I hope everyone had a great new year celebration. And as they say with the new year comes new challenges and changes. This is especially true for me. I am in the midst of relocating my offices to better serve my clients. Expansion is great but also nerve-wracking with all the logistics of what to move when so you can keep the business flowing! But when it is all over I will have a wonderful new office in which to work.
So blogging for the new year will begin next week.
Of course keep checking out our website for the latest information on the new year changes such as wage bases and rates. And check out our facebook page for the latest updates as well.
Now might be a good time to follow us on Twitter. You never know what lies around the corner in a new year.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Happy Holidays
I just wanted to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Enjoy it while you can because Year-End starts on January 2nd.
I will be blogging almost daily in January. I will be using that time to post Year-End reminders and helpful hints to assist in making your Year-End goes as smoothly as possible.
Enjoy your holidays and I will see you in January
I will be blogging almost daily in January. I will be using that time to post Year-End reminders and helpful hints to assist in making your Year-End goes as smoothly as possible.
Enjoy your holidays and I will see you in January
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Veteran's Day
I want to take a moment today to thank all the veterans for their service. My family has a long history with serving in the military. My Grandfather served in WWI in the Army and is actually buried in Rosecrans Cemetery down in San Diego. My Father, Harold Frank Jaster served for 28 years in the Marine Corps. WWII( winner of the Silver Star), Korea, and 3 times to Vietnam. He went once for his own tour, once to keep each of my brothers from going. His ashes were spread at sea. His last wish. He wanted to make a Navy ship work at least for one day. You Navy personnel and Marines will understand that sentence just fine.
My Mother served as a woman Marine during WWII and she and my father were married right before she was discharged. Their wedding picture (is on my Facebook page) is in their uniforms.
My oldest brother served in the Army and was the clerk for the Fife and Drum Corp in Arlington. So he is a Vietnam Era vet.
My husband served in the Air Force for four years. He is also a Vietnam Era vet. That's how we met. I was on base at Nellis here in Las Vegas back in my young, good looking days and we bumped into each other. That was 37 years ago.
When my father remarried he married another woman Marine. This time an officer and a future lawyer. We did lament where we went wrong but accepted her none the less. She ended up a Colonel in JAG. And no it is nothing like the TV show according to her.
Did I ever serve? No. I wanted to but back then the only job for women was a clerk. And until they invented computer key boards I could not type. So I was a daughter and a wife of a service person. Which in itself is a tough life and they deserve respect as well.
So thanks to all our veterans for serving so unselfishly then and now. May you be protected from harm and your mission successful. We are thinking of you today.
And to give this a payroll slant--all I can say is you do not get paid enough for the job you do keeping this country safe!
My Mother served as a woman Marine during WWII and she and my father were married right before she was discharged. Their wedding picture (is on my Facebook page) is in their uniforms.
My oldest brother served in the Army and was the clerk for the Fife and Drum Corp in Arlington. So he is a Vietnam Era vet.
My husband served in the Air Force for four years. He is also a Vietnam Era vet. That's how we met. I was on base at Nellis here in Las Vegas back in my young, good looking days and we bumped into each other. That was 37 years ago.
When my father remarried he married another woman Marine. This time an officer and a future lawyer. We did lament where we went wrong but accepted her none the less. She ended up a Colonel in JAG. And no it is nothing like the TV show according to her.
Did I ever serve? No. I wanted to but back then the only job for women was a clerk. And until they invented computer key boards I could not type. So I was a daughter and a wife of a service person. Which in itself is a tough life and they deserve respect as well.
So thanks to all our veterans for serving so unselfishly then and now. May you be protected from harm and your mission successful. We are thinking of you today.
And to give this a payroll slant--all I can say is you do not get paid enough for the job you do keeping this country safe!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Update for November
Well this has certainly been an interesting time since last I blogged on October 13th. I do apologize for not coming more to the site but you will understand when I explain what has been happening. I have always said that payroll is a constantly changing profession and field. And boy have I experienced it in the past few weeks.
I have been working under the same writing contract for 17 years. First it was ProPub out of New Jersey. This was my first publisher. The man who owned it contracted with me to write a payroll manual that could be updated twice a year. But because of the contract I was extremely limited with whom I could write with until either ProPub or I decided to no longer do the manual. But things changed.
ProPub didn't decide not to do the manual--they were sold to a company called IOMA in 2000. So now my publisher was IOMA. Same contract, same rules still could only write for them. But I did profit from this change. Even though I couldn't write books for other publishers IOMA kept me very busy. Not only was I the author of the Complete Guide to Federal and State Payroll Compliance but also the editor for the Payroll Manager's Report (PMR) and a contributing writer for the Payroll Practitioner's Monthly(PPM). And every time IOMA needed a report for payroll I was there go-to guy. And they also published my Garnishment Guide on the side. Plus they were a great client for my webinars. Booking sometimes 20 a year. Not a bad relationship for me.
But things change, IOMA was sold to BNA a couple of years ago. No changes really happened in terms of my services for them but they were definitely in the wind. Then in February of this year things change--IOMA was out and BNA was in.
