Blog - Human Resources & Payroll
SB 45 & HB 21: Expanded Responsibility & Liability for Sexual Harassment Claims in TX
11/30/2023
In the dynamic landscape of legal regulations, it's crucial for businesses to stay informed about recent legislation to ensure ongoing compliance. As part of our commitment to keeping our clients updated, we want to revisit 3 significant laws that took effect in September 2021 in Texas: Senate Bill 45 (“S.B. 45”), Senate Bill 282 (“S.B. 282”), and House Bill 21 (“H.B. 21"). Read more...
PUMP Act: Expanded Protections for Nursing Mothers
11/7/2023
In the dynamic landscape of legal regulations, it's crucial for businesses to stay informed about recent legislation to ensure ongoing compliance. As part of our commitment to keeping our clients updated, we want to revisit a significant federal law that came into effect in December 2022 as part of a $1.7 trillion federal spending package: The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (“PUMP”) for Nursing Mothers Act. Read more...
Human Resources & Payroll, Group Insurance & Retirement Plans
HR Year-end Checklist & Compliance Reminders
11/2/2023
We’re already in the fourth quarter of 2023! Now is a great time to check on your employee programs and make sure you’ve completed all required tasks based on today’s regulations. To help facilitate this process, we've compiled the following checklist of common year-end compliance tasks, reminders, and deadlines, plus information to share with (like updated contribution limits) or request from (name and address changes) your employees. We've organized this checklist into three sections: payroll, retirement, and benefits. If you are a BFG client in any of these areas, we will have discussed these items with you and, in some cases as marked on the checklist, we will facilitate them. Read more...
What the TRCA Might Mean for Some Labor Issues
9/27/2023
In June 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act (TRCA) (HB 2127) into law, which went into effect on September 1st. Read more...
Changes to Form I-9 & the New Procedure Moving Forward
8/15/2023
The updated version of the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) was released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on August 1, 2023. Employers have the option to employ the previous version of the form until October 31, 2023. Read more...
Form I-9 Remote Document Inspection Flexibility Ending Soon
7/14/2023
The flexibility to remotely inspect verification of identity and employment eligibility documentation for Form I-9 is scheduled to end on July 31, 2023. Read more...
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What You Should Know
7/7/2023
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect on June 27, 2023. The PWFA is a new federal law which requires covered employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an “undue hardship.” Read more...
IRS Issues Renewed Warning on False Employee Retention Credit Claims
3/17/2023
This month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a renewed warning to employers to be wary of third parties who may advise them to claim the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) when they may not qualify. Read more...
Human Resources & Payroll, Group Insurance & Retirement Plans
HR Year-end Checklist & Compliance Reminders
11/4/2022
We’re already in the fourth quarter of 2022! Now is a great time to check on your employee programs and make sure you’ve completed all required tasks based on today’s regulations. To help facilitate this process, we've compiled the following checklist of common year-end compliance tasks, reminders, and deadlines, plus information to share with (like updated contribution limits) or request from (name and address changes) your employees. We've organized this checklist into three sections: payroll, retirement, and benefits. If you are a BFG client in any of these areas, we will have discussed these items with you and, in some cases as marked on the checklist, we will facilitate them. Read more...
Cyber ESS App Announced
11/1/2022
Our partners on the CyberPay development team have released an app for Apple and Android. The app will allow users to access the ESS portal to download pay stubs and annual tax forms. If offered by the employer, the app will also let users complete additional activities that are accessible via their portal, such as using the time clock, submitting PTO requests and viewing notifications. Read more...
Human Resources & Payroll, Financial Planning & Investment Management
Taxpayers Encouraged to Check Tax Withholding
10/31/2022
On October 20, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released an article encouraging taxpayers to review their tax withholding before year end and make changes if necessary. The article states that doing so can help avoid surprises—such as a large bill or refund—when filing taxes in 2023. Read more...
Employers Warned to Beware of Third Parties Promoting Improper ERC Claims
10/26/2022
This month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a warning to employers to be wary of third parties who may advise them to claim the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) when they may not qualify. Read more...
December 2021 LOG4J Security Breach
6/15/2022
Log4J, a widely used library of code templates used for logging and troubleshooting, has a critical vulnerability that was publicly disclosed on Friday, December 9, 2021. Clients have not been affected by the vulnerability. Read more...
