At one time payroll was fairly simple - calculate gross pay, subtract taxes and voluntary deductions and pay employees the net pay. Then came direct deposit, EFTPS tax payments, Section 125 cafeteria plans, 401(k) plans, 403(B) plans, SIMPLE IRAs, imputed income, Flexible Spending Accounts, and numerous other additions to the payroll landscape. Along with all those changes came a hoard of new rules and regulations - and the number and complexity of those directives created a minefield of sorts for employers. It's quite possible, with the best of intentions, to find yourself in violation of some regulation and that can mean costly penalties.This book is an attempt to point out a few of the possible pitfalls facing employers today. Hopefully it may help someone avoid a costly mistake - payroll can be enough of a burden without having to deal with penalties, corrected reports or even lawsuits and legal fees.Of course there are many other potential pitfalls for employers in addition to the ones covered here. If you're in doubt about something to do with payroll be sure to research the problem - talk it over with your accountant or payroll provider, check your payroll guide if you have one, or look for an applicable IRS publication.

The extra time spent can be a wise investment.