Multi-State Tax Issues for Payroll

This session will cover the issue of nexus and its implications for a business, identification of the states for which the employer is liable for the collection and payment of income tax and state unemployment tax, and the determination of what is required in order to comply with the various state rules regarding tax collection, payment, and reporting.

There are significant compliance issues for employers when employees cross state lines in the course of employment. Frequently, multi-state employment issues arise when the employer has business locations in more than one state. However, issues also arise when individual employees perform services in more than one state, live in one state and work in another, move from one state to another, or telecommute across state lines.

Compliance issues directly related to payroll include identification of the states for which the business is liable for the collection and payment of income tax, and compliance with the rules for each state regarding tax collection, payment and reporting. In addition, special rules are used to establish the state that is to receive the unemployment tax for a particular employee. A very significant non-payroll issue is whether the employment creates nexus, i.e. a business presence, within a particular state and whether the employer is subject to that state’s income, franchise, sales and use, or other state business taxes imposed by the state and the related apportionment issues.

In this fast-paced and detailed webinar, attendees will receive crucial information and resources to identify and help resolve multi-state payroll tax issues. This webinar will provide you with information on required documentation and ways to avoid problems and penalties.

The creation of nexus in a new state or local tax jurisdiction creates tax and compliance issues for a business such as liability of business income, franchise, property, sale taxes, employment taxes, apportionment, and reporting compliance issues.  Employers can inadvertently create nexus when employees work within a taxing jurisdiction. 
Failure to properly withhold or pay taxes to the appropriate jurisdiction can lead to fines and penalties as well as employer liability and possible personal liability of employer officers and managers for under-withheld employee taxes. Correcting errors after the fact can be an expensive and time-consuming process. Employers must exercise due diligence in obtaining and documenting the information used to compute employee withholding in order to avoid penalties for withholding or reporting errors or missing information. 

• Understand nexus and how employment within a state may create nexus for an employer
• Understand the payroll tax and compliance implications of conducting business within a state
• Determine which state(s) to withhold for when employees work in multiple states under the general rule
• Determine which state(s) to withhold for when states that have reciprocal agreements or no state income tax are involved
• Know when state or local withholding certificates or certificates of non-residency are required
• Determine which state is the state unemployment tax state when an employee works in more than one state
• Understand that state rules differ with regard to taxable income, withholding thresholds, wage reporting and fringe benefits
• Learn how to avoid failure to withhold penalties.

• Reciprocal agreements and how they affect state income tax withholding
• Employee domicile and tax residency
• State and local withholding certificates - when the federal W-4 isn't enough
• How different states deal differently with supplemental wages
• How to handle state unemployment when employees work in several states
• SUTA dumping - what it is and how to avoid this penalty trap
• Which states get withholding tax proceeds when employees work in multiple states
• Fringe benefit taxation - which states differ from federal rules
• The payroll tax implications of conducting business in a state
• How to determine the states for which you must withhold tax
• Special rules for military spouses
• Telecommuting

• Payroll Supervisors and Personnel
• Payroll Consultants
• Payroll Service Providers
• Public Accountants
• Internal Auditors
• Tax Compliance Officers
• Enrolled Agents
• Employee Benefits Administrators
• Officers and Managers with Payroll or Tax Compliance Oversight
• Company / Business Owners
• Managers/ Supervisors
• Public Agency Managers
• Audit and Compliance Personnel / Risk Managers