Recent Articles
Check back often as we add new tips for human resource management, accounting, business management, and more.

IRS Establishes Mileage Rates for 2023
The IRS has issued the 2023 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business,
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New Law Ushers in Major Retirement Changes
There’s been buzz about new retirement plan provisions for weeks, and now they’re final, bringing about changes to various federal rules
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Should You Reimburse Staff For A Home Office?
What challenges have your employees been facing, and how can you offer the solutions they need? Deciding on a home office reimbursement policy can be
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Why Do Small Businesses Hire Firms to Provide HR Advisory Services?
The foundation of any good company, whether a big multinational corporation or a small business, is only as strong as the people who work there. From
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Top 5 Tips for Hiring Managers
While the landscape for businesses looks a little wobbly lately, with a post-COVID recession looming and an uncertain stock market, one bright spot
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Things to Consider Before Hiring an HR Consulting Firm
If you’re like most business owners, you don’t have a lot of time to spare. That’s why it’s important to do your research
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How Do Taxes Work With Bonuses?
Bonuses, frequently given at the end of the year, are a popular “thank you” for a job well done, and smart business owners know they can
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Staying Current on Labor Rules
Hiring staff? Good for you! It means your business is thriving. Now is the time to get up to speed or reacquaint yourself with any labor laws
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HR Compliance Audit – What to Know, Where to Start
If you’re responsible for human resources in your company, then you know that staying compliant with state and federal laws is a never-ending
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MarylandSaves Program: What Employers Need to Know
Most businesses operating in the state of Maryland are now required to offer a retirement savings plan to their employees. You may or may not have
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3 Signs You Have Outgrown Your HR Software Solution
HR software is pivotal to the success and overall flow of workforce management. At the very least, the HR solution that you implement should make it
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How to handle leave-of-absence requests
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a more flexible workplace was established that included new boundaries for paid and unpaid leave.
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What To Know About Fringe Benefits and Taxes
You can generally deduct the amount you pay your employees for the services they perform. The pay may be in cash, property or services. It may
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Are You Worried About Inflation?
When inflation is at play, the decline of the value of money and the incline in prices is a combination that impacts everyone. Not even business
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Top 8 Reasons to Use Outsourced Accounting Services
Outsourced accounting services are not the right fit for everybody, but it might be a perfect fit for you. Perhaps you don’t have the time or
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3 Tips for Discussing Pay With Your Employees
During the normal course of business, managers are typically required to have conversations with their employees regarding compensation. These
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Employee Retention Credit: Over but Not Done
The federal government’s Employee Retention Credit proved to be a lifeline for many businesses and their employees. The eligibility rules were
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Quiet Quitting: What Employers Need To Know
CBS News says, “There’s a new term for clocking in and doing the bare minimum at work: ‘quiet quitting.'” This employee
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The Affordable Care Act: A Review and Update
As explained on the official government health care site, the law has three goals: Make affordable health insurance available to more
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Fall planning? Remember the Maryland Time to Care Act
Fall planning is upon us and we want to make sure in addition to your thoughts around annual business strategies you are including the new Maryland
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Outsourced Accounting and Due Diligence
Due diligence is a deep-dive investigation relating to compliance. It can be an essential function to help you understand your potential liabilities.
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Lease Accounting – Should You Lease or Buy?
When it comes to lease or buy, there are pros and cons to both options. In this post, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of each choice
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For Retro ERC, Use Form 941-X
Form 941-X, Adjusted Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund, may be your key to getting all the Covid relief your business
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What Types of Accounting Services Can You Outsource?
Maintain accurate records; keep track of your company’s finances, bookkeeping, payroll, management accounting, taxes, accounts receivable,
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Take a Look at the Alternative Workforce
One of the most fitting descriptions of the alternative workforce comes from Deloitte. In the company’s words, they have said that “the
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How To Achieve Excellence in HR Service Delivery
The human resource function is responsible for providing services as well as support to employees during their time working for a company, from
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How To Create a Salary Plan
Don’t use guesswork when figuring out how much to pay your employees. You need a comprehensive, long-term plan to figure out a talent strategy.