New Multifactor Authentication Required for CPO Phoenix
5/10/2022
Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an added layer of security to protect sensitive information housed within the payroll system, which until now, has been optional for users. Read more...
Wait to Cash Your ERC Check until the Calculations have been Reconciled
3/22/2022
ERC notices and checks are coming through for quarters where 941 amendments were used with a 7-9 month turnaround. In some cases, we are seeing some calculation or application errors by the IRS. In some of those cases, we believe cashing the check can potentially lead to other problems. Read more...
CMS COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Now Applies to Healthcare Workers in Texas
1/20/2022
In seesaw fashion, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has now dismissed the December 2021 lawsuit that was filed by the state of Texas against the CMS Healthcare Vaccine Mandate. As a result, this removes the injunction against the Mandate and it appears that healthcare providers in Texas are no longer excluded. We expect to see more clarification soon and will provide more specific details about the rules and timing shortly. Read more...
CMS COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Blocked for Healthcare Workers in Texas
1/20/2022
On Thursday, January 13, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccine-or-test mandate for large employers. At the same time, the Supreme Court ruled to allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate that requires employees of Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to remain in place. Both of these cases will now be sent back to the lower courts to decide whether to permanently block or uphold the vaccine mandates. Read more...
SCOTUS Blocks OSHA Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers
1/13/2022
On Thursday, January 13, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccine-or-test mandate for large employers. At the same time, the Supreme Court ruled to allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate that requires employees of Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to remain in place. Both of these cases will now be sent back to the lower courts to decide whether to permanently block or uphold the vaccine mandates. Please read on for details. Read more...
SCOTUS Likely to Block OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Policy
1/10/2022
Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for and against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which is a COVID-19 vaccine/testing rule that will apply to employers with 100 or more employees. Read more...
Deadlines Approaching for Repayment of Deferred Payroll Taxes
12/8/2021
In an attempt to boost the economy in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, the government allowed employers to defer certain payroll taxes for both employers and employees in 2020. Those who opted to do so must pay back the deferred taxes by the applicable deadline. Please read on for more information. Read more...
Human Resources & Payroll, Group Insurance & Retirement Plans
HR Year-end Checklist & Compliance Reminders
11/10/2021
We’re already in the fourth quarter of 2021! Now is a great time to check on your employee programs and make sure you’ve completed all required tasks based on today’s regulations. To help facilitate this process, we've compiled the following checklist of common year-end compliance tasks, reminders, and deadlines, plus information to share with (like updated contribution limits) or request from (name and address changes) your employees. We've organized this checklist into three sections: payroll, retirement, and benefits. If you are a BFG client in any of these areas, we will have discussed these items with you and, in some cases as marked on the checklist, we will facilitate them. Read more...
FFCRA Update
9/28/2021
We're writing with an update on paid sick leave (PSL) and paid family leave (PFL) provided by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Please let us know if you have any employees out on COVID-related leave as soon as possible. Read more...
TWC Clarifies 2nd Quarter Payment Deadline
8/31/2021
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recently sent out incorrect payment deadlines on their Statement of Employer Accounts, which are generated by its Unemployment Insurance Tax System. On August 30, the TWC clarified that the second quarter tax payment deadline is actually September 30, 2021. Interest will begin to accrue October 1 for payments not made by that date. Below are the deadlines released by the TWC. Read more...
ERC May End Early to Pay for Infrastructure Bill
8/10/2021
Last week, two pieces of news related to Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERC) were released. First, on August 2, details of the infrastructure bill were released, including an announcement that the proposed legislative package in its current form would largely end the ERC on September 30 instead of the current December 31 deadline. Meanwhile, on August 4, the IRS released Notice 2021-49, which provides guidance and clarification on the ERC. Read more...
Unemployment Fraud: Identity Theft & Credit Monitoring
4/13/2021
Unfortunately, we have received word from a number of clients that they are receiving unemployment claims on employees who are still employed and have not filed claims. Please read on for more information. Read more...
