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2. What Is A Taxable Fringe Benefit?. The IRS says a fringe benefit is a form of pay for the performance of services (employer gives to employee), which includes property, services, cash or cash equivalents. A Taxable Fringe Benefit is included in gross income and reported on form W-2 unless speci
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1. OSPS Year-End TrainingTaxable Fringe Benefitsand Tax Forms
2. 2 What Is A Taxable Fringe Benefit? The IRS says a fringe benefit is a form of pay for the performance of services (employer gives to employee), which includes property, services, cash or cash equivalents.
A Taxable Fringe Benefit is included in gross income and reported on form W-2 unless specifically excluded under an IRS code section.
3. 3 WHY DO WE CARE? The employer is responsible for proper classification and reporting
Classification = taxable or non-taxable
Reporting = included on the W-2
Gets to the W-2 by way of accurate payroll entries
4. 4 WHY DO WE CARE? Getting it right the first time
Employee’s W-2 is correct
No audit findings
Employee able to file taxes
Accurately
Without Delay
No Amended Return
5. 5 WHY DO WE CARE? Not just a ‘year-end’ issue, but important to ensure accuracy at year-end.
Should monitor all year for correct capture, classification and processing of taxable and non-taxable fringe benefits.
Do your final check at year-end
This responsibility falls to payroll to ensure accuracy.
Make it known that you need accurate and timely information
Your supervisor is responsible to make sure other divisions are cooperative
6. 6 Common Transactions Meals
Moving Expenses
Use of State Vehicle
Educational Expense
Domestic Partner Insurance
7. 7 Meals Overnight travel – not taxable
Conference or Official Business Meeting – not taxable
“For the Convenience of the Employer” – not taxable but has specific rules to qualify.
8. 8 Meals Otherwise – Taxable and Reportable
May be defined in CBA
Lunch when you work offsite or go to training
Breakfast when you are called out to work early
Dinner if you work late
9. 9 Meals Two Ways To Process
Reimburse through OSPA using code MST – pays cash and adds to taxable earnings. Adds amount to gross pay and reports out on Box 1 of the W-2.
Record through OSPA using code MS – non-cash transaction that adds to taxable earnings. Use when the meal was paid through accounts payable.
10. 10 Moving Expenses The non-taxable portion is the cost to move the goods and the people. Includes mileage and lodging but NOT meals.
Report through OSPA using code MVN (cash payment) Amount is reported in Box 12 on the W-2 and referenced with a code “P”.
11. 11 Moving Expenses Everything else is taxable.
Report through OSPA using code MVT (cash payment). Adds amount to gross pay and reports out on Box 1 of the W-2.
If payments made via accounts payable or to a third party, you must still record in OSPA and set up opposing PANN entries.
12. 12 Use of State Vehicle There is very little permission in statute for use of a state vehicle
Generally relates to a state vehicle being garaged at home.
The taxable portion may be:
Commute to work value of $1.50 per way – non-cash code SVN
Cents per mile commute to work – non-cash code SMN
Either of these will be added to gross pay and reported on Box 1 of the W-2.
13. 13 Educational Expense Educational payments can either paid or recorded through OSPA.
OAM 50.10.00.PO & PR updated July 2009 to provide more flexibility for making payments, and provides more clarity about the difference between “educational expense reimbursements” and an “educational assistance program”.
14. 14 Educational Expense Educational expenses must be classified as taxable or non-taxable according to rules in IRC 127 and IRC 132
Code EDN is used for non-taxable payments
Code EDT is used for taxable payments
Taxable payments are included in gross pay and will report on Box 1 of the W-2.
15. 15 Domestic Partner Insurance Reporting the fair market value of the partner insurance using code DPT will result in the amount being added to gross pay as a non-cash transaction and reported in Box 1 of the W-2.
16. 16 Domestic Partner Insurance Beginning in tax year 2009, employees may declare their partner to be a dependent for tax purposes. That will eliminate the use of the DPT transaction and the value of the insurance will not be considered a taxable fringe benefit.
See updated OSPA data entry guide for PEBB – Domestic Partner.
17. 17 ACCOUNTABLE PLAN There is a business connection to the expenditure or the reimbursement is for expenses that would be an allowable deduction for the employee on the employee’s tax returns.
18. 18 ACCOUNTABLE PLAN The employee is required to provide “adequate” accounting for the expenditure (s) within a reasonable amount of time. The employee must submit receipts unless under a per diem plan.
19. 19 ACCOUNTABLE PLAN The employee is required to return excess reimbursements or advances within a reasonable time.
If the policy meets all three criteria, the reimbursements are non-taxable to the employee.
20. 20 COMMON TRANSACTIONS Uniforms
Special Boots or Shoes
Safety Equipment
Tool Allowance
21. 21 Questions?
Contact
Sharon McKeehan
Sharon.e.mckeehan@state.or.us
503-378-6777 x230