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Posts Tagged payroll service

Overtime Rule Put on Hold!

Small business owners can take a collective breath – at least temporarily. U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant in the Eastern District of Texas granted a preliminary injunction regarding the Dec. 1 implementation date of new Overtime Rules released by the Labor Department in May, 2016. (more…)

Posted in: Human Resources, Operating a Small Business, Payroll, Rules, Regulations and Laws

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Retirement Benefits Come from Employment and Payroll

In today’s world where so many workers have lost their pensions, there is one employer who has remained steadfast in meeting their pension commitments – the United States government. As of an August, 2016 article in the USNews.com, there was still one beneficiary receiving benefits from a Civil War pensioner. (more…)

Posted in: IRS and Tax forms, Payroll, Payroll Processing

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Is Using Seasonal Workers to Address Business Demands Right for Your Small Business?

Every small business has its ups and downs.  However, some can be more pronounced than others.  Some businesses experience cyclical alterations in sales volume.  As a recent article notes, for some businesses in the New York City area, one answer that has provided some relief to this variability has been seasonal workers.  (more…)

Posted in: Operating a Small Business, Payroll, Payroll Processing

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Could You Handle Different State’s Payroll Taxes and Regulations?

I was really excited for a colleague who got a big contract that was going to expand his company this year. He was excited because his small business would no longer be just a local business, but would now be a business that worked nation-wide. We celebrated with a congratulatory lunch. It wasn’t but a couple of weeks later that he called and was obviously down. I was afraid he’d lost the deal. But no, he said it was worse – it was about payroll taxes. (more…)

Posted in: IRS and Tax forms, Payroll, Payroll Processing, Payroll Taxes, Rules, Regulations and Laws

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Financial Records Tracking for Small Business Success

As a small business owner, do you have file folders filled with receipts for expenses and invoices that you haven’t inputted into an accounting system? Do you have people who owe you money, because you haven’t taken the time to invoice them? When you want to make a business purchase, how do you know if you will have sufficient funds to cover the cost? Keeping accurate financial records is a must if you want your small business to be successful. (more…)

Posted in: Bookkeeping and Accounting

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Honest, It Was Just a Mistake

It was just a mistake. Those are awful words – and impactful words – especially when it comes to financial aspects of a small business. And when it applies to payroll, payroll taxes and the IRS, those words could mean the end of a small business. (more…)

Posted in: IRS and Tax forms, Operating a Small Business, Payroll, Payroll Processing

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Have you Heard About the New Overtime Rule?

President Obama recently made news in the business world by announcing an executive change to the rules governing overtime pay.  This change will result in a greater number of workers who will be eligible for overtime pay.  Because this change has the potential to affect the size of workers’ paychecks, it is sure to capture the attention of employees and employers alike.  (more…)

Posted in: Payroll, Payroll Processing, Rules, Regulations and Laws

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Employee Bonuses, Awards and Fringe Benefits: What Employers Need to Know

Many small business owners (SBOs) think they don’t need to have a human resources or payroll department. They think they can handle all of the HR and payroll paperwork themselves. The problem is, not having a payroll department means these employers are taking on a considerable financial risk. (more…)

Posted in: IRS and Tax forms, Payroll, Rules, Regulations and Laws

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What’s the Value of an Employee to You?

Every small business owner understands the value of employees on some level. Day-to-day operations would fail without employees. As a small business grows, more employees are necessary to keep the doors open. And it does not take long for a business owner to recognize the boost that a good employee can provide to the bottom line. But does this understanding make a difference in how employees are treated? As this article explains, some companies have chosen to demonstrate just how much they value their employees by implementing specific policies. Can you learn anything from their example? Read on to find out. (more…)

Posted in: Human Resources, Operating a Small Business, Payroll

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Fraud: Under-reporting Payroll to Reduce Worker’s Compensation Premiums

Worker’s compensation fraud is “the fastest growing segment of insurance fraud,” according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. One way, small business owners commit insurance fraud is by under-reporting payroll to avoid paying worker’s compensation premiums to their insurance carrier. If your small business is under-reporting payroll to save on premiums, you need to know that you’re playing with fire. If you’re caught, you could face financial penalties and jail time.

Be sure you are not committing fraud with your reporting.

Last year, Sung Hyun Kim and Caroline Choi, CEOs of sewing companies Meriko Inc. and SF Apparel Inc. were arrested, along with their accountant Jae Kim, on suspicion of workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Beginning as early as 2006, they’re accused of underreporting $78 million to more than a half-dozen insurance carriers. The trio conspired to hide payroll to avoid paying workers’ compensation insurance premiums. They fabricated payroll records and paid employees under the table through an undisclosed bank account. Sung Hyun Kim faces up to 28 years in prison, Choi faces more than 15 years behind bars, and Jae Kim could get a 22-year prison term, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Creative Under-reporting

Employers can use a variety of “creative” methods to under-report payroll. Some common under-reporting methods used include:

  • Misclassifying employees into “safer” jobs.
  • Paying employees under the table.
  • Hiring employees as independent contractors.
  • Paying bonuses off the books.
  • Paying employees on a non-wage basis, such as a reduction in rent or free meals.
  • Setting up dummy companies to “hide” employees.
  • Understating payroll to insurance companies.
  • Fabricating phony payroll

Perhaps, business owners don’t realize the impact their dishonesty can have on their company, employees and other companies. Employees who are hurt on the job may not have workers’ compensation coverage to pay their medical bills. Or, in cases where there’s no worker’s compensation insurance, your small business may be considered “self insured,” which means as an employer, you must pay the employee’s medical bills and lost wages. If the injury is severe and the costs are high, you may be forced to go out of business.

The Real Cost of Payroll Fraud

Additionally, when you cheat the insurance companies out of the premiums they’re owed, this causes the rates to go up for everyone else. Businesses pass these premium increases on to their customers in the form of higher prices for goods and services. Therefore, fraud hurts everyone. So don’t do it! It’s not worth the risk.

Payroll fraud can be a costly issue for employers. By outsourcing your payroll services to a reputable external payroll provider, like The Payroll Department, you can help ensure your payroll information is secure and reviewed regularly for errors and other discrepancies. Contact Teresa Ray of The Payroll Department at (317) 852-2568 to learn how outsourcing your payroll can protect your company from fraud and give you peace of mind.

-Ariane of The Payroll Department blog team

Posted in: Payroll, Payroll Processing, Rules, Regulations and Laws

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