Among all the internal operations of contemporary U.S. businesses, perhaps none is subject to as many governmental regulations and requirements as payroll.
Originally a technical skill, payroll today is a professional discipline. Now you can enhance your skills with a "Certified Payroll Manager" designation, which is earned by completing the four courses listed below:
Each of these courses use our award-winning interface that provides plain-English descriptions of the various requirements, processes, and procedures, as well as numerous examples, administrative tips, and interactive Q&A with answer rationales to help provide valuable insight into compliance requirements.
Simply click on the course name below for a full course description and Table of Contents for that course.
Note: Courses can be purchased separately by clicking on the required course title and following the ordering instructions on that page.
Top FAQs
Form 941 is used to report income taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare taxes withheld from employee's paychecks.
In addition to ensuring that employees are paid correctly and on time, "Payroll" has numerous time and reporting requirements. The primary payroll areas include paychecks, reporting, operations, and management.
In business since the mid-1990's, we have over 25 years of experience delivering high-quality training content via seminar, webinar, online, and other formats. Each of our courses are delivered by an industry expert who will share his or her years of experience to help you be in compliance, smarter, and more productive, and almost all offer SHRM and HRCI credits.
Yes. In many cases, state laws conflict with federal laws, so be sure to check both!
You report bonuses as wages and as social security and Medicare wages on Forms W-2 and 941
Completing forms accurately, knowing when and where to file, and doing so on a timely basis.
Yes.
Federal and state governments impose a variety or rules, regulations, and reporting requirements, so the hardest parts of payroll recordkeeping is knowing all of the rules, then complying - on a timely basis - with them!
The Form W2 reports an employee's annual wages and the taxes withheld.
Maintaining accurate payroll records, such as hours worked, pay, and tips and tax amounts, obeying federal and state rules, and submitting required reports on a timely basis.
You report Social Security info on W-2, W-3, and 941
You report Medicare taxes on Form W2
There are several major and many minor requirements, some federal and some state specific.
Absolutely!
Payroll Administrators must be able to:
- Properly "classify" workers
- Apply the various exemptions
- Calculate gross pay and properly make deductions
- Correctly identify, pay, and withhold taxes for employees
- Administer deferred compensation, cafeteria plan, sick pay, and other compensation
- Handle stock options, expense reimbursements, relocation, and other "expenses"
- Follow the proper policies, procedures, and documentation requirements for garnishments and levies
- Properly complete and file all required reporting requirements
- Correctly complete year-end requirements and establish year-beginning requirements
- Implement and maintain fraud, audit, disaster recovery, and record retention processes and procedures
While many payroll-related regulations are federally-governed, there also are many state requirements, including those for handling garnishment, final paychecks, and unclaimed paychecks. Each state's requirements differ in the details, so be sure to check your state's requirements by clicking the applicable link(s) at the bottom of this page.
Payroll is much more than just handing out paychecks, and includes a variety of responsibilities such as handling garnishments, travel pay, multi-state taxation, unclaimed paychecks, and much more in a timely and accurate fashion.
Time clocks, time sheets, and electronic methods are a couple ways to track hours worked.
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