Payroll Insights

Payroll Insights, a publication from KPMG LLP's Employment Tax practice, provides readers with current developments in the payroll and employment tax arena. It is published periodically throughout the year as developments warrant.

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Latest Edition

May 2012 -- Special Edition  --  This special edition discusses The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2011 which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 15, 2012. 

Previous Editions

April 2012 -- Special Edition  --  This special edition gives an overview of the employer and employment tax proposals that are in President Obama's Fiscal Year 2013 proposed budget. 

March 2012  --  This issue includes articles on: IRS issues 2012 Form 941; IRS updates taxable fringe benefits guide; SIFL rates increase in first half of 2012; Disguised dividends are subject to FICA tax; Interim guidance on informational reporting to employees of the cost of group health insurance coverage.

February 2012 -- Special Edition -- An update on the payroll tax cut extension and extension of jobless benefits signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 22, 2012. 

January 2012 -- This issue includes articles on:  New York State Senate Bill Number S50002-2011; the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011; a KPMG survey on federal and state audit activity; and a chart with a state by state comparison of taxable wage bases for 2011 and 2012.

December 2011 -- This issue includes articles on:  The repeal of three percent withholding tax on government contractors and credits for returning veterans; IRS published updates to tax tables for 2012; IRS updated FAQs on voluntary classification settlement program; 2011 FUTA credit reductions; and a multistate roundup that includes a list of changes to state unemployment wage bases and updates in California and Illinois.

November 2011 -- Special Edition -- An update on Pennsylvania Act 32.

October 2011 -- Articles include: IRS Notice 2011-72, which clarifies the taxability of employer-provided cell phones; the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the IRS and Department of Labor regarding sharing of information to address worker misclassification; FAQs on the IRS Voluntary Classification Settlement Program; South Carolina SUTA Refunds.

September 2011-- Special Edition -- IRS program allows voluntary reclassification of workers as employees for federal employment tax purposes; provides partial tax relief.

July 2011 -- Articles include:  the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), which expired June 30, 2011; issues around worker misclassification; and a multistate roundup covering California, North Dakota and South Carolina.

July 2011 -- Special Edition -- N.Y. Passes Marriage Equality Act

May 2011 -- Articles include: Interim Guidance on Informational Reporting to Employees of the Cost of Their Group Health Insurance Coverage; IRS Issues Guidance Related to U.S. Employment Taxes on Wages and Salaries Paid for Work Performed on Outer Continental Shelf; President Obama Signs Bill Repealing Expanded Form 1099 Reporting Requirement; and a Multistate Roundup.

March 2011 -- Articles include: FICA Taxes Related to Severance Payments Still Unsettled; Possible Waiver of Interest on FUTA Loans; and the Pennsylvania Local Earned Income Tax Update.

February 2011 -- Articles include: Federal and State Differentials on Taxability of Certain Health Plan Dependent Benefits; Update on FICA Tax Refunds for Medical Residents; Illinois Increase in State Personal Income Tax Rate; Massachusetts Payroll Tax Increase in 2011; and the New York Wage Theft Prevention Act.