COVID Stimulus: American Rescue Plan
3/19/2021
On Thursday, March 11, a new COVID-19 stimulus package was signed into law: the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP). It includes updates to many of the COVID-relief programs with which business owners have become familiar: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Employee Retention Credits (ERC), Paid Leave Credits, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL). One new grant program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), was also created. Please read on for details of programs that will affect business owners. Read more...
IRS Releases Guidance on ERC: New Notice Explains Changes Made in December's Stimulus
3/11/2021
On Monday, March 1, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2021-20 (Guidance on the Employee Retention Credit under Section 2301 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) was created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and was amended in December as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. One major change is that Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) participants are now allowed to take advantage of ERC. Notice 2021-20 provides guidance on key questions about how PPP participants may retroactively claim ERC for wages paid in 2020. Read more...
IRS Communication & Guidance: We Are Awaiting Guidance On ERC From IRS; Meanwhile, IRS Is Sending Confusing Notices
1/28/2021
We are expecting additional guidance from the IRS on how companies that are newly eligible may claim Employee Retention Credits (ERC) and will work to process credits for your business as soon as we have instructions from the IRS. Read more...
Employee Retention Credits: Enhanced By Recent Stimulus Package
1/15/2021
The recent stimulus package, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, (CAA), signed into law on December 27, 2020, made some significant changes to Employee Retention Credits (ERC). One major update is that employers who have received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan may also receive ERC, which had not been allowed under the previous rules. Read more...
FFCRA Paid Leave Update: Employer Tax Credits Extended to 3/31/21
12/31/2020
One area addressed in the recent stimulus package, signed into law on December 27, 2020, is paid leave mandated by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). FFCRA’s mandate for certain employers to provide paid leave and receive a tax credit to reimburse the cost of that paid leave was set to expire on December 31, 2020. Read more...
COVID Stimulus: PPP Round 2
12/28/2020
On Sunday, December 27, a new COVID-19 stimulus package was signed into law. The $900 billion deal is a 5,000+ page bill that features many meaningful programs that affect individuals, small businesses, nursing homes, communities, colleges, universities and K-12 schools. Read more...
Human Resources & Payroll, Group Insurance & Retirement Plans
HR Year-end Checklist & Compliance Reminders
12/16/2020
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, during which adapting to life with COVID-19 has been a primary focus. Because of the unusual year, now is great time to check on your employee programs and make sure you’ve completed all required tasks based on today’s regulations. To help facilitate this process, we've compiled the following checklist of common year-end compliance tasks, reminders, and deadlines, plus information to share with (like updated contribution limits) or request from (name and address changes) your employees. We've organized this checklist into three sections: payroll, retirement, and benefits. Read more...
Modifications to FFCRA Regulations: Paid Sick Leave
9/25/2020
As a result of the recent New York federal court ruling, which rejected portions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) regulations, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued revised rules that went into effect on September 16, 2020, and will continue to be enforceable through the end of 2020. Read more...
PPP Update: Strategically Timing Your PPP Forgiveness Application
9/23/2020
Several bills have recently been introduced in Congress aiming to largely simplify the PPP forgiveness process. At least two of these bills – US Senate Bill 4117 and US Senate Bill 4321 – aim for automatic forgiveness of a loan that is not more than $150,000 if the recipient submits a one-page form. Read more...
New Timekeeping Feature: Mobile Location Management
9/21/2020
Our Timekeeping Module has a new feature to help you with keeping track of your mobile workforce: Mobile Location Management. Read more....
Coronavirus: Employer Q&A
7/27/2020
We have been receiving a number of questions from clients on how to handle coronavirus from an HR perspective. Because it is likely that most of our clients may have similar questions, we are collecting these into the following Q&A format guide. Read more...
New Rules: Executive Order for Bexar County
6/19/2020
On June 17, 2020, County Judge Nelson Wolff issued Executive Order NW-10, which includes several mandates for both individuals and businesses in Bexar County. Read more...
PPP Update: SBA Releases New Loan Forgiveness Application
6/19/2020
As a result of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act of 2020, on June 17, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) released a revised Loan Forgiveness Application and simplified “EZ Application” for use by certain borrowers. Read more...
Main Street Lending Program: A New Source of Capital for Small Business
6/19/2020
The Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) was created by the Federal Reserve to “support lending to small and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Loans range from $250,000 to $300 million depending on the facility being used. The lender portal for the MSLP opened on Monday, and while some banks that applied are still awaiting approval, many are preparing to provide these loans to clients. Read more...
