Author:

Mike Kappel

Mike Kappel, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Patriot Software, offers payroll advice from more than 30 years of experience to small business owners.

What Is Schedule A (Form 940)?

By Mike Kappel

Are you a small business owner with employees? Even if you had only one worker this year, you need to manage your FUTA taxes, and send Schedule A and Form 940 to the IRS. What is Schedule A (Form 940)?

What Is Form 8655?

By Mike Kappel

When signing up for payroll services that include tax filing, you’ll be asked to fill out Form 8655. The company won’t be able to file or deposit your taxes until you submit the form. So, what is IRS Form 8655 used for? Find out below.

Waitress collecting empty glasses from tables.

Do I Need to File Form 8027?

By Mike Kappel

In some industries, employees earn the bulk of their wages from tip income rather than hourly or salary pay. If you own a food or beverage establishment, your employees likely earn tips. Like regular pay, you still need to withhold taxes on tip income. And, you need to report tip earnings on Form 8027.

Male business owner smiling at the camera.

One Isn’t Always the Loneliest Number. What Is a Disregarded Entity?

By Mike Kappel

There are plenty of things to do before you open your new business. One of the most important tasks is choosing a small business structure. If your business is a single-member limited liability company (LLC), you may have heard the term disregarded entity. If you haven’t, don’t worry! A disregarded entity isn’t bad news. So, […]

A Look at Deferred Compensation Plans

By Mike Kappel

For many employees, generous benefits are more important than pay raises. There are several benefits options you can offer to attract and retain employees, including deferred compensation plans.

Everything to Know About IRS Form W-2

By Mike Kappel

If you have employees, you are responsible for many tasks like running payroll, withholding payroll taxes, and distributing IRS Form W-2. As you might know by now, Form W-2 can be uber confusing. Who receives a form? Where do you send it? When is it due? Get the answers to these questions and more by […]

What Is a Reasonable Accommodation?

By Mike Kappel

A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment or modification an employer provides to a person with a disability to make sure they have equal access to employment opportunities. Reasonable accommodations are an important aspect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal civil rights law. The ADA was enacted to prevent discrimination and help individuals […]

Woman in a burnt orange dress working on laptop.

What Is Holiday Pay?

By Mike Kappel

Holidays are normally times of joy and showing kindness to others. When a holiday occurs, you might want to share holiday cheer with your employees in the form of compensation. Holiday pay can come in a couple of forms, and it often depends on if employees work on the holiday.

Business owner calculating severance pay on calculator.

What Is Severance Pay?

By Mike Kappel

At some point, you might have to terminate an employee. You might eliminate their position, make layoffs, fire for misconduct, or mutually part ways. No matter the reason, you might consider giving the employee severance pay. But what is severance pay? Before you make a decision about severance pay, learn more about it, what you […]

Small Business Attendance Policy

By Mike Kappel

Employees streamline business operations, but what happens when they frequently skip work or show up late? Those streamlined business operations will start to become inefficient. You need a small business attendance policy to encourage attendance and monitor employees.