October 2009 Monthly GLO Report

http://legacy.americanpayroll.org/currently/pdfs/PC_issue19_01.pdf

While the Social Security Administration has no immediate plans to resume sending no-match letters to employers, they offer a free service via their Business Services Online called View File/Wage Reports Status, Errors, and Error Notices with Name / SSN Errors.
www.ssa.gov/employer/documents/TY07EmpStatErrNtcsTextOnly.doc - 2008-01-29

The APA has recommended that the Internal Revenue Service suspend the enforcement of valuing and taxing personal use of company paid cell phone and similar devices.
http://legacy.americanpayroll.org/currently/pdfs/PC_issue19_08.pdf

The Social Security Administration had delayed the conversion to the Telephone Number Employee Verification (TNEV) automated phone service for verifying social security numbers from September 21 until the end of October.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/bso/bsowelcome.html

The Internal Revenue Service has provided more clarification pertaining to whether an existing
qualified profit sharing plan requiring or permitting certain annual contributions of the dollar
equivalent of unused paid time off cause the plan to fail to meet the requirements of § 401(a) and, if applicable, § 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-09-31.pdf

The Social Security Administration announced that for the first time since 1999, the agency has
ended the year with fewer disability hearings pending than in the prior year.
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/hearings-backlog-pr.html

The U.S. Department of Labor steps up efforts to serve workers with disabilities as the administration announces new initiatives during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091228.html

The Internal Revenue Service discontinued programming support for Tax Talk Today as of October 6, 2009. This site will remain available until December 31, 2009.
http://www.taxtalktoday.com

The U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services has launched a vastly improved USCIS.gov public
website to help customers navigate the immigration system and remain up-to-date regarding their case status.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

Federal reserve banks announce updated procedures for handling retired routing transit numbers
http://frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/check/100209_retired_obsolete_return_item_service.pdf

The Internal Revenue Service announced a one-time extension of the deadline for special voluntary disclosures by taxpayers with unreported income from hidden offshore accounts. These taxpayers now have until Oct. 15, 2009.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=213463,00.html

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July 2009 Monthly GLO Report

The Internal Revenue Service asked Congress for comments on ways to simplify compliance with rules related to employer-provided cellular telephones.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=209795,00.html

The Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals and businesses to safeguard themselves, their records & valuables by taking a few simple steps.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=209989,00.html

The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) presented its 2009 Annual Report to Congress which includes 10 recommendations to advance the use of electronic filing.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=209985,00.html

The IRS has stated that to correct an incorrect tax year or employer identification number (EIN) on a Form W-2, two W-2c should be files
1) A W-2c showing the incorrect tax year or EIN to reduce the previously reported money amounts to zero
2) A W-2c reporting money amounts with the correct year or EIN
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=209985,00.html

The Social Security, announced that the agency plans to open a new teleservice center (TSC) in Jackson, Tennessee, which will be the first new call center opened by Social Security in more than a decade. The Jackson TSC will employ about 175 people once it is fully operational.
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/NewTSC-pr.html

Minimum Wage will increase July 24, 2008 to $7.25 per hour. Many states also have minimum wage laws that may need to be considered as the employee is entitled to the higher minimum wage rate.
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/q-a.html
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.html

The Internal Revenue Service is publishing summertime tax tips to provide useful and concise advice on topics that affect taxpayers.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=210531,00.html

The Federal Reserve Banks continue to add new routing numbers to the Reserve Banks' FedReceipt forward collection product. As a result, effective July 1, 2009 the Federal Reserve Banks will add over 180 routing numbers to the list of eligible FedReceipt forward routing numbers. This brings the total number of FedReceipt routing numbers to more than 18,310.
http://www.frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/check/061509_endpoints.pdf
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June 2009 Monthly GLO Report

Early registration discount now available for tax forums in Atlanta on September 22-24, 2009 eligible for up to 18 CPE credits which may be qualify as RCH credits.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=209611,00.html

DOL creates application to review denial of COBRA premium reduction.
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA/main.html

IRS announces 2010 HSA limits for contributions, out of pocket & minimum deductibles for high deductible health plans.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-09-29.pdf

The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The Trustees project that program costs will exceed tax revenues in 2016, one year sooner than projected in last year’s report. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2037, four years sooner than projected last year.
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/trustee09-pr.htm

The Federal Reserve Banks will increase the monthly account maintenance fee by $15 to $36 per account effective July 1, 2009.
http://frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/fedwire/060109_fedwire_fees.pdf

NEW YORK (Associated Press - June 4, 2009 4:05 PM ET) - A former Payroll Manager for the Brooklyn Museum has been charged with stealing more than $620,000 from the nonprofit institution. The art museum, 1 of the country's largest, put Newton in charge of payroll in 2002. Court papers say that in 2005, he rigged the payroll computer system to make direct deposits into a bank account held by him and his wife.
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10480135
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April 2009 Monthly GLO Report

Reminder to US Employers of Requirements to Use Revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification as of April 3, 2009.  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

Updated information on Form W-4 – Employee's Withholding
Allowance Certificate & Federal “Lock-In Letters” in regards
to how employers handle them.  http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc753.html

The latest information concerning COBRA & answers Employers may have.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204708,00.html

