Payroll Wisconsin, Unique Aspects of Wisconsin Payroll Law and Practice

isconsin State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:Department of RevenueIncome, Sales, Inheritance and Excise Tax DivisionP.O. Box 89102135 Rimrock Rd.Madison, WI 53713(608) 266-2776www.dor.state.wi.us/Wisconsin allows you to use the Federal W-4 form or the "WT-4, Employee's Wisconsin Withholding Exemption Certificate/New Hire Reporting" to calculate state income tax withholding.Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows.In Wisconsin cafeteria plans are not taxable for income tax calculation; not taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.In Wisconsin supplemental wages are taxed at: Annual wages: under $7,9704.6% $7,970-$15,590 6.15% $15,590-$115,140 6.5% Over $115,140 6.75%You must file your Wisconsin state W-2s by magnetic media if you are have at least 250 employees and are required to file your federal W-2s by magnetic media.The Wisconsin State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:Department of Workforce DevelopmentDivision of Unemployment Compensation201 E. Washington Ave., P.O. Box 7905Madison, WI 53707(608) 266-7074www.dwd.state.wi.us/ui/The State of Wisconsin taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $10,500.00. Wisconsin requires Magnetic media reporting of quarterly wage reporting if the employer has at least 100 employees that they are reporting that quarter.Unemployment records must be retained in Wisconsin for a minimum period of six years.This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.The Wisconsin State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:Department of Workforce DevelopmentDivision of Equal Rights1 South Pinckney St., Rm. 320P.O. Box 8928Madison, WI 53702-8928(608) 266-6860www.dwd.state.wi.us/er/The minimum wage in Wisconsin is $5.15 per hour.The general provision in Wisconsin concerning paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer is one and one half times regular rate after 40-hour week. Wisconsin State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire.The employer must report the federally required elements of:Employee's nameEmployee's addressEmployee's date of birth.date of hireEmployee's social security numberEmployer's nameEmployers addressEmployer's Federal Employer Identification Number(EIN) This information must be reported within 20 days of the hiring or rehiring.The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.There is no penalty for a late report in Wisconsin.The Wisconsin new hire-reporting agency can be reached at 888-300-4473 or on the web at http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/Wisconsin does allow compulsory direct deposit but the employee's choice of financial institution must meet federal Regulation E regarding choice of financial institutions. Wisconsin requires the following information on an employee's pay stub:amount of and reason for deductionsWisconsin requires that employee be paid no less often than monthly; union contract may differ.Wisconsin requires that the lag time between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee not exceed thirty-one days.Wisconsin payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by next regular payday; within 24 hours if employer closes or moves and that voluntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by the next regular payday. Deceased employee's wages must be paid when normally due to the surviving spouse, children or other dependent living with employee; within 5 days of death?surviving spouse, children, parents, or siblings (in that order).Escheat laws in Wisconsin require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after one year.The employer is further required in Wisconsin to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of 5 years.Wisconsin payroll law mandates no more than $2.82 may be used as a tip credit.In Wisconsin the payroll laws covering mandatory rest or meal breaks are only that minors under 16 must have 30 minutes rest near middle of shift after six hours of work.Wisconsin statute requires that wage and hour records be kept for a period of not less than three years.These records will normally consist of at least the information required under FLSA.The Wisconsin agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is: Department of Workforce DevelopmentDivision of Economic SupportBureau of Child Support1 W. Wilson St., Rm. 382P.O. Box 7935Madison, WI 53707-7935(608) 266-9909www.dwd.state.wi.us/bcs/Wisconsin has the following provisions for child support deductions:When to start Withholding?one week after receipt of order.When to send Payment?Within 5 days of Payday.When to send Termination Notice?Within 10 days of termination.Maximum Administrative Fee?$3 per paymentWithholding Limits?Federal Rules under CCPA.Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.

Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of ?How to Start a New Business.?

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