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2013 IRS FORM W-4 RELEASED
January 23, 2013
In mid-January, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finally released the 2013 Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate . Employers use the W-4 Form to determine how much federal income tax to deduct from employees’ pay. Form W-4 Basics All newly hired employees must ...
CHANGES MADE BY THE TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT
January 19, 2013
On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) into law. This new law addresses many of the tax issues that were debated by Congress at the end of 2012, and which were referred to by many as the “fiscal cliff.” The ATRA addressed various tax ...
HOME OFFICE DEDUCTION MADE SIMPLER
January 17, 2013
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a new, simplified option for claiming a home office deduction. Many owners of home-based businesses and some home-based workers will be able to use the new method to figure their deductions for the business use of their homes. Nearly 3.4 million ...
ANNUAL INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS FOR 2013
January 15, 2013
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the annual inflation adjustments for tax year 2013, including the tax rate schedules, and other tax changes from recently passed legislation. The tax items for 2013 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following changes: ...
TIME TO POST OSHA SUMMARY 300A
January 14, 2013
Employers with 11 or more employees, whose businesses are subject to Cal/OSHA recordkeeping requirements, must post annual injury/illness summaries for the preceding year from February 1 through April 30 using Cal/OSHA Form 300A. Throughout the year, covered employers are required to log ...
NEW HIRE PACKET UPDATED FOR 2013
January 11, 2013
The New Hire Packet, which contains the required forms and mandatory notices to be given to employees at the time of hire, has been updated for 2013. The forms updated in the packet include the new federal Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance, and two updated California notices: the ...
MANDATORY FLU SHOTS CAN BE RISKY BUSINESS
January 10, 2013
With the flu running rampant across the country, employers seek ways to protect the health of their employees while minimizing the impact on business operations. Some have gone so far as to require their workers be vaccinated or face termination. Others have considered taking disciplinary actions ...
GUIDANCE ON WITHHOLDING IN 2013
January 2, 2013
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new income-tax withholding tables for 2013 and issued special instructions on implementing new income tax and Social Security tax rates. In issuing this guidance, the IRS takes note of the fact that Congress is currently considering legislation ...
W-2 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
November 27, 2012
Beginning in 2013, many employers will be required to report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan on Form W-2. However, certain employers are not required to file reports for tax-year 2012 and beyond, until the IRS issues final guidance for this reporting ...
EMPLOYER PENALTIES UNDER HEALTH CARE REFORM
November 15, 2012
Beginning in 2014, certain employers will face stiff penalties under the new health insurance reform law. Small employers with 50 or fewer employees are exempt from penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act” or “ACA”), but ...
