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Payroll

2015 Social Security wage base

09/08/2014

Each fall, the Social Security Administration releases the annual Social Security taxable wage base. Except for tax-free fringe benefits, all wages are subject to the Medicare portion of FICA, since there’s no wage base …

Payroll: Go directly to year-end, do not pass go, do not collect $200

09/05/2014
Things return to a more normal pace after Labor Day. But normal for Payroll is still hectic. If you take a few minutes now to complete the items on this checklist, you’ll have an easy start to year-end 2014.

How should we handle wage overpayment?

09/02/2014
Q. We recently overpaid an employee by $3,500 but the discrepancy was not discovered until six months later. Can we automatically and legitimately withhold those wages from his paycheck? Also, would it be inappropriate to dock additional wages for the employee not making us aware of the mistake?

If a new employee leaves in short order, is there a way to recoup training costs?

09/02/2014
Q. Can we require employees to repay the company (through payroll deduction) for training costs if they quit or are fired within one year?

What must I do about employee’s wage garnishment to collect on credit card debt?

09/02/2014
Q. One of my employees recently notified me that a judgment had been levied against him on a suit to collect an unpaid credit card debt. A Texas court has issued the judgment, and I understand the judgment creditor may seek to satisfy it by garnishing my employee’s wages. What am I required to do?

Texas employers may now pay employees in Bitcoins

09/02/2014
Should Texas employers be so in­­clined, they may pay employees in Bit­­coins as long as both parties agree to the arrangement.

NLRB cracks down on rules banning talk about pay

09/02/2014
A court has ruled that an employer committed an unfair labor practice when its confidentiality clause prohibited employees from discussing their wages.

September 2014: Employer’s business tax calendar

08/31/2014
This is your monthly guide to critical payroll due dates.

ACA credits: Status quo for now

08/29/2014

The IRS isn’t planning on changing how it administers the ACA’s premium tax credit, said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Koskinen was reacting to dueling federal appellate court decisions on eligibility for the credit, both issued on July 22.

Coming soon: $10.10 hourly wage for fed contract workers

08/27/2014
Under proposed regulations, the minimum wage for employees who work on new or renewed federal contracts or subcontracts, including employees with disabilities who work under special certificates, will increase to $10.10 an hour, from $7.25 an hour, beginning Jan. 1, 2015. Final regs should be released shortly. Here are the contracts to be covered.