Vision Payroll

This week’s question comes from Greg, a part-time accounts payable clerk. I made almost the same amount of money in 2008 as I did in 2007, but the amount of my federal income tax (FIT) withheld is significantly lower. Why did my FIT withheld go down? There are several reasons why your FIT withheld could be significantly lower, even though your income was almost the same.

1. Inflation creep. Each year, as inflation reduces the value of the dollar, tax tables in Publication 15 (Circular E) are adjusted so that less tax would be withheld on the same amount of income. This is to adjust for the reduced buying power of the same dollar amount of income.
2. Reduced income. At certain low-income levels, no tax is withheld if the withholding allowances claimed are greater than zero. Even FIT withholding of a few dollars each week can add up to a few hundred-dollar difference at year-end compared to no withholding at certain low-income levels.
3. Increased withholding allowances. Many employees file a revised Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate or Formulario W-4(SP), Certificado de Exención de la Retención del Empleado. If the number of withholding allowances claimed increases, the amount of FIT withheld will decrease. Instead of receiving a big refund when a Form 1040 is filed, the employee receives a small net pay increase each week. Some employees also file Form W-4 claiming exemption from all FIT withholding.
4. Claiming Earned Income Credit. Many employees file a new or revised Form W-5, Earned Income Credit Advance Payment Certificate. As in the case of increased withholding allowances, claiming an advance EIC payment will increase net pay received each week, but could reduce the amount of FIT withheld.
5. Increase in pre-tax deductions. Employees who increase the amount of a §125 election or elect to contribute more money to a pre-tax retirement plan such as a SIMPLE plan or §401(k) plan, could have a significantly reduced amount of FIT withheld on the same amount of gross pay. Since those amounts are deducted before FIT withholding is calculated, the FIT deduction should be reduced.

Employees should work with their CPA to project their FIT liability for the current year then assess their progress toward meeting that liability each quarter. If the projected FIT withholding be less than the annualized projected liability a revised Form W-4 or Form W-5 should be filed or the need to pay quarterly estimated tax payments using Form 1040-ES should be considered. Employers should update the allowances claimed by logging in to their company file or providing Vision Payroll with the updated information.

Employees who have provided a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate claiming exemption from federal income tax withholding must file a new 2009 Form W-4 by February 16, 2009 in order to continue their exemption from federal income tax withholding. Employers must start withholding on February 16, 2009 if employees have not provided a 2009 Form W-4 claiming exemption. Even employees who are no longer claiming exemption should file a 2009 Form W-4 so that employers may calculate the proper amount of withholding. If an employee has not provided a 2009 Form W-4 by February 16, 2009, the employer should withhold based on a previously filed Form W-4 not claiming exemption, if available or using single, zero allowances, if not. Spanish-speaking employees may complete Formulario W-4(SP), Certificado de Exención de la Retención del Empleado. Upon request, Vision Payroll can provide employers with pre-printed 2009 Forms W-4 for all active employees. Vision Payroll will not automatically change any employee’s claimed withholding allowances. Employers should update the allowances claimed by logging in to their company file or providing Vision Payroll with the updated information.

This is one in a continuing series on the 2008 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, which employers must generally furnish to employees no later than February 2, 2009. Forms mailed on the due date are considered furnished if properly addressed. Employers unable to meet that deadline may file a request for extension of time to furnish the forms. Today we review Box 2, federal income tax withheld.

Box 2 shows the amount employees must enter on line 62 of Form 1040, US Individual Income Tax Return. Employers determine the amount of withheld federal income tax each pay period by the amount of taxable wages, the pay frequency, and the number of withholding allowances claimed on Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Spanish-speaking employees may complete Formulario W-4(SP), Certificado de Exención de la Retención del Empleado. Employers may use either the percentage method or the wage bracket method to calculate the amount of tax to withhold. Both methods are explained in Publication 15, (Circular E) Employer’s Tax Guide. Employers should not accept “reverse withholding” where employees write checks to the employer to pay withholding tax. Employees should make such payments using Form 1040-ES. Also, any amounts that employers pay toward an employee’s withholding to “gross-up” non-cash payments such as taxable fringe benefits must also be included as wages in boxes 1, 3, 5, and 7 as required.

The next topic in this continuing series will be Box 3, social security wages. Contact Vision Payroll with any questions on 2008 Form W-2.

This week’s question comes from Jennifer, an office manager: A new employee gave me a Form W-4 claiming exemption from federal income tax withholding. Can I give him a paycheck without withholding federal income tax? Answer: An employee who gives you a valid Form W-4 claiming exemption from federal income tax withholding does not have to have federal income tax withheld from his check. An employee may claim exemption from federal withholding if the employee had no federal income tax liability last year and does not expect to have a liability this year. Being of a certain age, being a student, or getting a refund on a federal income tax return (Form 1040) does not necessarily entitle an employee to claim exempt status. Valid Forms W-4 generally expire on the first weekday after February 14 of the succeeding year. For example, 2008 Forms W-4 claiming exempt status will expire February 16, 2009. At that point, employers must either obtain an updated Form W-4 for the new year or withhold based on the last valid Form W-4 they have for that employee. If none be available, employers must withhold based on single and zero withholding allowances.

Employees who submit invalid Forms W-4 are not to be allowed exempt status. Invalid forms include forms developed by the employee, forms with the certification language deleted, forms with the word “exempt” on line 7 and a number on line 5 or an amount on line 6, and forms that the employee indicates in any way are false.

Exemption from federal withholding does not automatically entitle the employee to an exemption from Social Security, Medicare, or state withholding tax. There are limited exceptions to withholding of Social Security or Medicare tax that are unrelated to an employee’s exempt status. Also, state exempt status generally follows different rules and requirements and filing of a state withholding form claiming exempt status. Contact Vision Payroll if you have questions on an employee’s Form W-4.

This week’s question comes from Donna, an office manager. An employee wants to change the number exemptions (withholding allowances) claimed. What should I do? Answer: Have the employee complete and sign Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Always use the current year version of the form. By completing the Personal Allowances Worksheet attached to the form, the employee can calculate the correct number of allowances to claim to minimize any balance due or interest-free loan to the government. Remember that withholding allowances rarely equal the number of exemptions claimed on a tax return. If an employee is claiming an exemption from withholding, a new Form W-4 must be filed every year by February 15. Once you receive the new W-4, be sure to update your payroll records online or contact Vision Payroll with the updated information.

You can download a Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate) here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf