What Is Payroll Accounting? Benefits, Components, and Best Practices

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Payroll
accounting
is
a
system
that
tracks
and
manages
records
of
employee
compensation
in
an
organization,
mainly
including
wages,
salaries,
bonuses,
and
others.

Companies
usually
prefer
an
accrual
accounting
method
over
cash
accounting
to
maintain
precise
payroll
accounting.
Accrual
accounting
recognizes
revenues
and
expenses
when
they
are
incurred,
irrespective
of
when
the
actual
cash
transactions
happen.
This
is
why
accrual
accounting
correctly
reflects
the
financial
position
more
than
cash
accounting.

In
this
article,
we
will
define
payroll
accounting
and
explore
its
nuances
to
understand
how
it
shapes
an
organization’s
financial
outlook.


What
is
Payroll
Accounting?

Payroll
accounting
involves
managing
all
the
calculations
and
records
of
the
compensation
a
company
owes
to
its
employees.
This
includes
salaries,
wages,
bonuses,
tax
deductions,
and
other
benefits.
The
goal
is
to
ensure
that
all
employee
compensation
is
accurately
accounted
for
and
that
financial
records
comply
with
the
legal
requirements.

Payroll Accounting

To
manage
payroll
accounting
well,
it’s
necessary
to
be
familiar
with

accounting
terms,
which
makes
it
easier
to
keep
track
of
everything
correctly.
For
instance,
you
can
apply
deductions
correctly
if
you
know
what
gross
pay,
net
pay
withholding,
and
accruals
mean.
This
knowledge
makes
payroll
accounting
easier
to
handle. 


Benefits
of
Payroll
Accounting

Now
that
we
know
what
payroll
accounting
is
let’s
understand
how
it
can
benefit
you
as
a
business
owner.
Here
are
some
of
the
most
significant
advantages
of
payroll
accounting: 


  • Accurate
    and
    Timely
    Compensation:

    Payroll
    accounting
    can
    ensure
    that
    everyone
    gets
    paid
    correctly
    and
    on
    time,
    which
    helps
    keep
    your
    team
    happy
    and
    motivated.
    By
    getting
    the
    numbers
    right
    and
    avoiding
    delays,
    you
    maintain
    a
    smooth
    payment
    process
    within
    your
    organization.

  • Legal
    Compliance:

    It
    keeps
    you
    on
    the
    right
    side
    of
    the
    law
    by
    ensuring
    you
    meet
    all
    tax
    laws
    and
    labor
    regulations.
    This
    way,
    you
    can
    avoid
    fines
    and
    legal
    troubles
    since
    all
    legal
    requirements
    are
    properly
    addressed. 

  • Financial
    Insights:

    Payroll
    accounting
    gives
    you
    a
    clear
    picture
    of
    how
    much
    you
    spend
    on
    your
    employees,
    which
    is
    necessary
    for
    budgeting
    and
    planning.
    This
    helps
    you
    understand
    how
    payroll
    costs
    influence
    your
    overall
    financial
    situation.

  • Employee
    Morale:

    Getting
    payroll
    right
    boosts
    employee
    morale
    because
    people
    appreciate
    being
    paid
    accurately
    and
    on
    time.
    This
    reliability
    shows
    that
    you
    value
    and
    respect
    your
    team,
    which
    creates
    a
    more
    positive
    and
    motivated
    work
    environment
    for
    everyone. 


Components
of
Payroll
Accounting

The
payroll
accounting
system
consists
of
several
essential
components
determining
employees’
gross
pay
for
a
given
accounting
period.
Here
are
4
essential
elements
to
consider: 

Gross
Pay
Calculation

Gross
pay
is
an
essential
component
of
payroll
accounting,
which
represents
the
total
amount
an
employee
is
paid
before
taxes
and
other
deductions.
It
includes
regular
wages,
salaries,
overtime,
commissions,
bonuses,
tips,
vacations,
holidays,
and
sick
pay. 

Let’s
take
an
example
to
understand
how
this
works.
Suppose
a
person
worked
40
hours
a
week
at
an
hourly
rate
of
$15.
They
also
worked
5
hours
of
overtime
at
$22
per
hour.
In
this
case,
the
calculation
will
be: 

  • Regular
    pay:
    40
    hours
    x
    $15
    =
    $600
  • Overtime:
    5
    hours
    x
    $22
    =
    $110
  • Gross
    pay:
    $600
    (regular
    pay)
    +
    $110
    (overtime
    pay)
    =
    $710

Deductions
and
Net
Pay

Gross
pay
is
the
starting
point,
not
what
an
employee
takes
home.
That’s
where
deductions
come
in

the
amount
subtracted
from
gross
pay
to
arrive
at
the
final
net
amount,
which
an
employee
gets
in
hand.
Again,
these
are
typically
divided
into
2
main
categories:


  • Mandatory
    Deductions
    :
    These
    are
    non-negotiable.
    The
    government
    takes
    its
    share
    first,
    including
    federal
    income
    tax,
    state
    income
    tax,
    social
    security
    tax,
    medicare
    tax,
    and
    court-order
    deductions,
    which
    may
    include
    child
    support
    or
    wage
    garnishments[1],
    depending
    on
    the
    court’s
    order.

  • Voluntary
    Deductions
    :
    These
    are
    not
    mandatory,
    meaning
    that
    it’s
    up
    to
    the
    employee
    to
    opt
    if
    they
    want
    to.
    This
    includes
    health
    insurance
    premiums,
    life
    insurance
    premiums,
    union
    dues,
    charitable
    contributions,
    and
    retirement
    plan
    contributions
    (e.g.,
    401(k),
    403(b)).

Payroll
Taxes

Payroll
taxes
represent
the
taxes
that
employers
are
legally
obligated
to
withhold
from
employee
wages
and
salaries.
These
are
not
considered
business
expenses
but
liabilities
until
they
are
remitted
to
the
government
because
they
are
held
in
trust
and
actually
owed
to
the
government
until
finally
paid.
Some
common
deductions
and
their
rates
include: 


  • Federal
    Income
    Tax
    :
    The
    amount
    withheld
    depends
    on
    the
    employee’s
    W-4
    form
    (Employee’s
    Withholding
    Certificate)[2]
    and
    earnings. 

  • State
    Income
    Tax
    :
    Varies
    from
    state
    to
    state.

  • Social
    Security
    Tax
    :
    6.2%
    of
    the
    first
    $168,600
    of
    an
    employee’s
    annual
    wages

  • Medicare
    Tax
    :
    1.45%
    of
    all
    wages,
    with
    no
    annual
    limit 

Benefits
and
Other
Compensation

These
are
the
perks
that
employees
receive
from
their
employers
apart
from
the
regular
pay.
Some
of
these
benefits
include:


  • Health
    and
    wellness
    benefits
    :
    These
    plans
    differ
    in
    terms
    of
    services
    covered,
    deductibles,
    copayments,
    and
    premiums.
    Some
    common
    types
    include
    health
    maintenance
    organization
    (HMO),
    Preferred
    Provider
    Organization
    (PPO),
    Point
    of
    Service
    (POS),
    and
    Exclusive
    Provider
    Organisation
    (EPO)
    plans. 

  • Mental
    health
    and
    wellness
    :
    Wellness
    benefits
    include
    counseling
    for
    mental
    illness
    and
    substance
    abuse
    treatment.
    These
    programs
    may
    also
    cover
    gym
    memberships,
    coaching,
    and
    therapy. 

  • Financial
    and
    retirement
    benefits
    :
    Such
    benefits
    help
    employees
    plan
    for
    their
    future
    and
    ensure
    financial
    security
    in
    old
    age.
    Retirement
    plans
    are
    an
    essential
    part
    of
    this,
    which
    includes
    defined
    benefit
    and
    contribution
    plans,
    most
    commonly
    including
    401(k)
    plans[3].
    Life
    and
    disability
    insurance
    is
    another
    critical
    component
    that
    provides
    financial
    assistance
    to
    the
    beneficiaries
    of
    deceased
    employees
    and
    employees
    who
    cannot
    work
    due
    to
    a
    severe
    injury
    or
    illness. 

  • Time
    off
    and
    leave
    benefits
    :
    These
    benefits
    allow
    employees
    to
    take
    breaks
    from
    work
    due
    to
    vacations,
    illness,
    or
    family
    responsibilities
    without
    losing
    pay.
    Some
    of
    these
    benefits
    include
    paid
    time
    off,
    which
    covers
    vacation
    days,
    sick
    leave,
    personal
    days,
    and
    other
    types
    of
    leave,
    such
    as
    bereavement
    and
    jury
    duty. 

  • Work-life
    balance
    benefits
    :
    These
    benefits
    help
    employees
    manage
    their
    personal
    and
    professional
    lives.
    These
    include
    flexible
    work
    hours,
    remote
    work
    options,
    and
    support
    for
    commuting.

  • Fringe
    benefits
    and
    at-work
    benefits
    :
    Employers
    may
    also
    offer
    additional
    offerings,
    such
    as
    discounts,
    free
    meals,
    on-site
    fitness
    facilities,
    wellness
    programs,
    and
    other
    benefits
    accessible
    at
    the
    workplace.


How
To
Do
Payroll
Accounting?

When
it
comes
to
manual
handling
of
payroll
processes,
it
comes
down
to
4
main
steps.
Here’s
how
to
do
payroll
accounting:

Step
1:
Gather
Payroll
Reports

The
first
step
is
to
gather
payroll
reports.
These
are
documents
employers
need
to
create
for
every
pay
period
to
record
financial
information
related
to
pay
rates,
tax
withholdings,
and
other
financial
aspects
of
employee
compensation.
This
helps
ease
reporting
on
taxes
you
will
hold
and
potential
tax
liability. 

Step
2:
Record
Payroll
Journal
Entries

Once
you
have
gathered
the
payroll
reports,
record
payroll
journal
entries
to
document
all
payroll-related
transactions
in
your
accounting
system.
This
step
ensures
that
your
wage
expenses,
taxes,
and
other
deductions
are
correctly
tracked
and
reported.
There
are
3
types
of
journal
entries
under
it,
which
are
outlined
below.


  • Initial
    Recording
    :
    It
    is
    the
    primary
    entry
    for
    each
    payroll
    cycle
    and
    includes
    the
    gross
    wages
    earned
    by
    employees,
    deductions
    for
    taxes
    and
    benefits,
    and
    the
    final
    net
    pay.
    Basically,
    it
    sets
    up
    the
    payroll
    liabilities
    and
    expenses
    for
    a
    given
    period.

  • Accrued
    Wages
    :
    This
    entry
    comes
    at
    the
    end
    of
    the
    accounting
    period
    when
    it
    (the
    period)
    doesn’t
    align
    with
    the
    payday.
    These
    entries
    identify
    the
    wages
    earned
    but
    not
    yet
    paid
    so
    that
    the
    expenses
    and
    liabilities
    are
    recorded
    for
    the
    period
    they
    rightfully
    belong
    to. 

  • Manual
    Payments
    :
    This
    entry
    is
    used
    for
    any
    payments
    made
    outside
    the
    regular
    payroll
    cycle,
    typically
    including
    bonuses,
    commissions,
    or
    adjustments
    for
    previous
    periods.
    It
    can
    also
    be
    used
    to
    issue
    manual
    checks
    for
    terminations
    or
    other
    special
    circumstances
    that
    require
    a
    separate
    off-cycle
    payment
    to
    be
    processed.

Step
3:
Post
Payroll
Journal
Entries
to
the
General
Ledger

Once
the
payroll
journal
entries
are
recorded,
they
are
posted
to
the
general
ledger

the
company’s
main
accounting
record.
It
includes
all
the
financial
transactions
and
balances
for
various
accounts. 

