How Overlooking Payroll Regulations Can Hurt Your Business

Maintaining payroll compliance can be challenging, especially with changing payroll regulations across different states. Employers who fail to comply with payroll laws risk severe financial penalties, lost employee trust, and reputational damage. Here’s a closer look at the potential risks of non-compliance and how payroll experts like us can help you navigate these challenges.

1. Misclassification of Workers

Proper classification is crucial to determine whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor. Misclassification can lead to underpayment of taxes, potential legal action, and penalties:

• Example: In California, truck drivers who are paid per mile might not receive overtime or accurate wage statements if they are misclassified as contractors instead of employees.

Solution: Our payroll experts can guide you in applying the correct criteria for worker classification across different states, such as California, New York, New Jersey, and Indiana.

2. Inadequate Wage Statements

Wage statements missing critical information can result in significant penalties:

• Example: In California, wage statements must include gross/net wages earned, total hours worked, and other information. Missing or indecipherable details can lead to Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims.

Solution: We help review and refine wage statements to ensure all legally required details are included, reducing your risk of PAGA claims or penalties.

3. Paid Leave Policies

Failing to provide accurate paid leave (e.g., sick days) is a significant compliance issue:

• Example: California requires employers to provide five days or 40 hours of paid sick leave in 2024. New York and New Jersey have specific paid sick leave laws, while Indiana has unique rules around unpaid leave.

Solution: Our team monitors changes in paid leave laws and helps you implement appropriate policies, whether through frontloading or accrual methods.

4. Incorrect Tax Withholding

Changing federal and state tax withholding rates can result in incorrect withholdings and underpaid taxes:

• Example: Federal withholding tables are updated annually, and states like New York and California have different requirements. New Jersey requires withholding adjustments for varying wage levels.

Solution: We use advanced payroll software to ensure accurate tax withholding based on the latest IRS and state regulations. We also offer consultations to refine your payroll setup.

5. Overtime Miscalculations

Overtime rules vary across industries and states, making compliance tricky:

• Example: In California, non-exempt employees working over eight hours a day or 40 hours a week must receive overtime pay. However, Indiana and New Jersey each have unique overtime laws.

Solution: Our experts evaluate your payroll processes to ensure that overtime is calculated correctly for all employees, regardless of state.

6. Record-Keeping Requirements

Failing to keep comprehensive payroll records can lead to compliance issues during audits:

• Example: Employers in California must keep wage statements and deductions for three years, while Indiana requires maintaining pay stubs that detail hours worked and deductions.

Solution: We can help you create a robust record-keeping system that meets federal and state guidelines, ensuring you can easily navigate audits or employee claims.

Conclusion

Payroll compliance is complicated, but it’s essential to avoid costly penalties and legal disputes. Our firm specializes in providing tailored payroll solutions that keep you compliant with federal and state regulations across California, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, and beyond. We proactively monitor payroll accounts, inform you of changes, and refine payroll practices to safeguard your business in 2024 and beyond.

If you have any questions related to any of the issues we discussed above, contact us for a consultation.