Year End Payroll Processing Tips
By: Jim Scheithauer
5272S.LEWIS,SUITE 100 TULSA,OK74105 918.496.1600 TOLL FREE:877.496.1600
Year End Payroll Processing Tips
12/1/2014
Page 1
Year-end again!!! What do I do now!!! General guidelines and
tips when considering your year-end process.
It’s that time of the year again. I know there are thoughts of Christmas shopping, threats of snow storms, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. That’s all nice and dandy but I am referring to the most anticipated year-end for the payroll professional. You don’t have to dread this time of year, you just have to do some early planning and your next few months will not only be successful but less stressful.
The below points and examples are offered as a refresher for the upcoming year-end or to give you something to ponder as we get closer to that time. The points below may be helpful and accurate but may not list everything that you may need to consider for your company’s processes and success.
Preparation for Year-end 2014 and 2015
Plan out the next couple months NOW!!!Possibly create a year-end committee, which includes various departments that may have a role, big or small, in year-end process. The communication with other
departments allows for the process to run smoothly without and major incidents. Such departments to include may be Human Resources, Accounting, IT, and Mail Room. Things to relay and discuss may include:
• Reviewing of important dates, including payroll dates, holidays, deadlines, and employee vacations,
• Scheduling of tasks and assignments needed to be done and who is responsible.
Maybe attend a year-end class if you can. This allows you to refresh on processes, procedures, and legislative laws while getting updated on new laws, requirements, and annual changes. Class examples include: CS3 Technology’s Abra/HRMS class or webinar (which not only updates on legislative updates but how to process the Abra/HRMS software for reporting, etc), APA courses, in person or webinars can be helpful. You can order a CS3 Technology year end manual if you require more information than what is supplied below.
Disaster Recovery: Year-end is a good time to review with your IT department that system backups are being done for your payroll system and data which can be easily retrieved if such a need arises. Also, review how and when you do data backups within your system during payroll and quarter/year-end times. The last thing you need is no recent backups being available when an emergency arises.
Year End Payroll Processing Tips
12/1/2014
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Things to do during Year-end 2014
Order W2’s early! Order W2’s early! Order W2’s early! The later W2s are ordered the later the deliver once the year-end rush hits.
A good rule of thumb is to order 1.5 x the amount of employees you had work during the year.
Get all 2014 taxable fringe benefits in the system and taxed before last payroll. • Examples GTL or Auto.
• Record any Third Party sick pay.
Apply proper system updates when required (which will apply new 2015 updates as well).
Balancing and Wage and Tax Reconciliations - Reconcile the 4th
quarter and the YTD numbers. Below are a couple suggested tips to be added to your normal balancing processes.
Do hand calculated taxable wages in Excel.
* Most states are calculated this way.
The four quarterly 941s should balance to your W2 totals. Create a spreadsheet to enter 941 total and that can be used for comparing to your W2 totals.
Year End Payroll Processing Tips
12/1/2014
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Reporting: review any new requirements.
Review setup in payroll system that populates Employer-Provided Health Coverage (Affordable Care Act) amounts correctly to W2 under Box 12 DD. Remember if a company issues fewer than 250 2013 W2’s then the company is not required to show on W2. Below is a link to a chart that covers what should be included in the reported amount: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Form-W-2-Reporting-of-Employer-Sponsored-Health-Coverage
Year End Payroll Processing Tips
12/1/2014
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Sign in to Best Services Online (BSO) early on to renew password to prevent any delays when/if you file W2 electronic file.
Run Accuwage: This free software can be downloaded from the SSA website and allows you to check W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) electronic report/file for correctness before you upload it to Social Security website:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/accuwage/
Be aware of the W2 filing dates as well as other reporting requirements such as 941, 1099, and SUTA.
Year End Payroll Processing Tips
12/1/2014
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Things to do for the New Year 2015
A good payroll motto to live by is: For you to have a good year-end, you must start the year off right.
Get all new or updated benefits setup into the system and test deductions for correct amount to be withheld.
Review all earning codes, deduction codes and tax codes setups, especially any new ones that may have been setup for the New Year.
Review and implement any new wage-bases and limit changes for 2015 such as 401K and taxes. Make sure the goals of earning and deduction codes are updated. Make sure to account for new changes in Social Security wage-base:
Medicare remains the same for 2015 at 1.45% for employee and employer
contributions with the additional .9% withheld for employee wages >= 200,000. There is no wage-base limit.
Year End Payroll Processing Tips
12/1/2014
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Make sure to account for new changes in Unemployment wage-bases:
NOTE: Even though the above numbers are correct, the examples listed do not provide a complete list that you may have to account for regarding your company. Check the first payroll of the year very carefully. One example: Are taxable wages per each tax code. I do suggest however, to balance every payroll thereafter even if it is a quick balancing using some of the balancing tips from above. This will ensure a good quarter balancing and overall a good 2015 year.
Hopefully this helps in your preparation for the upcoming year-end and the start of the New Year.
