effective May 1, 2009, new withholding Chart 3 took effect, increasing the percentage of federal income tax to be withheld for Arizona withholding tax purposes. Employees subject to Arizona withholding should see the impact in their next paycheck. Chart 3 applies to...
Question of the Week: How Do I Determine My Tax Rate for Massachusetts Health Insurance Contribution Act Tax?
This week’s question comes from Matt, a business owner. I received my unemployment rate from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but don’t remember receiving my rate for Massachusetts Health Insurance Contribution Act Tax. How do I determine my tax rate for...
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report Update for April 25, 2009
According to the US Department of Labor, in the week ending April 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 631,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 645,000. The 4-week moving average was 637,250, a decrease of...
Tip of the Week: Take the 3-Minute HR Audit Today
Could you use a systematic, objective tool to assess regulatory or policy compliance in the workplace? Would you like to identify areas of strength? Do you need to note areas of concern? Sign on today to MyHRSupportCenter and take the 3-minute HR audit. You’ll be...
New York State and Yonkers Revise Withholding Tables
Effective May 1, 2009, revised withholding tables are in effect for the New York State personal income tax and the Yonkers resident personal income surcharge tax for certain taxpayers. Vision Payroll will be using the revised tables for all payrolls after April 30,...
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