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Payroll

Don’t require payment via prepaid debit cards, feds say

09/26/2013
The U.S. Consumer Financial Pro­­tec­­tion Bureau last month warned employers that they cannot require employees to be paid using prepaid payroll cards. “Consumers must have options when it comes to how they receive their wages,” the agency announced.

Special analysis: Fall is fringe-festival time

09/23/2013
Fall is when most companies assess their fringe benefits programs, with an eye to making changes for the coming year. It’s also when Payroll begins to assess the damage (taxes, that is) from the current year’s offerings. How to sort everything out? Here’s some help.

Employer sued for ‘forcing’ employees to take paycards

09/18/2013
Low-wage employees have initiated a class-action lawsuit in Pennsylvania against their employer, alleging that they were forced to receive their wages via paycards, thus incurring fees for accessing their pay. The lawsuit asks the employer to pony up for those fees. Don’t get caught in a similar situation.

Worksheet for Fourth-Quarter 2013 941 Forms

09/12/2013
In preparation for the end of the year, download a free worksheet to assist you in filling out your quarterly Form 941.

IRS extends tax-free benefits to all same-sex married couples

09/10/2013
New IRS guidance affirms: Same-sex married employees are entitled to all federal spousal tax benefits, even if they live in a state that doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage.

Does telecommuting affect nonexempt status?

09/03/2013
Q. We’ve allowed employees to work from home on occasion and are considering making it an option for some positions. Does exempt/nonexempt status matter when it comes to employees working from home on a permanent basis?

Isn’t it illegal to withhold pay as punishment?

09/03/2013
Q. When an employee fails to clock in or out properly, our payroll department withholds that day’s pay until the next pay period as a form of employee discipline. My understanding is that an employer can’t hold back portions of pay as punishment. Am I right?

Wilkes-Barre McDonald’s faces debit card suit

09/03/2013
A former McDonald’s employee is suing a franchise owner, arguing that paying her via a payroll card—with all its attendant fees—meant she earned less than the minimum wage.

DOMA-related issues top IRS’ 2014 business plan

09/02/2013
The 2013-2014 Priority Guidance Plan is the IRS’ road map for regulatory and administrative guidance it hopes to publish by June 30, 2014. Commonly referred to as “the business plan,” the IRS has loaded itself up with 324 projects. As usual, Payroll figures very prominently on the IRS’ agenda. Here’s what to expect.

What? Year-end already!

09/02/2013
We can already hear the collective “@#$%&!” from Payroll managers across the nation. But the world turns, and now it turns once again to year-end. Take a few minutes now to run down this checklist, and you’ll almost certainly have a smooth start to year-end 2013.