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Payroll

Direct deposit is so yesterday. And that’s just fine

04/16/2025
Direct deposit is well over 40 years old. In tech terms, it’s a dinosaur. It keeps motoring on because it remains the safest and fastest way to pay employees. But old processes must confront new challenges: new entrants in the pay market, hacking, mistakes and state laws allowing employees to opt out and receive paper checks.

How to employ your kids and stay out of prison this summer

04/16/2025
Paying his kids from a corporate account for doing no work and then deducting those payments as salary expenses were among the charges that landed a business owner in prison for tax evasion.

Friday wrap: Time’s running out for tax procrastinators, new Form I-9, disaster tax relief and more

04/11/2025
Tax deadlines, new I-9 form, IRS’ Priority Guidance Plan and more in our last pre-Tax Day wrap.

May 2025: Employer’s business tax calendar

03/31/2025
Here’s your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

First-Friday-of-spring wrap: Bad news for federal contractor employees, good news for 401(k) plan administrators, FTC spots a new scam and more

03/21/2025
Federal contractor minimum wage, 401(k) corrections, jury-duty scam and more as spring arrives.

In the Payroll Mailbag: April ’25

03/19/2025
Rarely asked questions don’t have less value than frequently asked questions. And in Payroll, the RAQs usually cause trouble.

Employer’s ‘honest belief’ is enough for FMLA defense

03/19/2025
You are not liable if you fire an employee because you honestly but mistakenly believed they weren’t entitled to FMLA leave. The 4th Circuit said so and the Supreme Court affirmed the 4th Circuit’s decision by turning down the employee’s appeal.

State PFML laws, part 2: DOL addresses FMLA substitutions

03/19/2025
Taxes aside, the tougher issue with state paid family and medical leave laws is how they interact with the FMLA—specifically, how the FMLA’s substitution rules apply to an employee who is eligible for FMLA and/or PFML leave. The Department of Labor has issued guidance.

Two-minute payroll reads: April ’25

03/19/2025
Payroll is complicated and your time is limited. Spend two minutes reading these digests and you’ll be able to keep the C-suite up-to-date on key payroll developments.

April is the cruelest month

03/19/2025
Payroll managers know this sentiment well, since the first-quarter Form 941 is due at the end of the month. Here are some tips for completing 941 forms.