This one wasn't so good for me. In June they announced they were no longer publishing my version of the Complete Guide. They were bringing it "in house". And now for my not being able to blog for a while. I got a notice from the bankruptcy court that the corporation that owned IOMA had declared bankruptcy. That explains all the sudden changes but I knew it also spelled the end of my relationship with them. I had guessed it would be on October 31st. I missed it by 2 days.
On November 2, the attorneys for BNA sent me an e-mail terminating all my services. No more editor for PMR, no more articles for PPM, no more webinars. Yes things change and sometimes they don't seem like they are for the better. But this one just might be.
Because I am no longer under their contract for the book and the content of the book reverts back to me I am now free to do exactly what I want in terms of writing payroll manuals, books and articles. And also what I say and do on this blog.
So look for some really interesting blogs from this point forward. As to my books and manuals I will be cranking those out. Currently I am in the process of completing my first new one in years. It will be for Nevada payroll professionals and businesses. Look for it at the end of January.
The next book will be for my payroll professionals in California. And of course I will be updating my garnishment guide for 2011. All the while I will be maintaining the most up-to-date and extensive payroll website for payroll professionals. All the latest news and information, newsletters, bulletins, research facilities and of course advice from me--the Payroll Advisor!
The Times They Are a Changin'
I have been working under the same writing contract for 17 years. First it was ProPub out of New Jersey. This was my first publisher. The man who owned it contracted with me to write a payroll manual that could be updated twice a year. But because of the contract I was extremely limited with whom I could write with until either ProPub or I decided to no longer do the manual. But things changed.
ProPub didn't decide not to do the manual--they were sold to a company called IOMA in 2000. So now my publisher was IOMA. Same contract, same rules still could only write for them. But I did profit from this change. Even though I couldn't write books for other publishers IOMA kept me very busy. Not only was I the author of the Complete Guide to Federal and State Payroll Compliance but also the editor for the Payroll Manager's Report (PMR) and a contributing writer for the Payroll Practitioner's Monthly(PPM). And every time IOMA needed a report for payroll I was there go-to guy. And they also published my Garnishment Guide on the side. Plus they were a great client for my webinars. Booking sometimes 20 a year. Not a bad relationship for me.
But things change, IOMA was sold to BNA a couple of years ago. No changes really happened in terms of my services for them but they were definitely in the wind. Then in February of this year things change--IOMA was out and BNA was in.
This one wasn't so good for me. In June they announced they were no longer publishing my version of the Complete Guide. They were bringing it "in house". And now for my not being able to blog for a while. I got a notice from the bankruptcy court that the corporation that owned IOMA had declared bankruptcy. That explains all the sudden changes but I knew it also spelled the end of my relationship with them. I had guessed it would be on October 31st. I missed it by 2 days.
On November 2, the attorneys for BNA sent me an e-mail terminating all my services. No more editor for PMR, no more articles for PPM, no more webinars. Yes things change and sometimes they don't seem like they are for the better. But this one just might be.
Because I am no longer under their contract for the book and the content of the book reverts back to me I am now free to do exactly what I want in terms of writing payroll manuals, books and articles. And also what I say and do on this blog.
So look for some really interesting blogs from this point forward. As to my books and manuals I will be cranking those out. Currently I am in the process of completing my first new one in years. It will be for Nevada payroll professionals and businesses. Look for it at the end of January.
The next book will be for my payroll professionals in California. And of course I will be updating my garnishment guide for 2011. All the while I will be maintaining the most up-to-date and extensive payroll website for payroll professionals. All the latest news and information, newsletters, bulletins, research facilities and of course advice from me--the Payroll Advisor!
The Times They Are a Changin'
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
A Busy September but Productive
Well I am back. It has been a very hectic September. My website is coming along nicely. We are building up the Payroll Resource Collection and should have it all built by the end of the year. So for now we are offering free access to this valuable collection until December 31st. Just sign up on our website.
Not only have I been busy but so has Congress, the IRS and even some of the states. Let's review what has happened so far.
1. Good news for company cell phone users. The Small Business Jobs Bil of 2010 signed by President Obama on September 27th. The bill removes cell phones from the definition of Listed Property in the Internal Revenue Code. It is effective for tax years after December 31, 2009. This means that the heightened substantiation requirements do not apply to cell phones.
2. Bad news in the same bill for employers who are late or who fail to provide informational returns. The penalties have been increased. First Tier goes from $15 to $30 and the calendar year maximum increases from $75,000 to $250,000. A complete recap of the penalties are on my website.
3. IRS is putting off mandatory reporting on Form W-2 for health insurance and making it optional for 2011. This is to allow businesses--read that payroll departments--time to adjust systems to allow for the new requirement. Read the entire news report on our website under IRS News.
4. States are beginning to announce new minimum wages for 2011. Missouri will remain unchanged for 2011. Montana is going up to $7.35. Ohio is going up to $7.40 for non-tipped employees and $3.70 for tipped if tips including. Oregon is going to $8.50.
5. States are beginning to announce tax changes as well. Oklahoma is requiring all SUI reports to be filed electronically in 2011. Iowa tax tables will remain the same in 2011.