To
post
payroll
accounting
entries
correctly,
it
is
necessary
to
use
the
appropriate
accounts
from
the
chart
of
accounts.
This
chart
lists
all
the
accounts
used
in
the
general
ledger
and
is
categorized
based
on
assets,
liabilities,
equity,
revenue,
and
expenses. 

Step
4:
Reconcile
Payroll
to
the
General
Ledger

The
final
step
is
reconciling
(comparing)
payroll
to
the
general
ledger.
This
ensures
that
the
payroll
in
the
general
ledger
matches
the
actual
payroll
expenses
and
liabilities.
Here
are
the
steps
to
reconcile: 

  • Verify
    that
    the
    total
    payroll
    expenses
    match
    with
    the
    postings
    in
    the
    general
    ledger. 
  • Check
    for
    any
    differences
    between
    the
    payroll
    register
    and
    the
    general
    ledger.
    Some
    of
    the
    discrepancies
    may
    include
    unrecorded
    adjustments
    or
    errors
    in
    data
    entry. 
  • Make
    necessary
    adjustments
    to
    rectify
    these
    errors
    and
    ensure
    the
    general
    ledger
    accurately
    reflects
    the
    payroll
    transactions. 

A
significant
part
of
understanding
the
distinction
of
payroll
accounting
is
understanding
the
legal
and
regulatory
considerations
involved.
Adhering
to
these
regulations
is
necessary
to
avoid
hefty
fines,
potential
legal
issues,
and,
of
course,
any
threat
to
reputation. 

Labor
Laws 

Labor
laws
set
the
standard
for
wages,
working
hours,
and
other
employment
conditions.
The
Fair
Labour
Standards
Act
(1938)[4]
is
one
of
the
most
important
federal
laws
that
governs
minimum
wages,
overtime
pay,
and
record-keeping
requirements. 

The
federal
minimum
wage
is
$7.25
per
hour[5],
meaning
employers
cannot
pay
their
workers
less
than
this
amount.
However,
some
states
have
set
higher
minimum
wages,
so
businesses
must
comply
with
the
higher
rate
if
it
applies
to
them.
For
example,
California’s
minimum
wage
is
$16
per
hour[6],
which
is
higher
than
the
federal
level. 

Overtime
pay,
on
the
other
hand,
applies
when
non-exempt
employees
(those
eligible
for
overtime)
work
for
more
than
40
hours
in
a
workweek.
The
Fair
Labour
Standards
Act
mandates
that
these
employees
receive
1.5
times
more[7]
than
their
regular
pay
rate
for
overtime
hours.
For
instance,
if
an
employee
earns
$10
an
hour,
then
they
should
be
paid
$15
for
each
overtime
hour. 


Note
:
An
employer
must
keep
detailed
records
of
their
employees’
total
hours
worked,
regular
and
overtime
wages,
and
deductions
from
pay
for
at
least
3
years[8].
Failing
to
keep
these
records
can
result
in
fines
and
penalties,
back
pay
and
damages,
or
even
the
inability
to
defend
against
wage
and
hour
violation
claims.

Federal
Income
Tax 

One
of
the
primary
responsibilities
in
payroll
accounting
is
withholding
federal
income
taxes
from
employees’
paychecks.
This
tax
is
purely
based
on
the
employees’
earnings
and
the
information
they
provide
on
their
withholding
certificates,
such
as
marital
status
and
the
number
of
allowances
claimed.
Employers
should
deduct
the
correct
amount
of
federal
income
tax
from
each
paycheck
and
send
it
to
the
Internal
Revenue
Service,
the
statutory
authority
to
administer
and
enforce
internal
revenue
laws.

Social
Security
and
Medicare
Taxes
(FICA)

The
Federal
Insurance
Contributions
Act
states
that
employers
and
employees
must
contribute
to
Social
Security
and
Medicare,
which
provides
benefits
to
retired,
disabled,
and
other
individuals
who
need
support. 

