A tax is a tax is a tax, right? Well, as anyone who has ever read a single paragraph of the state or federal tax code knows, there is rarely a simple answer to any tax-related question. If you’re a small business owner, you probably understand a little bit about the complexity of payroll taxes. Besides the responsibility of withholding federal taxes, small businesses must also withhold state and local taxes. As you will see, the rules governing county taxes alone can make you feel a little dizzy. (more…)
According to an article in Forbes by Matthew Garrett, payroll fraud is a problem. A really big problem. He says that 27% of all businesses are the victims of payroll fraud. And, small business owners beware, because Garrett says payroll fraud occurs nearly twice as often (14.2%) in small organizations with less than 100 employees than in large ones (7.6%). (more…)
As an employer, you set the policies for managing your small business and your employees. But you better make sure your payroll policies follow government rules. Otherwise, you may have to pay back wages and fines. Just ask Progressive Business Publications. The Pennsylvania company owes current and former employees about $1.75 million in back wages and damages for docking its employees’ pay for bathroom breaks. (more…)
Minimum wage is a hot topic in the media these days, but we aren’t going to debate increasing the minimum wage to $15. The amount may be under debate, but the one thing that doesn’t change is the fact that employers have laws to follow regarding minimum wage. (more…)
What do you know about payroll fraud? Have you given it much consideration? Payroll fraud is a crime in which employees use the payroll system to steal money from a company, and it does happen. In fact, an article in Forbes reports that 27% of all businesses experience payroll fraud and that small businesses are nearly twice as likely to encounter fraud as larger businesses are. As these statistics show, this is obviously a problem that should not be ignored. (more…)
In the politically charged atmosphere during the couple of years preceding a presidential election, the topic of taxes – and payroll taxes in particular – takes center stage. It is payroll taxes that take a bite out of both employees’ paychecks and small business owners’ bottom lines. (more…)
Business owners accumulate substantial volumes of employee records like employment applications, performance reviews, payroll records and disciplinary actions. At the beginning of the year, when many employers can’t stuff another piece of paper into crowded filing cabinets, they often decide it’s time to purge old files. But, before you start throwing out any documents, you need to make sure you’re in compliance with federal, state and local laws that require you to retain employee records for a specified time period. (more…)
One thing a small business owner never wants to hear in connection with his payroll is BACK PAY. Don’t be confused, Back Pay is not when you give an employee a raise and make the start date in the past and allow for retroactive pay. No, Back Pay is a remedy for wage violations. It’s an order that the employer make up the difference between what the employee was paid and what the employee should have been paid. It’s a serious situation. (more…)
Every four years, the calendar offers up a dilemma to the world: How exactly will you spend that extra day in the wonderful blustery gray month of February? Well, actually leap year doesn’t really present too much of a problem. It’s pretty predictable – it comes every four years at the same time. So not a whole lot of preparation is required. But there are other calendar irregularities that can cause a bit more of a problem. (more…)
Do you have employees who receive tips? Did you know, as an employer, you have certain obligations when it comes to the income on your employees’ tips? Do you – and your employees – know that they must report the total amount of taxable tips to you by the 10th of the month following the month after receiving the tips? If your employees don’t know this, you need to educate them.
Generally, your employee’s tips are not taxable unless they make more than $20 per calendar month. If they do make over $20 in tips per month, you’re responsible for withholding income and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes on the employee’s reported tips (all tips, including the initial $20) – even though you don’t have control over the amount of tips your employee receives.
Also, you’re required to pay the employer’s portion of FICA and FUTA (federal unemployment) taxes on these tips. Additionally, you must withhold the 0.9% FICA Medicare surtax, too, if the employee’s tips (in combination with the wages you pay them) exceed the $200,000 withholding threshold.
However, your obligation to pay your employee’s portion of the FICA and income taxes due is limited to the amount of non-tip wages you pay the employee. If your employee’s paycheck isn’t big enough to cover the withholding taxes, you should withhold taxes in this order:
The employee’s portion of the FICA tax due on the non-tip wage payment.
The income taxes you’re obligated to withhold on the non-tip wage payment.
The employee’s portion of the FICA tax due on the tip income.
The income taxes you’re obligated to withhold on the tip income.
However, if this process still leaves you with insufficient funds to collect your employee’s FICA tax, your obligation to withhold the uncollected portion ends. As for collecting outstanding income taxes, these payroll taxes should be withheld from the employee’s next paycheck.
It’s important to note, if your employee doesn’t report their tips of $20 or more per calendar quarter to you, you can only be held liable for your portion of FICA. This liability only arises when the IRS makes a written notice, demanding payment.
Managing restaurant payroll and the payroll taxes can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be if you have a payroll services provider like The Payroll Department handling your payroll and taxes for you. We can take the hassle out of figuring out what taxes you owe on the income from your employees’ tips and make these payments for you. Contact us for more information on how we can help you.
Generally, your employee’s tips are not taxable unless they make more than $20 per calendar month. If they do make over $20 in tips per month, you’re responsible for withholding income and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes on the employee’s reported tips (all tips, including the initial $20) – even though you don’t have control over the amount of tips your employee receives.