PPP Flex Act: New Information
6/12/2020
Last Wednesday, June 3, the Senate passed by unanimous consent the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which had previously passed the House on a 417-1 vote. The Act became Law officially on Friday, June 5. The legislation modifies the original requirements with hopes of making loan forgiveness more flexible and, therefore, more attainable. And, so far, it appears that may be the case. Read more...
PPP Fixes Passed: Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
6/4/2020
On Wednesday, June 3, the Senate passed by unanimous consent on a voice vote the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which had previously passed the House on a 417-1 vote. The Act was in response to complaints about some stipulations of the Paycheck Protection Program’s loan forgiveness. The legislation modifies the original requirements with hopes of making loan forgiveness more flexible and, therefore, more attainable. Read more...
SBA PPP Loan Application
5/17/2020
On Friday, May 15, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. Read more...
How to Plan for PPP Loan Forgiveness
4/24/2020
On Friday, 4/24/2020, Kim Moore participated in an online Zoom call hosted by Shannon Badger with Badger CPA to discuss Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness and documentation requirements. They covered allowable expenditures, strategies for allocating funds, and best practices for documentation. Please see the corresponding Q&A document that includes information covered during the discussion. Read more...
PPP SBA Loan Forgiveness Request
4/20/2020
In an Interim Final Rule issued April 14, the SBA provided its process for submitting a request for forgiveness. The rule indicates that the request could be submitted as early as the end of the week seven of the 8-week covered period. Read more...
Reactivating Employees for Compensation
4/20/2020
If you have been approved or have received funding from the a PPP SBA Loan and would like to "reactivate" employees in order to begin paying them during the 8-week covered period, we have provided links to Employee Notices you may want to use. Read more...
CARES Act: Additional Provisions that Might Affect You
4/20/2020
The CARES ACT was a $2+ Trillion unprecedented Act of Congress designed to provide relief to Americans who have been negatively affected by COVID-19 and subsequent "Stay at Home" orders. Up until now, most of our attention has been devoted to the SBA Payroll Protection Program loans because it had such a short window of time to respond. However, the law includes some other elements that could be beneficial for you. Read more...
The CARES Act: Expanded Unemployment
4/20/2020
The CARES ACT, through a provision called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), has expanded both the amount that can be collected and who is covered under PUA. Read more...
SBA PPP: Managing the 8-Week Process
4/15/2020
We've prepared some guidelines to help if you have applied for an SBA Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan. What's next? Our article explains how you might prepare for loan funding and expense documentation. While new information and guidance from the SBA is expected, we're providing this feedback in our best effort to keep you abreast of what to expect next as this situation evolves. Read more...
Paycheck Protection Program
3/30/2020
On Friday, March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law, providing an unprecedented level of emergency assistance for families and businesses affected by COVID 19. Read more...
COVID-19 and Other Viruses: Steps BFG is Taking to Ensure Safety
3/17/2020
We have sent several updates on COVID-19 and actions that our clients and contacts should consider taking in the midst of this pandemic, and we will continue to do so. Now we’d like to describe policies that we’ve had in place at BFG for many years along with some enhancements in an effort give you some reassurance of how we are seeking to protect our staff and clients while we continue to provide support to our clients and their employees. Read more...
Coronavirus: Steps to Ensure Safety in the Workplace
3/9/2020
News of the coronavirus is everywhere, and the fear that is the product of this news seems more widespread than the virus itself. That said, there is much truth in the adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe workplace. What actions should companies take to ensure workplace safety? Read more...
Update: San Antonio Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Postponed to December 1
7/19/2019
The San Antonio Paid Sick Leave ordinance that was scheduled to go into effect in San Antonio on August 1 has been postponed until December 1. Read more...
Update: San Antonio & Dallas Paid Sick Leave Mandates are Effective August 1
7/15/2019
While a court injunction still blocks the paid sick leave (PSL) ordinance in Austin, the San Antonio and Dallas ordinances are on track to become effective on August 1, 2019 for employers with more than 5 employees working within city limits. The ordinance doesn’t require that an employer is based in San Antonio or Dallas, simply that an employee spends time working on behalf of the employer within those cities. Do you have any employees who work 80 hours per year within Dallas or San Antonio? Read more...