The
current
FICA
tax
rate
is
15.3%[9]
of
an
employee’s
wages,
which
splits
between
the
employer
and
the
employee.
The
breakdown
is
6.2%
for
Social
Security[10]
and
1.45%
for
Medicare.
For
higher
earners,
there
is
an
extra
0.9%
Medicare
tax
on
wages,
but
that
only
applies
to
limits
above
a
certain
threshold. 

Federal
Unemployment
Tax
Act
(FUTA)

Employers
pay
federal
unemployment
taxes
to
help
fund
unemployment
benefits
for
workers
who
lose
their
jobs.
The
FUTA
tax
rate
is
6%
on
the
first
$7000[11]
of
each
employee’s
wages.
However,
employees
can
claim
a
credit
of
up
to
5.4%
if
they
pay
state
unemployment
taxes,
which
reduces
the
FUTA
tax
rate
to
0.6%.
However,
employers
must
file
and
pay
FUTA
taxes
annually
using
Form
940.

State
Unemployment
Taxes
(SUTA)

Just
like
FUTA,
employers
are
also
required
to
pay
state
unemployment
taxes,
which
go
into
the
state
fund
for
temporary
financial
assistance
to
unemployed
individuals.
The
amount
to
be
paid
can
depend
on
the
state
where
a
business
operates,
its
industry,
and
its
lay-off
history.

Each
state
sets
its
own
tax
rates
and
wage
base,
which
is
the
maximum
amount
of
wages
on
which
taxes
are
calculated.
For
example,
employers
pay
a
percentage
of
each
employee’s
wages
up
to
this
wage
base.
Alaska,
New
Jersey,
and
Pennsylvania[12]
are
an
exception
where
both
employers
and
employees
must
pay
this
tax.

Data
Protection
and
Privacy
Laws

Both
federal
and
state
regulations
enforce
data
protection
standards
in
payroll
accounting.
It
varies
on
the
state
level,
but
on
a
federal
level,
there
are
several
prominent
laws
to
consider: 


  • The
    Americans
    with
    Disabilities
    Act
    (ADA):

    It
    is
    a
    civil
    rights
    law
    that
    protects
    people
    with
    disabilities
    against
    discrimination
    during
    hiring,
    promotions,
    and
    other
    processes.
    An
    employer
    can
    enquire
    about
    disability-related
    details
    or
    require
    medical
    assessment
    only
    if
    they
    have
    made
    a
    job
    offer
    or
    are
    ready
    to
    meet
    the
    unique
    needs
    of
    the
    concerned
    individual.
    Also,
    if
    an
    employer
    has
    15
    or
    more
    employees[13],
    they
    must
    provide
    reasonable
    accommodation
    to
    qualified
    individuals
    with
    disabilities.

  • Health
    Insurance
    Portability
    and
    Accountability
    Act
    :
    This
    law
    specifically
    focuses
    on
    protecting
    the
    security
    and
    privacy
    of
    an
    individual’s
    medical
    data.
    It
    ensures
    that
    all
    the
    information
    obtained
    through
    workplace
    plans
    or
    programs
    stays
    confidential
    and
    not
    disclosed
    without
    their
    consent.

  • Fair
    Credit
    Reporting
    Act
    :
    It
    is
    common
    to
    conduct
    background
    checks
    for
    candidates
    during
    the
    hiring
    process,
    which
    can
    include
    evaluating
    their
    credit
    reports.
    This
    law
    ensures
    that
    an
    employer
    cannot
    do
    so
    without
    the
    applicant’s
    consent.
    They
    need
    to
    get
    written
    consent
    from
    the
    job
    applicant
    before
    conducting
    the
    background
    check. 


Note
:
Employer
must
also
provide
a
copy
of
the
report
and
a
summary
of
the
candidate’s
rights
as
per
the
FCRA
rules.
This
empowers
an
applicant
to
challenge
any
discrepancy
that
might
hinder
them
from
getting
the
job
based
on
discriminatory
grounds.


