Your to-do list as a business owner seems to get longer every day. There’s one more item you’ll have to check off, and this one is part of federal law. You’re required to retain payroll records, sometimes for up to four years.
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Federal-mandated Laws - Tips, Training, and News
Can I Pay Employees Late? What Small Employers Need to Know
March 24, 2026Key Takeaways − You generally cannot pay employees late without risk. Federal law requires you to pay on the regular payday you’ve set. Many states have strict payday frequency and timing rules (and penalties). Late payroll can trigger wage claims, penalties, lawsuits, and morale issues. If you’re facing a cash crunch, communicate, document, and fix […]
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IRS Failure-to-file Penalty for Employers: What It Is, How It’s Calculated, and How to Avoid It
February 16, 2026Procrastination can be costly. If you put off submitting your employer tax returns too long, you couldwind up with a failure-to-file penalty. And no employer wants that.
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FMLA vs. PFL: Different Types of Leave for Your Employees
January 22, 2026When an employee needs to take time off, you may start asking what you need to do as an employer. What are the different types of leave? Do you need to offer FMLA leave? What about PFL? With so many different laws (and acronyms!) about family leave, your role as the employer can be confusing. […]
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Minimum Wage Posters: Are You Displaying the Right Notices?
January 7, 2026Do you really know what minimum wage posters you have to display around your office? Many employers don’t, and that can lead to penalties. If you’re even slightly unsure, read on. Failing to post required federal, state, and local posters isn’t just a minor oversight; it could cost you.
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Can You Pay That?! Federal and State Tipped Minimum Wage Rates for 2026
January 5, 2026Want to avoid breaking labor laws? Then you need to pay employees according to federal, state, or local minimum wage law. But if you have tipped employees, you might be able to pay a lower, tipped minimum wage when running restaurant payroll.
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Understanding Publication 1542 Per Diem Rates
December 17, 2025You might have heard about per diem pay before. But, are you familiar with Publication 1542? Learn more about Publication 1542 per diem rates and how to calculate per diem pay below.
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I-9 Documents: Passports, Licenses, Birth Certificates, Oh My!
February 7, 2025So you’ve hired an employee. Congratulations! Now what? One of the new employee forms your team member must complete is Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. And to complete the required form and prove their eligibility, your new hire must bring in I-9 documents.
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New Overtime Rule for 2024 REVERSED: How Will it Affect Your Business?
November 19, 2024In July 2024, four million new workers were going to become entitled to overtime pay, thanks to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new overtime rule. But on November 15, 2024, a federal judge blocked the new overtime rule.
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What Is Certified Payroll? What to Know If You Land a Federal Contract
February 29, 2024Step 1: Land the contract for a federal government-funded job. Step 2: Comply with your certified payroll reporting requirements. What is certified payroll?
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