Next Steps: Local Paid Sick Leave Mandates
5/31/2019
In our last installment, we discussed the status of action by the Texas Legislature to block local paid sick leave ordinances that have passed in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. This legislation did not pass in the Texas House and therefore was not signed into law. That means that local paid sick leave ordinances in San Antonio and Dallas will come into effect starting August 1, 2019, unless some other action is taken. The latter part of this article will describe the ordinance in detail, but let’s start with who is affected and who is not. Read more...
Paid Sick Leave Stands? Bills to Ban Local Ordinances Have Stalled in Texas Legislature
5/22/2019
Local paid sick leave ordinances have now passed in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. Austin’s ordinance is on hold after an Appeals Court found it was unconstitutional and preempted by Texas’s minimum wage law. That court remanded the case back to district court for further proceedings, and Austin may appeal that decision. Many in the business community had hopes that Texas would pass legislation banning local paid sick leave ordinances. Now, it seems like the proposed bills are stalled out in the Texas House and do not appear on the calendar to be voted on before the end of the Legislative Session. Read more...
SSN No-Match Letters: What Should You Do if You Receive One?
4/10/2019
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has again started sending no-match letters, which indicate that a W-2 submitted by an employer does not match up with the name and social security number (SSN) that the SSA has on file. The discrepancy could simply be the result of a typo, but it may also be the result of a more serious issue, such as identity theft. Employers who receive these letters must try to resolve the error without taking any adverse action against the employee based solely on the letter. Read more...
Taxes on Employee Parking
3/26/2019
Some employers offer reserved parking as an added perk to their employees, either as a temporary award or more permanent assignment. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act amended Section 274(a)(4) of the tax law so that it “generally disallows a deduction for expenses with respect to QTFs [Qualified Transportation Fringes] by taxpayers to their employees,” meaning that providing a reserved parking spot to an employee may not be a tax deductible expense as of 2018. Read more...
Overtime Rules? A New DOL Proposal has been Released
3/21/2019
Earlier in March, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a new proposal on overtime for employees who are classified as “exempt.” Much debate has occurred on this issue dating back to a proposal by the Obama administration in 2016, which was blocked by a US District Court in Texas just 9 days before the rule came into effect. While this new rule may face similar legal challenges, it’s important for employers to develop a plan of action so they are ready if the new rule takes effect in January of 2020, as scheduled. Please read on to learn more about the new rule. Read more...
Tax Reform Effects: Smaller Tax Refunds Reported
2/15/2019
Tax season has begun, and preliminary reports show that the average refund is down about 8% from the same time last year, from $2,035 to $1,864, causing speculation that consumer spending may be hurt due to refund reductions. At the time of the report, approximately 16 million returns had been filed and 13 million were processed. During the 2017 tax season, nearly 152 million returns were processed, and some argue that the small sample size so far this year may skew the data and not be a true indicator of the overall population. The Internal Revenue Service provides filing season statistics every year, which will be needed to see whether these preliminary reports prove to be true. In the meantime, what might cause this change in dynamics? Read more...
E-Verify is Up & Running: Employer Action Required by 2/11/2019
1/30/2019
During the shutdown, the Federal Government’s electronic employment verification system (E-Verify) was unavailable. Now it is operational again, and employers who participate are required to take action by February 11, 2019. Read more...
E-Verify Website is Down: Government Shutdown & I-9 Requirements
1/17/2019
The Federal Government has been “shut down” since December 22, 2018. As a result, the Federal Government’s electronic employment verification system—E-Verify—is unavailable. What does this mean for employers who use E-Verify? Read more...
Human Resources & Payroll, Group Insurance & Retirement Plans
Yearend Checklist
12/4/2018
This year may feel like a blur, and it is quickly coming to a close. The holiday season is upon us, and many of us are beginning to plan for next year. Now is a great time to think about the goals we will be working on in 2019, from our sales and activity goals to our goals for our employee programs. To help facilitate this process, we’re providing a list of reminders and common yearend tasks based on today’s regulations. Read more...