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Breadcrumbing Job Candidates: Why You Should Avoid Doing It
Competing for talent is not easy, especially in a tight labor market. To snag the most qualified candidates, employers must make a good impression.
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The Strategic Role of the CFO
The chief financial officer of a company has always had a seat at the table, but the current business environment combined with changes wrought by
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Improve Your Payroll Audits With Automation
Payroll is a core feature of all businesses, and it is very important as it heavily impacts the morale of employees. After all, if employees
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Integrated Timekeeping: A Strategy for Preventing Payroll Errors
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are required to maintain updated records of the hours worked by nonexempt employees. According to the
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Flexible Work Is Key to Retention
In a flexible work arrangement, employees typically get to choose their work location and their work arrival and departure times. They may also have
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Qualities of a Good Payroll Technology Demo
A product demonstration or demo enables vendors to present the value of their product or service to prospective buyers. So if you’re in the
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Maryland Enacts Paid Leave Law – What It Means For You
Last month the Maryland Legislation voted to pass a paid family and medical leave insurance program. Called the Time to Care Act, the new legislation
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How To Choose a Financial Wellness Vendor
In a 2020 survey, 44.9% of respondents said they would view their employers in a better light if they provided a financial wellness program, and
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Is This Your Situation: You Want a Paperless Payroll
Paperless payroll is a paper-free payroll process that has become hugely popular in recent years. But despite the groundswell of support for
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How To Hire in a Tough Market
As a manager, you know how to promote your products. In a tight labor market, it may help you to view your job postings in the same way. Think of
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COVID-19 Pandemic and Caregiver Discrimination
Discrimination against a person with caregiving responsibilities may be unlawful under federal employment discrimination laws enforced by the Equal
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Four Considerations to Grow Your Small-Business HR Department
The consensus among HR leaders is that once you’ve reached the 20-employee mark, it is definitely time to hire a dedicated HR professional. If your
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Exempt vs. Nonexempt: Where the Dividing Line Is
Employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act are required to pay nonexempt employees for all hours worked. It sounds simple enough, but many
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7 Considerations When Preparing Your Payroll Budget
Most companies spend 20% to 30% of their annual revenue on payroll. The exact amount varies based on the employer’s size, industry, and
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The Essentials: HR, Benefits and Payroll Checklists
Human resources, employee benefits and payroll functions are separate yet intertwined, and checklists are essential to staying on top of your
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Is This Your Situation: You’re Spending Too Much on Bookkeeping
Wondering what your options are to reduce spending and increase income? Here are some tips: Organizing your finances is the foundation for financial
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Is This Your Situation: Feeling Overwhelmed by Payroll
Do you ever wish you didn’t have to go through the hassle of preparing a payroll? Maybe it was simple when you just had one or two employees,
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Can You Be Exempt and Nonexempt at the Same Time?
You can allow an employee to work two different jobs for your company. However, under the FLSA, you cannot classify an employee as both exempt and
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Unemployment and Tax: Back to Normal
Unemployment income has always been taxable income. Those who apply for unemployment benefits can have federal tax, and any applicable state tax,
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Payroll Tax Rates And Contribution Limits For 2022
Below are federal payroll tax rates and benefits contribution limits for 2022. Social Security tax In 2022, the Social Security tax rate
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Automatic 401(K) Enrollment: Right For Your Company?
Traditionally, employees have to opt in to retirement plans and make their own decisions about contributions. But there’s another possibility:
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How To Retain Employees In A Tough Market
Imagine you’re a nursing home manager trying to replace a nurse’s aide. But the resumes aren’t coming in like they usually do. You
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IRS Announces Mileage Rates For 2022
The IRS has issued the 2022 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business,
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IRS Announces 2022 Limits for Retirement Plans
The IRS has announced the new retirement plan numbers for 2022. Retirement limits for 401(k) and similar plans are up. The contribution limit
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Can You Clearly Explain Your Health Insurance Plan?
