Patriot Software

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Do you really know what minimum wage posters you have to display around your office? Many employers dont, and that can lead to penalties. If youre even slightly unsure, read on. Failing to post required federal, state, and local posters isnt just a minor oversightit could cost you.

Payroll 55

Payroll Resources 55

Patriot Software

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

How much can employees contribute to their retirement plans? Whether investing in a 401(k), IRA, or another retirement plan, you and your team should understand the rules and limits for 2025. Use our quick-reference chart to learn 401(k) contribution limits 2025, IRA contribution limits, and more.

Retirement 61

Retirement Compliance Training Payroll Resources 61

Patriot Software

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Several states require that employers give tax notices to employees regarding their possible eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC, or EIC). The tax notice is typically IRS Notice 797, although you can give alternative notifications. EITC is a benefit for working people who make low to moderate income.

Payroll 52

Payroll Resources 52

Patriot Software

OCTOBER 12, 2020

As a small business owner, you may offer types of paid or unpaid time off to employees. But when election day rolls around, do you give employees time off to vote? Read on to learn about offering time off to vote, voting leave laws by state, and whether you can refuse voting leave. Giving employees […] READ MORE.

Compliance Training 141

Compliance Training Payroll 141

Patriot Software

AUGUST 17, 2020

Tax withholding comes with the territory of being an employer. Employment taxes can be broken down into payroll taxes and income taxes. Most people use the terms interchangeably. But when you hear about a payroll tax deferral, you probably want to know the exact difference between payroll tax vs. income tax.

Payroll 135

Payroll 135

Patriot Software

MARCH 8, 2021

Want to avoid breaking labor laws? Then you need to pay employees according to federal, state, or local minimum wage law. But if you have tipped employees, you might be able to pay a lower, tipped minimum wage. Read on to learn what is a tipped minimum wage, along with the current federal tipped wage […] READ MORE.

Compliance Training 134

Compliance Training Payroll 134

Patriot Software

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Typically, employers get to choose whether they want to offer types of paid time off, like sick leave, to employees. But depending on your business location, you might not have a choice. Little by little, paid sick leave laws by state are on the rise. If your employees work in a state with mandatory sick […] READ MORE.

Payroll 126

Payroll 126

Patriot Software

MARCH 1, 2021

True or false: As an employer, you can pay employees any amount you want. It’s 100% false. Because of minimum wage law. But, what’s minimum wage? Depending on your business location, you might have differing federal, state, and local minimum wage rates. To ensure your business is compliant with labor laws, get to […] READ MORE.

Payroll 122

Payroll 122

Patriot Software

JULY 21, 2021

Do you know your Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) responsibilities? Now, throw in a holiday. Do you still know how FMLA and holidays work? Here are some popular questions when it comes to FMLA and holidays: Do holidays count toward an employee’s FMLA eligibility? Does a holiday count as an employee’s days of FMLA […] READ MORE.

Payroll 119

Payroll 119

Patriot Software

MARCH 15, 2021

As a small business owner, you may have a lot of questions about FMLA, starting with, What is FMLA? To help you better understand FMLA and your roles and responsibilities as an employer, here are the basics of the law, eligibility requirements, and how to remain compliant as an employer. What is FMLA? So, what […] READ MORE.

How To 119

How To Payroll 119

Patriot Software

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

If the complex PPP loan forgiveness process has been weighing over your head, here’s some good news: you don’t have to apply right away. In fact, a lot of small businesses aren’t. The Small Business Administration and Treasury continue releasing guidelines. And, there’s plenty of time for Congress to release more COVID-19 legislation.

Guidelines 116

Guidelines Strategy Payroll 116

Patriot Software

OCTOBER 10, 2022

Connecticut joined the paid family leave states when employers began handling Connecticut paid family leave contributions in 2021. Time has flown by and it’s now 2022. What does that mean? Employees in Connecticut can now apply for benefits from the state’s paid family leave program.

Compliance Training 116

Compliance Training Payroll 116

Patriot Software

APRIL 15, 2024

Payroll is arguably a business’s biggest expense. Between taxes and benefits, an employee costs up to 32% more than their wages. To accurately budget for your payroll-related expenses, try payroll forecasting. Payroll forecasting is an essential part of financial planning that requires you to analyze and understand your company’s payroll data.

