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CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3. Payroll Accounting 2006 Bernard J. Bieg. SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES. Developed by Lisa Swallow, CPA CMA MS. Social Security Taxes. FICA (1935) Federal Insurance Contribution Act Paid by employees and employers 6.2% OASDI plus 1.45% HI SECA (1951) Self Employed Contribution Act

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CHAPTER 3

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  1. CHAPTER 3 Payroll Accounting 2006 Bernard J. Bieg SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES Developed by Lisa Swallow, CPA CMA MS

  2. Social Security Taxes • FICA (1935) • Federal Insurance Contribution Act • Paid by employees and employers • 6.2% OASDI plus 1.45% HI • SECA (1951) • Self Employed Contribution Act • Tax upon net earnings of self-employed • 6.2% + 6.2% = 12.4% OASDI plus 1.45% + 1.45% = 2.9% HI • 3 issues • Are you an EE or independent contractor? • Is compensation considered taxable wages? • Calculating FICA and SECA under varying situations http://www.ssa.gov/employer

  3. Determination of Independent Contractor (SECA) vs. Employee (FICA) • IRS historically used 20-point test to determine “common law relationship” - examples from list include • How many companies does person work for • Control work/schedule/where performed • Who provides tools • Can person incur profit or loss • 3 Categories of evidence • Behavioral Control • Financial Control • Type of Relationship Can file SS-8 with IRS if uncertain what to do!! Access http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/

  4. Specifically Covered (in addition to common law) • Full time life insurance salespeople • Full time traveling salespeople • Agent- and commission-drivers of food/beverages • Not-for-profit EE (except ministers) • minister can irrevocably elect FICA coverage • Federal employees (only HI if hired prior to 1984) • In-patriates • Military on basic pay • no FICA on excess pay

  5. More Specific Situations • Temporary employees – considered EE of temporary agency • Household employees • If they make $1400+/year • ER must pay FICA – reports on 1040 (still paid by both) • Unless already files 941 - then report on this form • Doesn’t apply to minor unless that’s his or her occupation • Must pay if he/she under your control (gardener/nanny/cook) • Corporation • Officers are EE • Board of director members are not EE • Partnership • Partners are not EE

  6. What are Taxable Wages? • Cash • Wages and salaries • Bonuses and commissions • FMV of noncash compensation • Gifts (over certain amounts) • Stock options • Fringe benefits like personal use of corporate car • Prizes • Premiums on group term life insurance > $50,000

  7. What are Taxable Wages? (Continued) • Tips greater than $20 or more per month • EE must file form 4070 by 10th of following month with ER • ER calculates FICA on tips and withholds from regular paycheck on these reported tips • ER must match but they receive a business tax credit roughly equivalent to the ER paid FICA on tips • “Large employers” (11+ EE) must allocate • [(Gross receipts x .08) – reported tips] • Don’t have to withhold FICA on allocated tips, only reported tips • Have to show allocated tip income on W-2 • ER can petition IRS to reduce tip allocation to as low as 2% • ER files Form 8027 at year end with IRS

  8. Specifically Exempt Wages • Meals/lodging for ER convenience (for example, paramedic) • Sick pay • After 6 consecutive months off (personal injury) • Sick pay by 3rd party (insurance company/trustee) • ER contribution to pension plan • SEP contributions through salary reduction must have FICA withheld • ER-provided nondiscriminatory education assistance • Job-related educational expenses not subject to FICA • Payments for non-job related expenses up to $5,250

  9. FICA Taxable Wage Base • OASDI wages cap at $93,000 for 2006 (estimated) • HI wages never cap FACTS: Tamara earn $95,000/year; paid semimonthly on the 15th and 30th; determine FICA for 12/30/06 payroll • First must find prior payroll YTD gross $95,000/24 = 3,958.33 • 3,958.33 x 23 = 91,041.59 • How much will be taxed for OASDI? • 93,000.00 – 91,041.59 = 1958.41 • OASDI tax is 1958.41 x 6.2% = 121.42 • HI tax is 3,958.33 x 1.45% = 57.40 • Total FICA is 121.42 + 57.40 = 178.82 • Is this EE withholding or ER payroll tax expense? Answer - both!!

  10. Example #2 to Calculate FICA FACTS: Ahmed earns $175,000/year; paid first of every month; determine FICA for 7/1/06 payroll • What do we calculate first? • 175,000/12 = $14,583.33 per paycheck • YTD gross prior to current payroll = 14,583.33 x 6 = 87,499.98 • 93,000.00 - 87,499.98 = 5,500.02 taxed for OASDI • 5,500.02 x 6.2% = 341.00 OASDI tax • 14,583.33 x 1.45% = 211.46 HI tax (remember - no cap!) • Total FICA = 341.00 + 211.46 = 552.46 Remember - the ER has withheld $552.46 from the employee’s paycheck and must match this amount

  11. SECA and Independent Contractors • EE and ER portion of FICA if net income exceeds $400 • Net Income = Revenue – Expense • Partnerships – distributive share of partnership net income subject to FICA • If you own more than one business - offset losses and income and calculate FICA based on combined net income • Report self employment income on Schedule C • Can have W-2 and self employment income

  12. Calculating FICA with W-2 and Self Employed Earnings FACTS: W-2 = $97,768 and self employment income = $14,500; how much FICA on $14,500? • No OASDI because capped on W-2 • HI = 2.9% x 14,500 = $420.50 • Total FICA $420.50 FACTS: W-2 = $78,000 and self employment income = $21,000; how much is FICA on $21,000? • OASDI (93,000 - 78,000) = 15,000 taxable OASDI wages x 12.4% = $1,860.00 • HI = 21,000 taxable HI wages x 2.9% = $609.00 • Total FICA $1,860.00 + 609.00 = $2,469.00

  13. How to Get Set Up with SSA • One Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) per employer • File Form SS-4 with IRS office where tax returns will be filed • TELE-TIN to obtain (EIN) immediately • 1-800-829-4933 • When purchasing an existing business, the new owner needs a new EIN • SS-5 for everyone > one year old • To apply for social security number • Required under SSA • W-7 for ITIN (aliens who must file a tax return, but are ineligible for SS number)

  14. Deposit Requirements for FICA and FIT (always go together) • Each November, based upon a look back period, IRS tells ER what type of depositor he/she is • Monthly depositor - pay FICA and FIT by 15th of following month or • Semiweekly depositor • If payroll was W-F, deposit by next Wednesday • If payroll was S-T, deposit by next Friday • Exceptions • If really big ($100,000+ of federal payroll tax liability), taxpayer has until close of next banking day • If really small (quarterly owe less than $2500), wait and pay when 941 report is filed

  15. How to Deposit FIT/FICA • Fill out a Form 8109 coupon • These are sent to you when apply for EIN • Take to an authorized financial institution (depository for federal government) • Or can use EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) • Must use if total deposits exceed $200,000 for a year • Complete Form 9779, EFTPS Business Enrollment Form • To utilize online capabilities, enroll at www.eftps.gov • If mailing, postmark at least 2 days before due date • Penalties for late deposits

  16. How to Report FIT/FICA • File Form 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) • Download at www.irs.gov/formspubs/ • Due on last day of month following close of quarter • 1/31 4/30 7/30 10/31 • 941 e-file available for employers who meet requirements • File Form 4996 and then electronically submit 941

  17. Types of Penalties • Failure-to-comply penalties will be added to tax and interest charges; negligence can also result in fines/imprisonment • Imposed for following: • not filing employment tax returns on time • not paying taxes when due • not making timely deposits • not furnishing W-2s (information returns) • writing bad checks

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