  • Fair
    and
    Accurate
    Credit
    Transactions
    Act
    :
    This
    act
    was
    introduced
    as
    an
    amendment
    to
    the
    FCRA
    Act
    in
    2023[14].
    It
    allows
    a
    person
    to
    get
    one
    free
    credit
    report
    annually
    or
    an
    option
    to
    buy
    a
    credit
    score
    to
    protect
    themselves
    against
    identity
    theft.
    This
    ensures
    fair
    treatment
    of
    credit
    reporting,
    which
    has
    become
    a
    significant
    issue
    influencing
    employees’
    decisions
    based
    on
    credit
    details. 

  • The
    Privacy
    Act
    :
    It
    governs
    the
    collection,
    usage,
    and
    circulation
    of
    personal
    details
    by
    federal
    authorities.
    Although
    it
    doesn’t
    directly
    impact
    the
    dynamics
    between
    an
    employer
    and
    their
    employee,
    it
    certainly
    protects
    individuals
    from
    information
    breaches.  


Challenges
in
Payroll
Accounting

Payroll
accounting
may
seem
straightforward,
but
it
can
be
tricky
at
times.
Mistakes
in
this
area
can
cause
heavy
headaches
for
employers
and
employees.
Let’s
look
at
some
common
payroll
accounting
errors
to
understand
how
these
can
affect
your
organization’s
financial
health.

Common
Payroll
Accounting
Errors

It
is
common
to
come
across
accounting
errors
such
as
miscalculated
wages,
wrong
records
of
tax
withholdings,
or
inaccurate
accounting
for
overtime.
When
this
happens,
employees
might
get
paid
too
little
or
too
much,
often
leading
to
frustration
and
loss
of
trust. 

Similarly,
incorrect
tax
withholdings
can
result
in
fines
from
the
IRS,
which
can
be
a
substantial
financial
burden.
These
errors
can
significantly
affect
payroll
operations
and
harm
the
company’s
finances
and
reputation.
Hence,
one
needs
to
pay
close
attention
to
these
minute
details
and
regular
checks
for
mistakes
to
keep
everything
running
smoothly. 

Ensuring
Accuracy
and
Compliance

Efficient
payroll
means
getting
every
detail
right—employee
hours
or
tax
withholdings.
However,
compliance
in
payroll
accounting
often
gets
overwhelming
when
there
are
so
many
rules
to
follow,
which
also
vary
widely
depending
on
state
regulations. 

Given
these
complexities,
one
really
needs
to
follow
the
letter
of
the
law
in
every
respect
of
payroll.
Missing
even
a
tiny
detail,
whether
it
is
failing
to
update
tax
rates
or
overlooking
new
labor
laws,
can
lead
to
severe
consequences. 

Managing
Payroll
for
a
Diverse
Workforce

Managing
payroll
for
a
diverse
workforce
can
be
extremely
tough.
Employees
may
have
different
pay
structures

salaried,
hourly,
or
contractual
and
each
one
needs
a
different
way
of
calculating
pay
and
taxes.
Then,
various
benefits
and
deductions
depend
on
employees’
locations
or
roles.

Language
and
cultural
differences
can
also
make
it
hard
to
explain
pay
and
benefits
clearly,
leading
to
potential
misunderstandings
or
communication
gaps.
Keeping
up
with
different
labor
laws
in
various
states
or
countries
can
add
another
layer
of
complexity.
All
these
factors
make
payroll
accounting
a
challenging
task
requiring
careful
attention
to
detail
and
robust
systems
to
get
it
right.

Staying
Updated
with
Changing
Regulations

Payroll
accounting
can
be
tricky
if
you
don’t
stay
updated,
as
rules
and
regulations
change
frequently.
Balancing
these
tasks
while
managing
different
aspects
of
the
business
can
be
overwhelming.

A
recent
example
is
the
changes
in
Federal
Insurance
Contributions
Act
tax
limits.
In
2023,
the
Social
Security
wage
base
increased
by
almost
9%,
from
$147,000
to
$160,200[15].
This
means
employers
must
now
withhold
social
security
tax
on
employee
earnings
up
to
$160,200
instead
of
$147,000.
If
a
business
fails
to
adjust
as
per
these
changes,
it
can
lead
to
under-withholding
or
over-withholding,
resulting
in
compliance
issues
and
even
heavy
fines. 