So now we begin the year end hectic rush of news for payroll. I will keep you updated on the blog. If you need to receive news of new minimum wages etc as it breaks sign up for our news bulletin. We send out an e-mail blast as each news item is announced by the source. See my website for details and to sign up.
Not only have I been busy but so has Congress, the IRS and even some of the states. Let's review what has happened so far.
1. Good news for company cell phone users. The Small Business Jobs Bil of 2010 signed by President Obama on September 27th. The bill removes cell phones from the definition of Listed Property in the Internal Revenue Code. It is effective for tax years after December 31, 2009. This means that the heightened substantiation requirements do not apply to cell phones.
2. Bad news in the same bill for employers who are late or who fail to provide informational returns. The penalties have been increased. First Tier goes from $15 to $30 and the calendar year maximum increases from $75,000 to $250,000. A complete recap of the penalties are on my website.
3. IRS is putting off mandatory reporting on Form W-2 for health insurance and making it optional for 2011. This is to allow businesses--read that payroll departments--time to adjust systems to allow for the new requirement. Read the entire news report on our website under IRS News.
4. States are beginning to announce new minimum wages for 2011. Missouri will remain unchanged for 2011. Montana is going up to $7.35. Ohio is going up to $7.40 for non-tipped employees and $3.70 for tipped if tips including. Oregon is going to $8.50.
5. States are beginning to announce tax changes as well. Oklahoma is requiring all SUI reports to be filed electronically in 2011. Iowa tax tables will remain the same in 2011.
So now we begin the year end hectic rush of news for payroll. I will keep you updated on the blog. If you need to receive news of new minimum wages etc as it breaks sign up for our news bulletin. We send out an e-mail blast as each news item is announced by the source. See my website for details and to sign up.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Payroll Benchmarking --Best Practice
I have been finishing up my latest project this week. The benchmarking report for my publisher. It is a lot of work but really an enjoyable venture. It is very interesting to see all of the statistics on the costs etc associated with payroll just laid out to review at my leisure. When I was first working full time in payroll I would have killed to see some of these numbers. But back in those days no one had heard of benchmarking. So I had to guess how well I was doing. There was nothing to compare it to.
But it wasn't really necessary to benchmark back in those days either. Since we only paid by check or cash, had only a few fringe benefits--no 401(k) or cafeteria plans, and very few garnishments what was there to benchmark. All anyone cared about is that I got the payroll out on time. Compliance wasn't even an issue with the company--just me! Just get it out on time, don't make too many mistakes or tick any of the employees off and they were satisfied.
But times certainly have changed. Now they want you to get it out on time, don't make too many mistakes, don't tick off any employees, keep in compliance (still not as strict as it should be), and on top of all that--keep the costs down.
So today I guess my suggestion for a best practice is to check out how well you are doing. Think about adding benchmarking to your project list next year. You will find places to save costs, improve functions and processes and maybe even impress the bosses. Who knows, might even surprise yourself at how well you are doing.
How many out there are benchmarking already? Let us know what you have found.
But it wasn't really necessary to benchmark back in those days either. Since we only paid by check or cash, had only a few fringe benefits--no 401(k) or cafeteria plans, and very few garnishments what was there to benchmark. All anyone cared about is that I got the payroll out on time. Compliance wasn't even an issue with the company--just me! Just get it out on time, don't make too many mistakes or tick any of the employees off and they were satisfied.
But times certainly have changed. Now they want you to get it out on time, don't make too many mistakes, don't tick off any employees, keep in compliance (still not as strict as it should be), and on top of all that--keep the costs down.
So today I guess my suggestion for a best practice is to check out how well you are doing. Think about adding benchmarking to your project list next year. You will find places to save costs, improve functions and processes and maybe even impress the bosses. Who knows, might even surprise yourself at how well you are doing.
How many out there are benchmarking already? Let us know what you have found.
Monday, August 30, 2010
New Forms are Everywhere These Days
It amazes me sometimes how the world of payroll goes in cycles. For years we use the same old forms--941, DE 6 and DE 7 in California, etc. Then suddenly everyone is bored or something and new forms start popping up. Remember when the 941 had nonpayroll related stuff on it? They broke that out with the 945. Then smaller employers got the 944. Then the 941 stayed the same for quite a while year in and year out the same lines with the same things until last year. Then we got 2 forms in the same year last year and then again this year and it will be changing again next year.
Well now CA is doing the same. They are changing quarterly returns starting in January of 2011. Gone is the lovely DE 6 and the equally as lovely DE 7. Now we will have the DE 9 and the continuation DE 9C. Note: For more details on what each form does see our website under State News. It just seems that as soon as you get complacent knowing all the forms you have to submit along comes a new one.
Oh well, at least it gives me something to write about anyway.
Well now CA is doing the same. They are changing quarterly returns starting in January of 2011. Gone is the lovely DE 6 and the equally as lovely DE 7. Now we will have the DE 9 and the continuation DE 9C. Note: For more details on what each form does see our website under State News. It just seems that as soon as you get complacent knowing all the forms you have to submit along comes a new one.
Oh well, at least it gives me something to write about anyway.
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