Austin Paid Leave Ordinance Temporarily Suspended
8/24/2018
In February, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance requiring employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. The ordinance was set to go into effect October 1. Read more...
San Antonio Passes Paid Leave Ordinance
8/17/2018
On Thursday, August 16, 2018, by a 9-2 vote, the San Antonio City Council passed an ordinance requiring employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. San Antonio is following Austin, which passed a very similar ordinance in February of 2018. One difference is that San Antonio’s ordinance will not be effective until August 1, 2019, almost a full year after Austin’s ordinance. Read more...
Update on Austin's New Paid Leave Ordinance: Will it Affect You?
6/29/2018
In February, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance requiring employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. Any employers whose employees work in Austin are affected, and advocacy groups anticipate similar action taking place in large cities across Texas. Will you be affected? Read more...
IRS Releases New W-4 & Recommends "Paycheck Checkup"
3/7/2018
On February 28, the IRS released a revised Form W-4 and a Withholding Calculator for 2018. These updates come as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Due to the dramatic changes to the law, Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter stated, “the IRS encourages employees to check their paychecks to help ensure they’re having the right amount of tax withheld for their personal situation.” Read more...
ICE Director Delivers on Promise of Increased Enforcement
2/16/2018
At a press conference in December, acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Thomas Homan announced that he would like to quadruple worksite enforcement: “I want to see a 400% increase in work site operations. We’re not just talking about arresting the aliens at these work sites, we are also talking about employers who knowingly hire people who are unauthorized to work.” Read more...
Common W-2 Questions
2/6/2018
Tax season is upon us! To help ring in the season, we would like to share answers to the top questions we get on Forms W-2. Read more...
IRS FAQ on Payroll Withholding Changes
1/12/2018
On Thursday, January 11, the IRS released Notice 1036, updating the income tax withholding tables for 2018 in response to the new tax law. They also released Withholding Tables Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), available here: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-withholding-tables-frequently-asked-questions. Read more...
Form I-9 Enforcement Increases in 2018
1/12/2018
On Wednesday, January 10, federal agents raided 7-Eleven stores across the nation. The Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made 21 arrests and served inspection notices at the franchise convenience stores. This action comes after acting ICE Director Thomas Homan’s October announcement that he would increase the amount of time spent on worksite enforcement by four or five times. Read more...
IRS Statement: Withholding for 2018
12/29/2017
On December 26, the IRS announced they are still working to develop withholding guidance to implement the new tax reform law, which was signed on December 22. Read more...
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017: What Taxpayers Need to Know
12/29/2017
On December 22, 2017, the President signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the act or TCJA). The legislation makes significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), including individual, corporate, and gift and estate taxation. Read more...
Human Resources & Payroll, Financial Planning & Investment Management
Planning for Disasters
10/7/2017
Disasters can be life-changing and stressful; however, avoiding the topic doesn’t eliminate the stress or the possibility of a disaster occurring. Whether a medical emergency or severe weather—like we’ve just witnessed across the southern United States—we know that some disasters are unavoidable. The best defense in these situations is having compliant policies in place and ensuring your staff is well-trained on them. Read more...
TXTA Conference Recap: Compensation Strategy & Planning
8/25/2017
Managing compensation is part of the overall management of a strong corporate culture. What we know is you cannot win on pay alone, and you cannot win without it. We frequently hear from business owners that employees leave to work where the pay rate is perceived as higher and that there is not an appreciation or understanding of all the other things being done as part of their compensation package. Read more...
Revised Form I-9 Published July 17, 2017
7/21/2017
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, on July 17, 2017. The revision date can be found in the lower left corner of the form. Read more...
W-2 Phishing Scam
2/17/2017
The IRS has released an alert on phishing scams intended to steal employee W-2 information. In particular, the IRS reports not only that this W-2 phishing scam has targeted schools, restaurants, hospitals, and tribal groups, but that it is also evolving to target other industries. Read more...
New Form I-9 & Fine Increases
9/29/2016
Employers should expect the release of a new Form I-9 by November 22, 2016. In August, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the revised Form I-9, but employers may still use the existing form (revision date: 3/8/2013) until January 21, 2017. After that date, all previous versions will be considered invalid. The latest version of the Form I-9 will have an expiration date of August 31, 2019. Read more...