This week’s question comes from Victoria, a corporate controller. Victoria asks: I read that California is going to be a credit reduction state for 2011, but heard that they be more credit reduction states. What are the credit reduction states for 2011? Answer: The...
California Is a Credit Reduction State for 2011
According to the California Employment Development Department, California will be a FUTA tax credit reduction state in 2011. Standard Credit Rates Is 5.4% for 2011 Generally, employers who pay their state unemployment tax by the due date for filing Form 940,...
North Carolina ESC Chair Suspends Certain Provisions of Unemployment Law
Employment Security Commission (ESC) Chairman Lynn R. Holmes officially notified leaders of the General Assembly on Wednesday that she was suspending certain provisions of Senate Bill 532 because the provisions do not comply with federal law. US DOL Had Threatened...
Michigan Offers Rebate for Expected Credit Reduction
According to the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) of the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in Fact Sheet 139, the FUTA tax credit reduction rate will increase from 0.6% in 2010 to 0.9% in 2011. Since the determination will not be made...
Tip of the Week: FUTA Tax to Decrease This Friday
Most employers nationwide will receive an employment tax reduction July 1, 2011 when the temporary FUTA surtax expires. The temporary surtax was enacted in 1976. The standard FUTA tax rate will decrease from 6.2% to 6.0%. Standard Credit Rate is 5.4% for 2011...
Connecticut Imposes Special Assessment on Employers
In Connecticut, the average number of workers filing for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits since 2007 has grown from 40,000 to approximately 130,000. In 2009 and 2010, UI benefit payouts greatly exceeded UI tax revenues. In 2011, UI benefit payouts will continue to...
Question of the Week: What Is a Taxable Wage Base?
This week’s question comes from April, an office manager. I’ve read that the taxable wage base has increased in New Hampshire for 2011, but I’m not sure of the impact. What is a taxable wage base? Answer: The taxable wage base is the amount of income that will be...
Indiana Is a Credit Reduction State for 2010
According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Indiana will be a FUTA tax credit reduction state in 2010. Standard Credit Rate is 5.4% for 2010 Generally, employers who pay their state unemployment tax by the due date for filing Form 940, Employer's...
Question of the Week: Are There Any Other Credit Reduction States for 2010?
This week’s question comes from Peter, a company controller. I read that Michigan is a credit reduction state for 2010. Are there any other credit reduction states for 2010? Answer: Federal law provides for a reduction in the FUTA tax credit when a state has...
Michigan FUTA Tax Credit Reduction to Increase for 2010
According to the Unemployment Insurance Agency of the State of Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, the FUTA tax credit reduction rate will increase from 0.3% in 2009 to 0.6% in 2010. Standard Credit Rate is 5.4% for 2010 Generally, employers...
Question of the Week: Do I Need a Separate EIN for My Corporation?
This week’s question comes from Cliff, a sole proprietor. I am forming a corporation and will be converting from a sole proprietorship to a corporation. Do I need a separate EIN for my corporation? Answer: The new corporation is a distinct entity from the sole...
Question of the Week: What is a Credit Reduction State?
This week’s question comes from Scott, a small-business owner. I own a business in Michigan. I’ve heard that for 2009, Michigan is a credit reduction state. What is a credit reduction state? Answer: For 2009, Michigan is the only “credit reduction state”. This means...
Question of the Week: Do I Need a Separate EIN for My Single Member LLC?
This week’s question comes from Kevin, a sole proprietor. I am forming an LLC and will be converting from a sole proprietorship to a single member LLC, but still taxed as a sole proprietor. Do I need a separate EIN for my single member LLC? Answer: As explained...
Question of the Week: Do FUTA Taxes Apply to Children of Sole Proprietor Who Are Age 18 or Older?
This week’s question comes from Debbie, a sole proprietor. I read that children under age 18 are not subject to federal employment taxes. My children are now in college and work part-time year-round. I know they are now subject to FICA taxes. Do FUTA taxes apply to...
Question of the Week: Does a Sole Proprietor Have to Pay Payroll Taxes on Children’s Wages?
This week’s question comes from Brad, a sole proprietor. My 16-year-old daughter will be out of school soon and I’d like to hire her for the summer in my sole proprietorship. Does a sole proprietor have to pay payroll taxes on children’s wages? Answer: Sole...
Question of the Week: Which Payroll Taxes Do We Need to Pay on Differential Pay to Active Military Duty Employees?
This week’s question comes from Rocco, a plant manager. We pay employees on active military duty a differential wage that makes up for wages that they would have earned had they not been on active military duty. Which payroll taxes do we need to pay on differential...
Question of the Week: Can You Tell Me More about Statutory Employees?
This week’s question comes from Carolyn, a business owner. I read recently about statutory employees and would like to find out if some of our new hires would qualify as statutory employees. Can you tell me more about statutory employees? Answer: Common law considers...
Question of the Week: Why Did My Payroll Cost Increase?
This week’s question comes from Rachel, a business owner. I have been running payroll with almost the exact same hours every week for the last few months. In the last few weeks, the payroll cost was several thousand dollars more each week than a month ago. Why did my...
Question of the Week: Should I Make A Voluntary SUTA Payment?
This week’s question comes from Rick, a corporate controller. We received a notification from our state unemployment agency that we may want to make a voluntary payment toward SUTA. Should we make a voluntary additional payment? Answer: For employers that are in...
Question of the Week: Why Did My State Unemployment Rate Change?
This week’s question comes from Rob, a business owner. I paid all my federal and state unemployment taxes and didn’t lay anyone off. Why is my unemployment rate going up? Answer: Generally, your state unemployment rate is determined by the ratio of your account...
Question of the Week: Can a Partner Receive a Paycheck from a Partnership?
This week’s question comes from Carl, a partner in a partnership. I am an investor in a partnership and own a 25% interest as a partner. I also work for the business that the partnership owns. Can I be paid through payroll, have tax withheld, and receive a Form W-2?...
IRS Issues Fact Sheet on S Corporation Officer Compensation
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Fact Sheet FS-2008-25, which discusses S corporation officer compensation. Corporate officers, whether in S corporations or C corporations, are generally considered employees of the corporation. Officers who perform...
FUTA Surtax Extended Again
The Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) is imposed by §3301 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC). The statutory rate of 6.2% was set to revert at the end of 2008 to the original rate of 6.0%. Under §404 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (Public Law...
Tip of the Week: Payroll Tax Change Deadline Looms for Certain LLCs and Qualified Subchapter S Subsidiaries
In TD 9356, the Internal Revenue Service made final the regulations on disregarded entities effective August 16, 2007. In order to allow taxpayers sufficient time to make the changes required by the regulations, the IRS delayed the effective date for the payroll tax...
Question of the Week: Can I Pay My Husband Through Payroll?
This week’s question comes from Denise, a sole proprietor. I just hired my husband to work for me in my business. I’m a sole proprietor. Can I pay my husband through payroll? Answer: If your husband (or wife) is a bona fide employee of you in your trade or business,...
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