APA joins “Green States” (Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington & Wisconsin) to promote Electronic Payments.
http://legacy.americanpayroll.org/currently/pdfs/PC_issue07_05.pdf

Social Security Administration announced that the federal government will send out $250 economic recovery payments to people who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits beginning in early May 2009 and continuing throughout the month.
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/recovery-payments-pr.htm
U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA revises Field Operations Manual to enhance enforcement and compliance assistance.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090338.htm

IRS Reissues Instructions for 2009 Form 1099-MISC.
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=109875,00.html

The Federal Reserve Banks have introduced FedGlobalSM ACH Services, a newly enhanced suite of services that will offer an efficient means for crossborder electronic payments to more than 30 countries in Europe and Latin America.
http://www.frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/press/040609_fedglobal.pdf
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 November 2009 Monthly GLO Report

August 2009 Monthly GLO Report

* IRS alerts to new identity theft scams. In one scam, fraudsters modify a genuine IRS form, the W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding, to request detailed personal and financial information. The scammers may use the genuine form number and name or may make up a new form number, such as W-4100B2.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211669,00.html

* The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $6.5 million to assist national industry and employer associations and labor-management organizations in advancing Registered Apprenticeship through the development of innovative programs that utilize an updated 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090916.htm

* Social Security announced the availability of $24 million in contracts to provide the agency with electronic medical records to improve the efficiency of its disability programs.
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/electronic-med-records-pr.htm

* The Internal Revenue Service announced its first successful prosecution related to fraud involving the first-time homebuyer credit and warned taxpayers to beware of this type of scheme.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211399,00.html

* Beginning in September, exciting new options will be available with FedGlobal ACH Payments, the new face of FedACH International® Services. The International ACH Transaction (IAT) rule and format opens the door for inbound cross-border payments and enables expanded payment opportunities for financial institutions and their business customers around the world. Under the current ACH rules, financial institutions may send ACH payments to financial institutions in other countries, but may not receive them.
http://frbservices.org/fedfocus/archive_fedach/fedach_0809_01.html

* Eight credit unions in Michigan have teamed up to encourage members to save by offering a $100,000 grand prize. Members enter the “Save to Win” program by making deposits of $25 or more in their savings accounts, and have a chance to win monthly prizes from their credit union as well as the grand prize.
http://www.mcul.org/News_Article_888.html?id=2906

* CARBONDALE, Colorado — The nonprofit Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities is on the hook for $12,000 in past due payroll taxes amid a fraud investigation into the private Rochester, N.Y.-based payroll service CCAH has been using for several years. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit last month against Paybooks Inc. after an investigation revealed that the company's president, Jeffrey Sykes, allegedly defrauded millions of dollars from his payroll services clients.
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20090715/VALLEYNEWS/907149982/1083&ParentProfile=1074

* The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is continuing to strengthen the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by publishing an "Outreach Trainer Watch List" of those who have had their trainer authorizations either revoked or suspended.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090917.html

* U.S. Department of Labor uncovers child labor and migrant and seasonal farm labor violations in the North Carolina
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090847.html

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May 2009 Monthly GLO Report

The effective date of the final rule requiring certain federal contractors and subcontractors to use EVerify has been delayed until June 30, 2009.
http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

IRS gives guidance on tax treatment of differential wage payments to employees on active military duty.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-09-11.pdf

IRS has created a division called the Office of Privacy, Information Protection and Data Security
http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=183728,00.html

Many have already received the $250 economic recovery payments to people who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits continuing through the end of the month
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/recovery-payments-pr.htm

Effective May 18, 2009, the Federal Reserve Banks announce the conversion of additional routing numbers to the FedReceipt Forward & FedReceipt Returns product. Additionally, a number of routing numbers will be dropped from the Forward FedReceipt list
http://frbservices.org/files/communications/pdf/check/050809_endpoints.pdf

PayCheckCity.com has added a stimulus paycheck calculator to their web site and a form W4 assistant.
http://www.paycheckcity.com/

The IRS reminded many small tax-exempt organizations, whose gross annual receipts are normally $25,000 or less, to file their annual electronic informational return, Form 990-N also known as e-Postcards by the May 15 deadline.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=207660,00.html

GovBenefits.gov, a collaborative effort of 17 federal agencies with content on more than 1,000 benefits and assistance programs, has launched a Twitter account to provide continuous updates about the Website's resources
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090460.htm

At APA's 5th Annual Capital Summit, in Washington, D.C., the IRS announced it will be issuing a revenue procedure in the late Summer or early Fall 2009 that will allow TIN-masking on Forms 1099, effective for tax year 2009.
http://www.americanpayroll.org/paytechonline/government-corner/

An Illinois man received $469,000 due to a payroll error after allegedly receiving electronic payroll bank deposits from a New Jersey company he never worked for.
http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2008/01/illinois_man_arrested_over_469.html

Georgia Tax Refund Delays - Reduced staffing due to state budget cuts means fewer workers are processing the returns, which means no second or third shift to process paper returns.
http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2009/04/money-tax-refund-delays.html

Tax Credit for Hybrids Begins Phase-Out
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206579,00.html

According to the Robert Half International 2009 Salary Survey, those who work in finance & accounting-related industries (such as payroll) can expect a 3.4% increase in salary in 2009--despite our current economy.
http://www.roberthalffinance.com/
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