Best
Practices
for
Payroll
Accounting

Payroll
management
is
a
multifaceted
task
that
requires
attention
to
detail.
Following
best
practices
can
help
ensure
equal
attention
to
all
these
aspects. 

Regularly
Reviewing
Payroll
Processes

Regularly
reviewing
payroll
processes
is
critical
to
keeping
everything
accurate
and
timely.
For
example,
if
you
update
your
overtime
policies
but
don’t
review
its
payroll
system,
the
system
might
continue
miscalculating
overtime,
which
can
lead
to
legal
issues
and,
of
course,
unhappy
employees.
Timely
reviews
can
easily
catch
this
mistake
and
allow
you
to
adjust
the
payroll
system
accordingly.

Conducting
Internal
Audits

Internal
audits
can
help
you
detect
discrepancies,
frauds,
and
other
errors
that
might
otherwise
go
unnoticed.
They
can
reveal
any
weakness
in
the
system,
whether
in
the
segregation
of
duties
or
outdated
software
that
could
be
prone
to
errors.
With
internal
audits,
you
can
quickly
address
this
issue
by
implementing
better
controls
and
adopting
updated
technology
to
run
your
payroll
operations
smoothly.

Ensuring
Data
Security

Data
security
in
payroll
accounting
is
necessary
to
protect
both
employee
and
company
information.
Multi-factor
authentication
is
generally
recommended,
as
it
adds
an
extra
layer
of
protection
and
makes
it
harder
for
unauthorized
users
to
access
sensitive
data. 

Similarly,
you
can
use
regular
software
updates
to
fix
security
loopholes
that
hackers
could
exploit.
This
way,
minimizing
human
errors
becomes
easier,
which
is
a
common
cause
of
data
breaches.

Providing
Employee
Training

Regular
training
sessions
for
your
team
to
stay
updated
on
the
latest
practices
and
legal
changes
can
work
wonders
to
improve
the
efficiency
of
your
payroll
processes.
Conducting
workshops
and
refresher
courses
are
great
ways
to
make
this
happen.
It
equips
your
team
with
skills
and
keeps
them
updated
on
the
latest
changes. 


How
To
Become
a
Payroll
Accountant

Similar
to
other
professions,
becoming
a
payroll
accountant
is
straightforward.
Here
is
what
it
typically
looks
like:

Earn
a
Degree

To
become
a
payroll
accountant,
you
will
need
to
get
a
degree.
A
bachelor’s
degree
in
accounting,
business
administration,
or
similar
can
be
a
good
starting
point,
but
make
sure
the
college
or
university
you
join
is
accredited.
This
is
really
important
because
it
ensures
the
quality
of
your
education
meets
industry
standards. 

You
can
go
ahead
with
institutions
holding
accreditations
from
the
Higher
Learning
Commission
(HLC),
the
Association
to
Advance
Collegiate
Schools
of
Business
(AACSB),
and
other
prominent
institutions.

Secure
an
Internship

Once
you
are
qualified,
start
exploring
opportunities
through
job
boards,
networking
events,
or
university
career
centers
to
learn
about
open
roles
for
interns.
This
can
be
a
great
way
to
get
hands-on
experience
in
processing
payroll,
handling
employee
benefits,
and
learning
activities
related
to
compliance
with
text
revolutions. 

During
this
period,
you
will
come
across
paid
and
unpaid
opportunities.
Depending
upon
your
preference,
you
can
go
with
either
of
them
but
focus
on
maximum
learning
during
your
internship.

Gain
Experience

After
completing
your
education
and
internship,
try
to
gain
more
relevant
work
experience
as
a
professional
payroll
accountant.
You
can
start
with
general
accounting
roles
such
as
financial
reporting,
tax
preparation,
or
accounts
payable/receivable. 

