Compensation & Benefits

Fiscal cliff averted: New law sets 2013 withholding rates; ‘payroll tax holiday’ expires

01/02/2013

In the waning hours of New Year’s Day, Congress passed legislation averting a plunge off the “fiscal cliff” and making permanent Bush-era tax rates for all but the highest earners. Now employers can finally make concrete plans for their 2013 payroll operations.

2012 FUTA credit reduction states announced

12/27/2012

The IRS has named the states that will be subject to FUTA credit reductions for 2012 FUTA taxes. FUTA credit reductions arise when states borrow from the federal government to pay regular unemployment benefits and fail to timely repay the loans.

Tax Year 2012 SSA Employer Service Liaison Officers

12/26/2012

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown of employer service liaison officers.

How should we handle 1099s for retirees we can’t track down?

12/26/2012

Question: Three retirees receive monthly pension checks. Two have stopped cashing them and the post office keeps returning the other retiree’s check as undeliverable. We’ve searched the obituaries and looked in our old HR files for their next of kin, but we’ve come up empty. We have to provide Forms 1099-R to them by the end of this month. What do we do?

Self-insured? New health plan fees due to IRS in July

12/24/2012

The IRS has announced final regulations governing new fees—payable by health insurers and employer sponsors of self-insured health plans—that will help fund a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Fiscal Cliff Watch: IRS OKs using 2012 withholding rate for now

12/21/2012

Employers should continue to use 2012 withholding tables and personal exemption amounts until further notice.

Jan. 31 end-game in sight

12/20/2012

Mark your calendar. By Jan. 31, employees must have their W-2s, and the IRS must have the fourth-quarter 941 form, and annual 940, 944 and 945 forms. Here’s what you must do now.

Lunchtime injury qualifies for workers’ comp benefits

12/19/2012

Employees injured on site during breaks are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

2013 standard mileage rate increases 1¢, to 56.5¢ per mile

12/19/2012

The standard mileage rate, which you may use to reimburse employees who drive their own cars on business, increases one penny to 56.5 cents a mile for 2013. You can also use the standard mileage rate to value employees’ personal use of moderately priced company cars.

Do we have to pay for unapproved overtime?

12/18/2012

Q. We have a policy requiring employees to get written permission before they are allowed to work any overtime. However, I have one employee who comes in early and stays late without approval. Must I pay him overtime?