Transcript Version 04.a
Employment Tax Laws
LAUSD Small Business Boot Camp
Version 08.a
Presenters IRS
Anthony Sykes
IRS Presenter EDD
Jimmy Wong
Taxpayer Education and Assistance Taxpayer Assistance Center: 1-888-745-3886
Agenda • Employee vs. Independent Contractor • Reporting Requirements for Independent Contractors • Employer Responsibilities • Reporting and Deposit Requirements
Employee vs.
Independent Contractor
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
Employee:
An individual who performs services for you and is subject to your control regarding what will be done AND how it will be done.
Independent Contractor:
An individual who performs services for you, but for whom you control only the result of the work.
Types of Workers • Employees – Common law – Statutory • Corporate officer • Unlicensed construction contractor (state) • Independent contractors
Common Law Employment • Common law evolved slowly over the years based on court decisions on individual cases.
• Common law rules of employment are the total of all court decisions on employment.
Common Law Employment (continued) Person who hires an individual to perform services has the right to control the manner and means of performing those services, whether exercised or not.
The right to discharge a worker at will and without cause is strong evidence of right to control.
What Can Happen If I Misclassify My Workers?
• Costly audits by the IRS, the EDD, and the Dept. of Industrial Relations due to: – Worker claims for injury/unemployment.
– Worker informants.
– Competitor informants.
• Additional taxes, penalties, and interest.
• Revocation of state/local licenses.
Voluntary Classification Settlement Program
• Optional program to reclassify workers • Applies to future tax periods • Must meet eligibility requirements • Apply by filing Form 8952 • Must enter into a closing agreement
Resources • Business and Specialty Tax Hotline 800-829-4933 • Visit IRS.gov
– Click on “Businesses” tab, “Employment Taxes” in the left navigation – Search Keyword “worker classification” • Worker classification resource handout
Resources (continued) • Pub 1779 ,
Independent Contractor or Employee
• Pub 15 (Circular E)
, Employer’s Tax Guide
• Pub 15-A ,
Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide
• Form SS – 8 ,
Determination of Worker Status
Resources (continued) • DE 44
, California Employer’s Guide
• DE 231 ,
Information Sheet - Employment
• DE 38 ,
Employment Determination Guide
• DE 1870
, Determination of Employment Work Status
Resources (continued) •
Employment Status Course
www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Taxes/Web_Based_Seminars.htm
•
Employee or Independent Contractor Tax Seminar
www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Tax_Seminars/ •
EDD Payroll Tax Forms and Publications
www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Taxes/Forms_and_Publications.htm
Reporting Requirements for Independent Contractors
Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification and Certification • Reports: – Payee’s correct name – Payee’s Taxpayer Identification number
Backup Withholding Requirements • Withhold 28 percent of income if: – Payee does not provide TIN – Payee provides incorrect TIN – IRS notifies payer of incorrect TIN • Withholding time frames – begin with first payment over $600 – until payee provides correct TIN
TIN Matching Program • Benefits: – Match payee name with Form W-9 – Match TIN with IRS records – Decrease backup withholding and penalty notices – Reduce the error rate in TIN validation • e-services verification available
California Backup Withholding Requirements
• If required to remit federal backup withholding to IRS, withhold 7 percent of income.
• Remit to Franchise Tax Board: www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/WSC/Backup_Withholding.shtml
Reporting Independent Contractors to EDD
DE 542 ,
Report of Independent Contractor(s)
– $600 or more for services in a calendar year.
– Applies to services provided by sole proprietor.
Form 1099-MISC Filing Requirement • Report payments of $600 or more paid in the course of your trade or business to non-employees annually.
• Report payments of at least $10 in royalties or broker payments in lieu of dividends or tax-exempt interest.
• Provide required copies timely to: – Payees by January 31 – IRS by last day of February • Exception awareness
Potential Penalties • Failure to file correct information returns by due date • Trust fund – imposed when taxes withheld are not sent to IRS – 100% of taxes, for taxes not sent to IRS – potential backup withholding for payer
Federal Forms and Due Dates • Form 945 to IRS, due January 31 • Form 1099-MISC to: – Independent contractor, due January 31 – IRS, due last day of February • Form 1096 (with Forms 1099) to IRS, due last day of February
NOTE:
Obtain Form W-9 from independent contractor prior to first payment.