This
experience
will
teach
you
how
to
actually
calculate
wages,
manage
deductions,
and
comply
with
payroll
laws
to
maintain
accurate
records.
Everything
you
learned
during
the
internship
will
apply
during
this
period
and
help
you
get
extensive
experience
to
prepare
for
specialization.

Obtain
Certifications

Certifications
always
add
more
value
to
your
knowledge
and
skills
by
making
you
stand
out
as
a
qualified
and
trustworthy
professional.
Along
with
your
work
experience,
you
can
pursue
certifications
like
Certified
Payroll
Professional
(CPP)
and
Fundamental
Payroll
Certification
(FPC)
from
the
American
Payroll
Association
(APA). 

Once
you
obtain
them,
you
might
need
to
go
through
specific
education
to
pass
the
exam,
depending
on
the
certification
you
have
applied
for.

Develop
Professionally

Once
you
gain
relevant
experience
and
certifications,
it
becomes
necessary
to
keep
a
learning
mindset
if
you
want
to
climb
the
ladder
higher.
This
needs
a
sharp
focus
on
advanced
proficiency
in
payroll
software,
analytical
abilities,
and
an
in-depth
understanding
of
laws
and
regulations. 

Participating
in
workshop
seminars
and
professional
courses
can
be
a
great
way
to
improve
in
these
areas,
as
it
helps
you
stay
updated
with
the
latest
industry
practices
and
trends.


When
To
Use
Payroll
Software

As
a
business
grows,
manual
processes
can
become
time-consuming
and
prone
to
errors.
This
is
particularly
true
for
payroll
management,
where
mistakes
can
lead
to
compliance
issues
and
financial
discrepancies. 

Automation
via

payroll
software
can
reduce
this
manual
workload,
prevent
heavy,
costly
mistakes,
and
simplify
compliance
with
tax
regulations.
Many
businesses
have
been
increasingly
adopting
popular
payroll
software
like
ADP
Payroll,
Deel,
and
Paycor
to
make
their
payroll
processing
faster
and
more
accurate. 


What
is
the
Difference
Between
Payroll
Accounting
and
General
Accounting

While
these
two
may
sound
similar,
there
are
several
differences
between
payroll
accounting
and
general
accounting.
The
main
difference
is
that
payroll
accounting
focuses
specifically
on
processes
and
expenses
related
to
employees,
while
general
accounting
is
a
broader
concept
that’s
concerned
with
managing
an
organization’s
overall
finances. 

Payroll
accounting
is
about
tracking
and
processing
employee
wages,
taxes,
and
benefits,
while
general
accounting
includes
managing
the
financial
accounts
of
a
company,
mainly
its
expenditures
and
revenue. 

Conclusion

Employees
are
a
business’s
greatest
asset,
and
it’s
necessary
to
clearly
understand
the
cost
of
keeping
them
on
board.
The
payroll
accounting
process
ensures
accurate
and
timely
compensation
and
that
this
process
doesn’t
violate
legal
and
regulatory
requirements.
This
information
is
equally
critical
to
decision-making
because
when
you
know
exactly
how
much
you
are
spending
on
your
employees,
you
can
manage
your
business’s
costs
and
taxes
efficiently.

Data
Source
  1. Wage
    garnishments

  2. Employee’s
    Withholding
    Certificate

  3. 401(k)
    Plans

  4. Fair
    Labour
    Standards
    Act
    (1938)

  5. Federal
    minimum
    wage

  6. California’s
    minimum
    wage

  7. Federal
    overtime
    provisions

  8. Recordkeeping
    requirements

  9. FICA
    tax
    rate

  10. Social
    Security
    basics
    for
    new
    workers

  11. FUTA
    tax
    rate

  12. Who
    pays
    the
    SUTA
    tax?

  13. Employment
    rights
    as
    an
    individual
    with
    a
    disability

  14. Fair
    and
    Accurate
    Credit
    Transactions
    Act
    of
    2003

  15. Social
    Security
    changes

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Accounting