That $50 Holiday Gift Card Is Taxable Wages: Why Employee Gift Cards Belong on Form W-2
IRS rules: gift cards to employees are cash equivalents, never de minimis — report face value as supplemental wages on Form W-2 with 22% withholding.
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Employee Benefits
Discover employee benefit options to attract talent and reduce turnover in small businesses
Form 5500 Filing for Small Business Retirement Plans: Who Must File, the 100-Participant Audit Tripwire, and Penalty Relief for Late Filers
Form 5500 is due July 31 for calendar-year plans; IRS late penalties run $250 a day up to $150,000, but DFVCP caps small-plan relief at $1,500.
Hiring Your Spouse for a Section 105 HRA: Deducting Family Medical Bills
A one-employee Section 105 HRA lets a sole proprietor deduct the family's medical spend — premiums included — against income and self-employment tax.
Got a 1099-SA for Your HSA? What the Distribution Codes Mean, How Form 8889 Reports Withdrawals, and When the 20% Penalty Hits
Your 1099-SA Box 1 total isn't a tax bill: Form 8889 nets it against qualified medical expenses, and nonmedical withdrawals under age 65 draw the extra 20%.
Open Enrollment 2026: The Small Employer's Checklist for Notices, Limits, and Deadlines
ACA affordability hits a record 9.96% for 2026 plan years and the Medicare Part D notice is due before October 15 — the small employer's full checklist.
Pumping at Work Is a Federal Right Now: The PUMP Act Checklist Every Small Employer Needs
The federal PUMP Act covers nearly all US employees — reasonable pump breaks for a year plus a private, non-bathroom space, or liquidated damages.
Closing Between Christmas and New Year's? The Payroll Rules That Decide What You Owe
Under federal FLSA rules, exempt employees are owed full salary for any holiday-shutdown week they work at all; require PTO use instead of docking pay.
Employee Achievement Awards: Tax-Free Service and Safety Recognition Within the $400 and $1,600 Limits
Tangible service or safety awards are tax-free under IRS rules up to $400, or $1,600 under a written plan; cash and gift cards count as taxable wages.
Your Business Cell Phone Can Be 100% Tax-Free: What the IRS Actually Requires
Employer cell phones are tax-free with no call logs under IRS Notice 2011-72 if provided for business reasons; internet needs an accountable plan and receipts.
The December 31 Filing Most Small Health Plans Forget: A Gag Clause Attestation Guide
Every U.S. group health plan owes a gag clause attestation in HIOS by December 31. Carriers file for insured plans; self-funded sponsors file themselves.
PEO Brokers Offer Free Help: How They Get Paid and What to Ask
Most PEO brokers are paid by the PEO you pick, not by you — a commission that can vary by provider. Here are the compensation, network, and CPEO questions to ask before signing, and when going direct is faster.
Do You Have to Give Workers Time Off to Vote? A Small Employer's Guide
No federal law requires time off to vote, but 29 states plus D.C. do — most of them paid, several with misdemeanor penalties. What small employers owe before the November 3, 2026 midterms.