Employer Responsibilities
Employer’s Federal Requirements • Obtain Federal Employer Identification Number with Form SS-4 • Complete federal forms – W-4 ,
Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
– Form I-9 ,
Employment Eligibility Verification
• Notify IRS of address change
Employer’s State Requirements • Obtain a Workers’ Compensation Insurance policy.
www.dir.ca.gov/dwc www.statefundca.com
• Apply for state employer account number.
DE 1 ,
Registration Form for Commercial Employers
When Hiring New Employees • Obtain DE 4 ,
Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate,
if status/allowances claimed differ from Form W-4.
• Submit DE 34 ,
Report of New Employee(s).
Employee Notification Requirements • • • • DE 35 ,
Notice to Employees
DE 2511 ,
Paid Family Leave
DE 2515 ,
State Disability Insurance
DE 2320 ,
For Your Benefit
• Written separation notice to employees .
Posting Requirements Generally, federal and state laws require that employers post complete, up-to-date versions of labor notices and other required posters.
Current posting requirements are available at: www.taxes.ca.gov/Payroll_Tax/postingreqbus.shtml
Recordkeeping • Maintain wage, earning, deduction, and withholding records on employees.
• Provide earning statements to each employee, each payday.
• Retain employee records and returns for at least four years.
Reporting and Depositing Requirements
2014 Federal Payroll Taxes Employer pays: • FUTA: 0.6% for the first $7,000 paid to each employee as wages during the year • FICA Social Security: 6.2% on first $117,000 (wage base limit) • FICA Medicare: 1.45% on all wages
2014 Federal Payroll Taxes (continued) Employee pays: • FICA Social Security: (wage base limit) 6.2% on first $117,000 • FICA Medicare: 1.45% on all wages • Federal Income Tax: Refer to Pub 15
2014 State Payroll Taxes
STATE UI Unemployment Insurance ETT Employment Training Tax SDI State Disability Insurance PIT Personal Income Tax (State Income Tax) Employer pays Employee pays 3.4% 0.1% 1.0% Refer to DE 44 None Wage Limit $7,000 $7,000 $101,636
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
• Methods – Visit www.eftps.gov
– Call toll-free 800-555-4477 • Free • Available 24/7 • Taxpayers guided through process • Third party deposit verification
State Electronic Filing and Payment Methods
e
-Services for Business • Fast, easy, and secure ways to manage your payroll taxes online.
• View and edit your returns/reports prior to submission.
• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
State Payroll Tax Deposit Methods • DE 88 ,
Payroll Tax Deposit
• Electronic Funds Transfer • Credit Card (Telephone or Internet)
State Payroll Tax Reporting Forms DE 88 ,
Payroll Tax Deposit
DE 9 ,
Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages
DE 9C ,
Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages (Continuation)
Forms and Due Dates
State
DE 9 DE 9C DE 9 DE 9C DE 9 DE 9C DE 9 DE 9C
Period
1st Quarter Jan., Feb., March 2nd Quarter Apr., May, June 3rd Quarter July, Aug., Sep.
4th Quarter Oct., Nov., Dec.
Due by
April 30 July 31 October 31 January 31
Federal Payroll Tax Reporting Forms • Form 941 ,
Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return
• Form 940 ,
Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return
– Schedule A
, Multi-State Employer and Credit Reduction Information Return
• Form 944 ,
Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return
Federal Payroll Tax Reporting Forms (continued) • Form W-2 ,
Wage and Tax Statement
• Form W-3 ,
Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements
Form 941, Quarterly Federal Tax Return
• First Quarter (Jan. - March) due April 30 • Second Quarter (April - June) due July 31 • Third Quarter (July - Sept.) due Oct. 31 • Fourth Quarter (Oct. - Dec.) due Jan. 31
Penalty and Interest Prevention • Classify workers properly. • File all documents and returns timely.
• Make all payments timely and in full.
• Use electronic filing and payment methods to reduce errors.
• Respond timely to all correspondence.
California Tax Service Center