Payroll Education

Navigating down the path of being an employer is complicated and more involved than you could have imagined.  There are many questions and answers that have to be asked which ultimately get you to the answers you are seeking.  While payroll may seem like a simple idea in concept, it has to be sculpted to each employer's needs and requirements and they are all different.

In order to help facilitate and educate prospective employers on a few of the most important topics, we have developed a few whitepapers on specific topics.  A whitepaper is a fully inclusive document meant to provide you with facts around a specific topic.

As our education series evolve, we are continuing to publish these documents as a way to help our prospective clients understand the types of issues they need to think about as a forethought, not an afterthought.

We have three whitepapers that we are happy to share with you (and anyone else you think can benefit from them).

Our first topic relates is a soups to nuts understanding of the overall payroll process and what will be required of you to do as you become an employer.  This is the process we take great pride in managing, but important to understand what you are getting into with open eyes/

Payroll 101 - An Introduction to Payroll and Taxes for Household Employers

The second topic relates specifically to the tax benefits that both the employer and employee obtain by employing someone on the books with specific examples.  Tax law is never simple so before you think about whether you want to keep the person off the books, understand the facts so you can make an educated decision.

The Misnomers of Payroll - Knowing the Facts About Putting an Employee on the Books

While I will not express an opinion on the matter, I will ask one simple question:  Is it worth the risk to keep someone off the books?  Don't forget, psychology and human relations play a critical role in the process and just because things are going well today does not mean that they will go well tomorrow.  The house of cards can fall down very quickly with a simple call to any Federal or State taxing authority and this happens every day.  There is also no defense when this occurs; it is an open and shut case!

Our second topic deals specifically with household employers and helping them understand the Minimum Wage and Overtime Laws. I found this to be very a worthwhile exercise since I learned so much about this topic.  I would also like to thank Peter Panken, a labor lawyer with Epstein Becker Green, for his help and assistance validating the accuracy of this document and my interpretation of the underlying Federal and State labor laws.

A Guide to Understanding the Minimum Wage and Overtime Laws for Household Employers

Our next topic, which is currently in progress related to New York City Household Employers, who are now required to adhere to Local Law 33, passed by the New York City Council in 2003.