Payroll 104

Payroll Strategy Data Compliance Training 104

Patriot Software

JULY 26, 2021

When an employee leaves your business, you must follow an employee termination checklist. One of your employer responsibilities is giving terminated employees their final pay. But, how soon do you need to pay it out? Cue final paycheck laws by state. Read on to learn about (and comply with) final paycheck laws.

Compliance Training 115

Compliance Training Payroll 115

Patriot Software

MAY 2, 2024

Are all of your employees eligible to receive overtime pay? Some employees are exempt from overtime pay and minimum wage laws. Exempt employee qualifications are determined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). To run payroll correctly, you need to be familiar with exempt employees. What is an exempt employee?

Payroll 104

Payroll Resources 104

Patriot Software

AUGUST 31, 2022

If you want to pay an employee supplemental compensation, such as a bonus or a relocation payment, you must withhold payroll taxes just like with regular wages. But, what if you want an employee to receive a specific amount after taxes? That is when you gross-up payroll figures. And to do that, you need to […] READ MORE.

Payroll 113

Payroll How To Compensation 113

Patriot Software

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Do you need to withhold money from employee wages beyond taxes (e.g., garnishments or benefits)? Then you might be wondering when exactly you deduct the employee’s contributions—before or after taxes. Well, it depends. For accurate withholding, understand what are pre-tax deductions. Not sure what that means or how it impacts your tax calculations?

Wellness 111

Wellness Payroll 111

Patriot Software

AUGUST 9, 2021

You know that paying someone comes at a cost. In addition to giving employees their paychecks, you also have the cost of payroll taxes. So, how much does an employer pay in payroll taxes? Keep reading to learn more about the employer cost of payroll taxes. How much does an employer pay in payroll taxes? […] READ MORE.

Payroll 111

Payroll Compliance Training ATS 111

Patriot Software

OCTOBER 14, 2022

When an employee is called to serve on a jury, it can be a strain on your business. You might need to adjust schedules to fill the employee’s absence. Product creation or services might be disrupted. When your employee is fulfilling their civic duty, your business doesn’t stop. But, when an employee is on jury […] READ MORE.

Productivity 111

Productivity Payroll 111

Patriot Software

OCTOBER 17, 2022

When an employee becomes unemployed, they might qualify to receive unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are funded by unemployment taxes, which are paid based on employee wages. But who pays unemployment tax? You or your employees?

Compliance Training 110

Compliance Training Payroll 110

Patriot Software

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Payroll software makes paying employees a breeze by calculating federal, state, and local taxes. If you’ve decided you want to use software to run payroll, you can put away your calculator and income tax withholding tables (hooray!). There are several payroll software providers on the […] Read More

Payroll 109

Payroll How To Software 109

Patriot Software

DECEMBER 18, 2024

If you have nonexempt employees, you have to pay them overtime wages whenever they work overtime hours. In each pay period, you need to track employee time worked. Then, at the end of the pay period, you will calculate employee compensation. You will also have to withhold employment taxes. As you are doing payroll calculations […] Read More

Payroll 97

Payroll Compensation ATS 97

Patriot Software

APRIL 16, 2024

Despite your best efforts, accidents can happen in the workplace. When they do, you must fill out a workplace incident report. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, requires that all employers report qualifying workplace incidents. And, most employers must submit OSHA forms for other injuries and illnesses.

Report 97

Report Examples Payroll Resources 97

Patriot Software

JULY 26, 2021

Deciding whether you want to provide paid time off (PTO) is something you need to do before you hire an employee. Offering PTO also requires you to craft a policy that explains how your business treats accrued time off. But, PTO payout laws by state may restrict whether you can establish a use-it-or-lose-it policy. Sure, […] READ MORE.

Policies 105

Policies Hiring Payroll 105

Patriot Software

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Some businesses prefer paying employees cash instead of other payment methods, like direct deposit or check. If you choose to pay cash wages, you are still responsible for depositing and reporting employment taxes. Paying employees cash under the table, or off the record, means you fail to pay and report taxes.

