Payroll Record Retention Requirements

Every business must retain certain records on their current and past employees, but which ones and for how long? On the federal level, there are two agencies that regulate record keeping. First is the IRS, which is responsible for enforcing the Internal Revenue Code. The second is the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The Wage and Hour Division of the DOL is responsible for enforcement of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical leave Act (FMLA), the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), and the laws governing wages paid by federal government contractors. Both of these agencies have separate rules regarding the type of records that must be kept and the length of time you must keep the records. To further complicate your requirements there are numerous state, local and other regulatory agencies that may require additional record keeping. State agencies enforce State Unemployment Insurance Tax Acts, state wage and hour laws, child support and creditor garnishment laws and unclaimed or abandoned wage requirements. Keeping these records accurate and up-to- date is extremely important to the health of your business. Without the proper records you will be unable to meet regulatory requirements should you be audited by any of various federal state and local agencies. Failing to meet these requirements can mean large penalties and the potential for large settlement awards should you be unable to provide the required information when requested. Internal Revenue Service The following records must be kept for four years after the tax due date or the actual date paid. Name, address, occupation, and social security number of each employee Total compensation and date paid including tips and non-cash payments Compensation subject to withholding for federal income, social security and Medicare tax Pay period for each compensation period Explanation of difference in total compensation and taxable compensation Employees W-4 Form Dates of employment (beginning and ending) Employee tip reports Wage continuation made to an absent employee by employer or third party Details of fringe benefits provided to employee Copy of employee s request to use the cumulative method of wage withholding Adjustments or settlement of taxes Amounts and dates of tax deposits Total compensation paid to employee during calendar year Compensation subject to FUTA State unemployment contributions made All information shown on 940 Copies of returns filed (941, 643, W-3, Copy A of Form W-2 and returned W-2 forms) Department of Labor The following records must be kept for three years after date of last entry. Employee s name as it appears on social security card Complete home address and date of birth if under age 19 Sex and occupation The beginning of the employee s work week Regular rate of pay for overtime weeks Hours worked each workday and workweek Straight-time earnings including the straight –time portion of overtime earnings Overtime premium earnings Total wages paid for each pay period including additions and deductions Date of payment and pay period covered Records showing total sales volume and goods purchased Following records must be kept for two years after the last date of entry Employment and earnings records, employee hours of work, basis for determining wages and wages paid Order, shipping and billing records showing customers orders and delivery records Wage rate tables and piece rate schedules Work time schedules that establish hours and days of employment Department of Labor In addition to the general requirements of both the IRS and the DOL mandated by several federal acts. They are: Family and Medical Leave Act Basic payroll and employee data Dates FLMA leave is taken Hours worked by employee in last 12 months Hours of FLMA leave for exempt employee Copies of employee notice to employer Copies of general and specific notes given to employees Copies of policy regarding taking of paid and unpaid leave by employee Documents verifying premium payments of employee benefits Records of FLMA leave disputes between employee and employer Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 have no general record requirement under the law, but to meet the requirements all records relating hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, layoff or termination, rates of pay, and selection for training or apprenticeship should be kept for one year from date of action. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 requires that you keep the following records for three years: name address date of birth occupation pay rate compensation earned You also keep the following for one year from the date of action: job applications resumes response to advertised job openings records related to the failure to hire an individual You also must keep all records related to layoff or discharge of an employee job orders submitted to a placement agency employee administrated by employee physical exams used to make personnel decisions job advertisements The Immigration Reform and control Act requires that you must retain copies of the I-9 Form for three years after the date of hire. Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business”. For Professional Payroll services at a Budget Price go to http://www.PayrollonaBudget.com a Paperless Payroll Company. Go to http://www.CustomPayroll.com For a full service payroll service bureau with CPA s on staff. See an excerpt of Mr. Read’s interviews from William Shatners “Heartbeat of America” television show on the websites linked above.