According to a report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, just 19 percent of employers say their employees had a “high
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7 Ways To Manage the Worker Shortage
Many businesses are struggling with a worker shortage. It is happening across the board: staff shortages at our doctors’ offices, at child care
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An FMLA Questionnaire To Keep You Compliant
Employer coverage – Is your business covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? You must adhere to the FMLA if you employ at least 50
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On-Demand Pay: A Growing Payroll Trend
A 2020 report by Ernst & Young says on-demand pay is “the term used to describe a category of financial products that give employees the
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What Is the Cost of Employee Vacancies?
How much money is lost when you leave a position vacant? There’s a financial impact to keeping a role open. Efficient, productive firms have
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Digital Dexterity: The Goal of a Successful Workplace
The workplace of the future is no longer abstract. It is a reality, but a reality that is different for each business. Every workplace has changed
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Taxable and Nontaxable Employee Benefits
As the unemployment rate falls from its 2020 high, employees are switching jobs in record numbers. The new stability in the economy means workers
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Protecting Wealth Through the Use of Family Offices
Family offices act as the heart of a family’s operations, doing everything from managing their financial lives to overseeing their investments,
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The Whys and Hows of Outsourcing Payroll
In Bloomberg Tax & Accounting’s 2019 Payroll Benchmarks Survey, 69.2% of respondents said they used outside vendors to perform payroll
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5 Must-Haves for Any Payroll Solution
Studies show that the vast majority of employers use payroll software, which saves time by automating manual processes and decreasing administrative
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EEOC Provides Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine Policies
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has updated its guidance on workplace COVID-19 vaccine policies. The agency’s original guidance,
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An HR Audit Checklist To Keep You Compliant
An internal HR audit reveals whether you’re complying with the law and helps you avoid potential liabilities and employee lawsuits. Below are
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Sick and Family Leave Reporting Guidance
The Treasury Department and the IRS have issued Notice 2021-53, which provides guidance to employers about using Form W-2 to report the amount
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How To Handle Your First Payroll
Regardless of whether your first payroll involves a few employees or many, the goal is to execute payroll in an accurate and compliant manner. Here
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Employee Retention Credit: Further Guidance
In COVID Tax Tip 2021-123, the IRS clarifies some of the confusion surrounding the powerful but complex Employee Retention Credit. The IRS is
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Vaccine Mandates: The Elephant in the Room
COVID-19 and its variants continue to disrupt the way we live, work and play. The population disagrees on whether to wear masks or be vaccinated, and
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Should Employees Get Paid for Orientation & Training?
It is not uncommon for a new hire to pose the question: Do you get paid for orientation? Orientation formally introduces the new hire to the company
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Should You Pay an Employee Who Resigns With Two Weeks’ Notice?
An employee who resigns with two weeks’ notice may think they are doing you a favor. But in fact, it can be a payroll headache, especially if
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Why Use Time and Attendance Software?
Documentation is key to wage and hour compliance. Simplify time tracking by automatically calculating hours worked as well as vacation time,
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What Can a Payroll Service Do for You?
Even if your business has only a few employees, you may be considering outsourcing your payroll processing to a specialist. What can a payroll
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Create a Strategy To Bring Back Workers
“Going back to the office” takes on new meaning after more than a year of working from home. Some people are excited to get back to
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Health Insurance Plans and Alternatives for Small Businesses
Employer-based health insurance costs have increased modestly since 2012 — between 3% and 5% annually for family coverage, according to a 2020
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Executive Order Targets Noncompete Agreements
These days, many employees at companies large and small to sign an agreement when they’re onboarded. It says that they’re not allowed to
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What Employers Need to Know About FICA Taxes
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) mandates that employers have to withhold, and also match, certain taxes. FICA consists of Social
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EEOC Publishes Updated COVID Guidance
As workplaces resume in-person operations, or at least consider doing so, there are many questions about the rules and requirements. However, the
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Affordable Care Act Upheld — Again
In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld, again, the Affordable Care Act. Texas and other states had sued to overturn it. The court’s
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Retirement Plan Startup Costs Tax Credit
A tax credit for small-employer pension plan startup costs may be awaiting you. You may be able to claim a tax credit of up to $5,000 when you set up
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Planning Ahead for Tax Credits and Deductions
Everybody wants to pay as little in taxes as possible. Most people use software or hire an accountant to help them find all the deductions they can
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What Is a Money Purchase Pension Plan?