Report 105

Report Compliance Training Payroll 105

Patriot Software

MAY 10, 2021

When it comes to paying your employees, you can’t pay them all willy-nilly. Instead, you must give them their wages on a consistent basis (e.g., weekly) and stick to one pay frequency. When you choose a paycheck frequency for your business, you need to follow state and federal payment laws.

Compliance Training 105

Compliance Training Payroll 105

Patriot Software

AUGUST 30, 2022

Employees love raises. Regular raises can improve employee happiness and put them in a better financial position. And, raises can reduce your employee turnover. You can give raises for merit or increasing job value. You might also give a cost of living raise. Employee raise expectations and employer plans are out of sync.

Payroll 105

Payroll 105

Patriot Software

MAY 5, 2021

When it comes to running payroll, you have a lot of things to mark off on your to-do list. From gathering timesheets to distributing pay stubs, there can be a lot of steps that go into paying your employees. But after you pay employees, your payroll checklist isn’t finished just yet. You also need to […] READ MORE.

Payroll 105

Payroll Report 105

Patriot Software

AUGUST 29, 2022

Collecting, reporting, and remitting payroll taxes are some of your key responsibilities when you have employees. And if you forget or downright neglect your responsibility, your small business could receive a penalty for not paying payroll taxes.

Payroll 20

Payroll Report 20

Patriot Software

OCTOBER 19, 2022

The topic of gender equality at work is heavily debated. Do hiring managers place more men than women? Do women earn less than men working the same jobs? Are women passed up for promotion opportunities? According to many studies, the answer is yes to all of the above. You can’t solve the nation’s inequalities. But, […] READ MORE.

ATS 104

ATS Study Hiring Payroll 104

Patriot Software

OCTOBER 10, 2022

As a small employer, you have all sorts of payroll taxes to worry about: income taxes, Medicare tax, and Social Security tax. But, what about unemployment taxes? Do employers have to pay unemployment taxes? Do employers have to pay unemployment taxes? In general, all employers have to pay unemployment taxes.

Payroll 103

Payroll 103

Patriot Software

MARCH 15, 2024

When payday rolls around, employees receive their wages for hours worked. They may also receive a digital or paper pay stub, which breaks down their earnings and deductions. As an employer, you must know how to generate pay stubs. Pay stubs are essential documents for both employers and employees. Employers keep pay stubs as a […] Read More

How To 93

How To Payroll Report 93

Patriot Software

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Do you think an employee is stealing time from your company? There are many types of employee time theft. And, worker time fraud can be expensive for your business. Let’s say you have an employee who steals 15 minutes of time per shift, and they work five times per week. The employee earns $10 per […] READ MORE.

How To 102

How To Company Payroll 102

Patriot Software

JUNE 14, 2024

Benefits matter to 81% of employees, which means your benefits package is an important recruitment and retention tool. From traditional benefits, like health insurance, to newer benefits, like student loan repayment, you’re always looking for the next best thing. Have you heard of employee assistance program (EAP) benefits? What is EAP, exactly?

Recruiting Software 93

Recruiting Software Recruitment Tools Payroll 93

Patriot Software

APRIL 18, 2024

Are your employees working too much overtime? Who needs a raise? Are you spending too much money on a department? To get answers to these types of questions, analyze your payroll data. Use payroll analytics to make decisions, avoid overspending on payroll, and verify the accuracy of your payroll.

Payroll 92

Payroll Analytics Data Report 92

Patriot Software

APRIL 18, 2022

Here’s another tax to add to the payroll checklist: local income tax. Cities, counties, small areas, and localities across the country have a local income tax for individuals working or living in the area. But, what is local income tax? What are your responsibilities? What is local income tax? So, what is local tax exactly? […] READ MORE.

Payroll 101

Payroll 101

Patriot Software

AUGUST 26, 2022

Sometimes, payroll mistakes happen. If you pay an employee less money than you should have during a pay period, you owe them retro pay. What is retro pay? What is retro pay? Retro pay, or retroactive pay, is the compensation you owe an employee for work performed during a previous pay period. The difference between […] READ MORE.

Payroll 101

Payroll Compensation 101