The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released a revised version of Form 941-X, Adjusted Employer's QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund. COBRA Premium Assistance Credit May Only Be Claimed on Form 941-X For tax periods beginning after 2013,...
Question of the Week: Why Did My Paycheck Go Down in 2013?
This week’s question comes from Courteney, an office manager. Courteney asks: I just received my first 2013 paycheck and it is a lot less than my last check from 2012. Why did my paycheck go down in 2013? Answer: The biggest impact most employees will see is the...
Social Security Tax Rate on Employees Reverts To 6.2% of Taxable Wages
The temporary decrease of the social security tax rate to 4.2% has expired with the end of 2012. Beginning in 2013, the social security tax rate on employees reverts to 6.2%. Net Pay Will Decrease Approximately 2% Employees will notice a decrease in net pay by about...
IRS Releases 2011 Form 944
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the 2011 Form 944, Employer’s ANNUAL Federal Tax Return, and related instructions. Form 944 is designed so the smallest employers (those whose annual liability for social security, Medicare, and withheld federal income...
IRS Releases Draft Form 941
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released a draft Form 941, Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return. The revised Form 941 will be used for reporting information for the first quarter of 2011 and later quarters. It cannot be used to report information for...
Question of the Week: What Are 10 Hot Items for Payroll in 2011?
This week’s question comes from Seth, a company controller. It seems as if there are many changes in payroll recently. What are 10 hot items for payroll in 2011? Answer: The payroll industry and payroll departments have seen many changes as Congress uses the payroll...
2010 Form W-2 Tips, Part 8, Box 7 Social Security Tips
This is one in a continuing series on the 2010 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which employers must generally furnish to employees no later than January 31, 2011. Forms mailed on the due date are considered furnished if properly addressed. Employers unable to meet...
Question of the Week: Why Did My Federal Income Tax Withholding Go Up in 2011?
This week’s question comes from Gabrielle, an office manager. I noticed that my federal income tax withholding increased for my first check of 2011 as compared to my last check of 2010. Several of my co-workers noticed the same thing. I thought the tax cuts were...
2010 Form W-2 Tips, Part 5, Box 4 Social Security Tax Withheld
This is one in a continuing series on the 2010 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which employers must generally furnish to employees no later than January 31, 2011. Forms mailed on the due date are considered furnished if properly addressed. Employers unable to meet...
2010 Form W-2 Tips, Part 4, Box 3 Social Security Wages
This is one in a continuing series on the 2010 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which employers must generally furnish to employees no later than January 31, 2011. Forms mailed on the due date are considered furnished if properly addressed. Employers unable to meet...
Question of the Week: What is the Maximum Amount of Social Security Withholding Tax for 2011?
This week’s question comes from Adrienne, a sales manager. I normally earn in excess of the FICA limit ($106,800 in 2010 and 2011). I know the social security withholding rate has been reduced for 2011. What is the maximum amount of social security withholding tax...
Social Security Tax Reduction Will Have No Direct Impact on Benefits
The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (2010 Tax Act) reduces the social security tax withholding rate from 6.2% to 4.2 % effective with payments made after December 31, 2010. Transfers To Federal Old-Age And Survivors...
Question of the Week: How Does the 2010 Tax Act Affect Payroll Taxes in 2011?
This week’s question comes from Matt, a company president. I know the tax bill has passed the Senate and House and that President Obama has signed it. How does the new tax bill affect payroll taxes in 2011? Answer: The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance...
Tip of the Week: IRS Releases 2010 Form 944
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the 2010 Form 944, Employer’s ANNUAL Federal Tax Return, and related instructions. Form 944 is designed so the smallest employers (those whose annual liability for social security, Medicare, and withheld federal income...
Question of the Week: Has the 2011 Social Security Wage Base Been Announced?
This week’s question comes from Sylvia, a payroll manager. I thought I heard that the social security wage base would remain the same in 2011 as it was in 2010, but I can’t find anything official. Has the 2011 social security wage base been announced? Answer: Although...
Impact of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit on Employment Tax Payments
The new health reform law gives a tax credit to certain small employers that provide health care coverage to their employees, effective with tax years beginning in 2010. Over several weeks, Vision Payroll will be providing further information on the Small Business...
Tip of the Week: IRS Releases Updated Form 8846
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released an information sheet attached to 2009 Form 8846, Credit for Employer Social Security and Medicare Taxes Paid on Certain Employee Tips. The note on the information sheet relates to employers that have claimed payroll...
Question of the Week: How Does the HIRE Act Affect Employees’ Future Social Security Benefits?
This week’s question comes from Sean, an HR director. We are in the process of hiring some employees who would allow us to claim exemption from paying the employer’s share of social security taxes because of the HIRE Act. Some employees are hesitant due to the impact...
Tip of the Week: Jobs Bill to Provide Tax Relief to Employers
HR 2847, An Act making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes, was passed by Congress and sent to President Barack Obama who indicated he will...
IRS To Honor Medical Resident FICA Refund Claims
In IR-2010-025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it “has made an administrative determination to accept the position that medical residents are excepted from FICA taxes based on the student exception for tax periods ending before April 1, 2005, when...
2009 Form W-2 Tips, Part 8, Box 7 Social Security Tips
This is one in a continuing series on the 2009 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which employers must generally furnish to employees no later than February 1, 2010. Forms mailed on the due date are considered furnished if properly addressed. Employers unable to meet...
2009 Form W-2 Tips, Part 5, Box 4 Social Security Tax Withheld
This is one in a continuing series on the 2009 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which employers must generally furnish to employees no later than February 1, 2010. Forms mailed on the due date are considered furnished if properly addressed. Employers unable to meet...
2009 Form W-2 Tips, Part 4, Box 3 Social Security Wages
This is one in a continuing series on the 2009 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which employers must generally furnish to employees no later than February 1, 2010. Forms mailed on the due date are considered furnished if properly addressed. Employers unable to meet...
IRS Rules Distributions from Tip Jars Are Tips, Not Wages
In the recently released Chief Counsel Advice (CCA) 200929004, the Internal Revenue Service ruled that money distributed from a company’s tip jar should be considered tips, not wages. The company requires that all its retail locations maintain a tip jar to collect...
Question of the Week: Is a Non-student Holding a J-1 Visa Exempt from FICA Tax Withholding?
This week’s question comes from Norma, an HR manager. I know that students with J-1 visas are exempt from FICA tax withholding in certain circumstances. We hired a non-student with a J-1 visa. Is a non-student holding a J-1 visa exempt from FICA tax withholding?...
With the Click of Button
Streamline Your Hiring
Process With