A money purchase pension plan is an employee retirement benefit plan that requires companies to contribute a specific percentage of an
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IRS Adjusts HSA Limits for 2022
As it does each year, the IRS has announced changes for health savings accounts, which are associated with high-deductible health plans. The figures
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Do You Need an Economic Injury Disaster Loan?
Even before the pandemic, the Small Business Administration offered Economic Injury Disaster Loans for “losses not covered by insurance or
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How Do Holidays Affect FMLA Leave?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) dictates that employers with 50 or more employees must give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid,
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A Checklist for Navigating Open Enrollment
Before Open Enrollment – Reflect on the previous open enrollment period. Note the successes and failures and formulate a strategy for avoiding
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When You Have an HR Department of One
At a minimum, the human resources department handles: Recruiting. Hiring. Compensation. Employee benefits. Training and development. Employee
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How Much FMLA Leave Should Part-Time Employees Receive?
To take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, an employee must: Work for an employer that has least 50 employees for 20 or more workweeks in
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Employers Get Tax Breaks for Vaccination Leave
Small and midsize employers, and certain governmental employers, can claim refundable tax credits that reimburse them for the cost of providing paid
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Repaying Deferred Payroll Taxes
IRS Notice 2020-65 allowed employers to defer withholding and payment of the employee’s Social Security taxes. This deferral applied to those with
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Rethinking Your Employee Benefits Strategy
In the past, as long as you provided health insurance and retirement benefits, your benefits were considered competitive. Now, the pressure is on
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Hiring in a New Era
As you create your company’s hiring plan for a post-pandemic world, you need to adapt to a new reality. To begin with, you will need to
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7 Key Aspects of Payroll Compliance
1. Federal wage and hour laws The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets federal wage and hour standards, which are administered by the U.S. Department
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Employment Records Retention: What Are the Federal Laws?
How long do you have to keep records? There’s no one answer. However, we’ve summarized some of the most common federal laws relevant to
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What Will Retaining Talent Look Like in the Post-Pandemic Workplace?
Who could have predicted the disruption and change 2020 brought to the way we work? Now that we are starting to look ahead, past the loss and the
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Common Overtime Mistakes To Avoid
There are many ways to run afoul of overtime laws. Below are some of the most common — review them to ensure that you’re always in
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Can Employers Mandate Vaccinations?
Can an employer require its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19? It’s a simple question, but one that does not have an easy answer. In
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An Overview of Federal and State Overtime Exemption Laws
On Sept. 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule increasing the salary threshold for executive, administrative and professional
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Are Your Employees Cross-Trained?
When employees quit or miss work for some reason, when layoffs become necessary, or even when it’s just a matter of busy season, cross-trained
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What Are Predictive Scheduling Laws?
At times, you may want to suddenly change an hourly employee’s work schedule to better suit your business needs. However, several jurisdictions
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Employee Retention Tax Credit Gets a Boost
The second relief bill, passed at the end of 2020, contains updates to the employee retention credit, a refundable payroll tax credit. Each option
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IRS Updates Form 941 To Reflect COVID-19 Tax Credits
The IRS has revised Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, to accommodate COVID-19-related employment tax credits granted under the
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What the Taxpayer First Act Means for Employers
According to the IRS’ website, the Taxpayer First Act of 2019 “aims to broadly redesign” the IRS by expanding and strengthening
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Cash Balance Plans: Defined-Benefit with a Twist
Both individuals and the companies they work for continue to explore new ways to address the finances of retirement. One option is the cash balance
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