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Payroll
Payroll management, processing, and compliance for businesses of all sizes
The DOL's 2026 Independent Contractor Rule: The Five-Factor Test Explained for Small Employers
The Department of Labor's February 2026 proposal would rescind the 2024 six-factor worker classification test and reinstate a five-factor economic reality framework where control and profit-or-loss opportunity carry the most weight. Here's what changed, what still applies, and how small employers should audit their 1099 contractor relationships now.
New Jersey's ABC Test: What the Final Independent Contractor Rule Means Before October 1, 2026
New Jersey's finalized ABC test regulations take effect October 1, 2026. Here's what each of the three prongs requires, what changed in the NJDOL's final rule, the penalties for misclassification — up to $1,000 per worker, 200% liquidated damages, and stop-work orders — and how to audit your 1099 contractor relationships before enforcement begins.
The Long-Term Part-Time Employee Rule: Why Your 401(k) Eligibility Tracking Needs an Update Right Now
Under SECURE 2.0, any employee who works 500+ hours in two consecutive 12-month periods and is 21 or older must be allowed to defer into your 401(k) — even if your plan requires 1,000 hours. Here's what the IRS's final LTPT regulations require, who qualifies, and the rolling two-year hours-tracking system small businesses need to avoid missed-deferral corrections.
Booth Rental vs. Commission: A Barbershop Bookkeeping Guide
Booth rental makes a barber a self-employed tenant filing Schedule C with quarterly estimates and 15.3% self-employment tax; commission makes them a W-2 employee. Weekly booth rent averages $220–$225, commission splits center on 60/40, and the 2026 1099-NEC threshold rises to $2,000 — here's how the bookkeeping differs and where misclassification penalties start.
Driving School Bookkeeping: Dual-Control Depreciation, Licensing Renewals, and Per-Lesson Revenue
A driving school's books hinge on three quirks most owners miss - a dual-control training car is two separate depreciable assets, instructor licensing adds $2,000+ in recurring annual compliance costs, and revenue must be tracked by lesson type to see profit per instructor-hour. Here's how to structure the chart of accounts, handle vehicle disposal correctly, and run a simple monthly close.
Louisiana Tropical Storm Arthur Tax Relief: What the November 2, 2026 IRS Deadline Covers for Business Owners
After Tropical Storm Arthur struck Louisiana on June 17, 2026, the IRS postponed federal tax deadlines to November 2, 2026 for Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne Parishes under FEMA declaration 4927-DR. The relief covers returns and estimated payments automatically — but not payroll tax deposits or 1099s — and a Section 165(i) election lets storm-damaged businesses claim casualty losses on last year's return.
Typhoon Sinlaku Tax Relief for the Northern Mariana Islands: What the November 2, 2026 IRS Deadline Covers
After Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands on April 11, 2026 (FEMA declaration DR-4910), the IRS postponed filing and payment deadlines falling between April 11 and November 2, 2026 to November 2 — automatically, for any taxpayer with an address of record in the CNMI. Here's what's covered, the April 27 payroll-deposit cutoff that already passed, and the Section 165(i) election that can put a refund in your hands by October 15.
California's SB 642 Just Redefined "Wages": What the 2026 Pay Equity Law Means for Your Payroll Records
Effective January 1, 2026, California's SB 642 expands the Equal Pay Act's definition of wages to cover bonuses, stock options, allowances, hotel accommodations, and travel reimbursements — and lets each paycheck restart the three-year claim clock, with back pay recoverable up to six years. Here is what changed and a practical compliance checklist for small employers.
Health Insurance Deduction for Self-Employed in 2026: How Schedule 1 Above-the-Line, ICHRA, and QSEHRA Interact With the Premium Tax Credit
Deduct premiums on Schedule 1, get reimbursed via ICHRA/QSEHRA, or take the premium tax credit — never two for the same dollar. Master the month-by-month coordination and circular math that prevents double benefits.
Restaurant Labor Cost Percentage in 2026: How to Track It Weekly and Keep It Under Control
Restaurant labor costs now average over 36% of sales industry-wide, up from the old 30% rule of thumb. A practical guide to tracking labor cost and prime cost weekly — including a 35-hour overtime alert threshold, demand-driven scheduling that cuts labor cost 20–30%, and the chart-of-accounts setup that makes it all measurable.
Your Auditor Will Soon Have to Prove Your Cash Actually Exists — Even If You Never See It
AICPA SAS No. 150, issued July 2026 and effective for periods ending on or after December 15, 2028, requires auditors to externally confirm cash held by third parties — payment processor reserves, PEO payroll trust accounts, and escrow balances — unless narrow risk-based conditions are met. Here is what changes for audited businesses and how to prepare your books.
California AB 406: Paid Sick Leave Now Covers Jury Duty and Crime-Victim Court Dates — and the Civil Rights Department Is Enforcing It
California's AB 406 lets employees use accrued paid sick leave for jury duty, subpoenaed witness testimony, and crime-victim judicial proceedings — expanded January 1, 2026 to cover plea hearings, sentencing, and release decisions — while enforcement moves from the Labor Commissioner to the Civil Rights Department. Here's what every California employer, regardless of size, must update.