In our nation’s tax system payroll taxes are often considered one of the most misunderstood areas of the financial regulation. It is true that payroll tax collections can be quite problematic and even irritating for an employer. The law mandates that employers must withhold an employee’s payroll tax from their paycheck every paycheck. Employers then must transfer these payroll tax withholdings to different tax agencies. Among the many types of payroll tax available in the US include: Employment payroll tax, State payroll tax, County payroll tax, Corporate payroll tax and Social Security payroll tax.
There are also several ways that payroll taxes can be calculated in the US. Some payroll taxes in the US are administered directly by the government, while other payroll taxes are administered by private companies or organizations. A payroll tax calculator can help you determine which type of payroll tax you’re required to pay in the US.
One way to determine payroll tax levels in the US is to calculate your federal income tax liability as follows. If you work for a company which has no employees, you only need to compute your federal income tax liability using the table provided by the US Congress. However, if you work for an employer who provides paid employment, you will be required to compute payroll taxes based on your wages and salaries received. The IRS provides comprehensive instructions on their website regarding the federal income tax liability. For other types of payroll taxes in the US, your employer may be able to provide you with a payroll tax calculator to aid in computing your payroll tax obligations.
Several private companies and organizations offer payroll taxes calculators online for free. Most payroll tax calculating software allows employers to enter information about their employees and provide an estimate of their payroll tax liabilities. The estimates are for a range of yearly payroll tax scenarios. Some of these assumptions may slightly differ from the actual yearly amount due. Hence, it’s advisable to use these calculators only as rough estimations.
A payroll tax calculator can help you determine various aspects of federal payroll tax liability. It takes into account your gross wages which include your hourly wage, tips, bonuses, and any other additional payments you receive. It also takes into account the base salary, you could receive after bonuses and tips are taken into account. Your net pay is the amount you actually receive after all your deductions. Lastly, it takes into account the total taxable salary which is the total of all your wages after including your tips, bonuses, and other miscellaneous deductions.
Another aspect of payroll taxes in the US is the use of an IHT or an IRA or an insurance trust fund. This basically means that you invest the excess income earned by your business into an insurance trust fund. When this income is withdrawn from the trust fund, it will be taxed according to the current tax laws. The trust fund is typically designed to avoid incurring any interest or other incidental charges. The advantages of this procedure include: avoiding payroll taxes; increasing your retirement benefits; and having a tax-free lump sum which can be used for investments or other purposes.
There are various ways to make use of the existing payroll deductions and avoid payroll tax altogether. One method is to include all rental income and expenses which are deducted on your income tax return. Real estate losses incurred on properties such as apartments, condominiums, and mobile homes are deductible on your tax returns. Similarly, many expenses on health care are deductible; however, most medical expenses are not.
138 Another way to reduce payroll taxes is to include retirement savings, stock options, and other nonqualified investments in the plan. Qualified retirement contributions and Roth IRAs are two popular means of saving money for retirement. When contributing to a retirement plan, you pay tax only once and get the benefit of tax-free withdrawals during retirement.
139 Self-employed individuals can also lower their taxes by participating in an employer-sponsored program. Under this system, employers match a portion of the employee’s initial income. In exchange, the employer absorbs the portion of the additional Medicare tax. This program has been a boon for employees and employers alike because it eliminates the possibility of tax retaliation. However, employers may face penalties for early participation. If an employee does not participate in the program within three years, the employer may be liable for additional Medicare tax.
There are numerous other options that you can employ to reduce payroll taxes. These include offering non-guaranteed retirement benefits, signing up for a flexible spending account, paying your taxes upfront, and so on. The most important thing is to remember that you have the right to negotiate with your employer regarding these issues. Only do so if you believe you are being forced to pay an excessive amount.