Resources

Sharp Payroll’s Free Business Resource Center

Get general payroll help and stay informed on important payroll issues with Sharp Payroll. You will find answers and insights into common payroll processing questions as well as special links to helpful areas.

As an employer, you have specific payroll responsibilities required by government agencies. These agencies can be federal, state or local. Some of these responsibilities include, but are not limited to, withholding amounts from your employees’ compensation to cover income tax, social security, Medicare and other payments. This section is designed to help familiarize you with the basic concepts of payroll management and introduce options to help make the process easier. Consult with a tax professional or accountant to address all of your business’s specific needs.

Need IRS Forms? How About Key State And Federal Business Information?

Click On These Special Links To Go Directly To Each Designated Area.

Client Resources

Government Agencies
Federal

Internal Revenue Service – The IRS Digital Daily Home Page
–IRS Tax Form: W-4 – Link to W-4 Form
–IRS Tax Form: W-9 – Link to W-9 Form
–IRS Tax Form: 1040 – Link to 1040 Form
–IRS Form: I-9 – Link to I-9 Form
United States Department of Labor – Labor laws and regulations
Social Security Administration – Link to the SSA
Small Business Administration – Great resource for small business owners
United States Postal Service – Link to the USPS
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office – Link to the US Patent Office
Business.gov – Link to Official Government Information
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Enumeration Verification Service

Illinois Taxes

Non Governmental Agencies

Human Resources

Employers of America – The National Association for Workplace Leaders
International Society for Performance Improvement
The Global Business Responsibility Resource Center

Other Useful Sites

Small Business Taxes & Management – Tax guidance for small businesses
1040.com – State and Federal tax forms online
The Essential Link to Taxes – An index of tax oriented sites on the net
- Big Book/Yellow Pages – Link to Yellow Book
www.TotalIncomeTax.com

- What Are Payroll Taxes?
  Any tax levied by a government agency on employees’ wages, tips, and other compensation. The amounts withheld by employers from employees’ pay for federal income, social security, and Medicare taxes are considered trust fund taxes. They are referred to as trust fund taxes because the money is held in a special trust fund for the U.S. government. Amounts withheld for state and local income taxes are held in trust for the state or local government.
- What Are Your Responsibilities?
  Reporting and depositing payroll taxes to the appropriate agency in an accurate and timely manner is vital to your business. Late or inaccurate deposits may result in penalties and interest charges. These complex payroll tax requirements may seem intimidating but by learning a few simple concepts, you will be able to understand your payroll responsibilities and choose the best method for meeting them.

Hiring Your First Employee.
As your business becomes more successful, you may need to consider hiring one or more employees and taking on the responsibilities of payroll tax withholding and reporting. Hiring an employee is fairly straightforward. However, if you are unfamiliar with the payroll process and applicable laws, you may find yourself subject to significant monetary penalties. As soon as you have hired a new employee there are several forms that need to be filed with the federal and, in many cases, state governments. Each new employee must complete a W-4 form. The information on the W-4 form is the basis for calculating the amount of withholding for that employee. You must keep the W-4 form on file for each active employee and retain these documents for four years after an employee is terminated.