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[sestree]

Some friendly advice from the HR / payroll corner.

We do not provide tax advice.

We cannot 'take it back' if you claimed exempt on your forms and got nailed.

Yes, your address most certainly IS my business. (I have actually had people tell me they didn't want to divulge that information after they complained about not receiving their W-2 forms)

No we really do NOT provide tax advice.

No I will not lie to the government for me so I most certainly will not lie to the government for YOU.

Sorry - I had to get that off my chest. I do this rant every year in one form or fashion.

It's been a typical Tuesday. Finished boxing up the rest of the year end junk and making way for 3 major big contracts coming in. I need an assistant - no really I need an assistant. He doesn't even have to be cute just somebody to file for me. I haven't filed since April from what I can tell.

Rush Limbaugh hasn't had much to say today - oddly comforting that I don't have to try to drown it out with opera today. I'm rocking out to Jim Brickman - HA ! Then again maybe I should just close my office door and take a nap.

Comments

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

While I don't work in HR or Payroll (I support them on occassion), I can completely relate to this.

The company for whom I work gives stock options to all employees. A very nice benefit which, over the years, have paid handsomely to those who exercised at the right time. We provide a tool on our intranet site that will allow an employee to model exercises so they can see their gross and net proceeds. Basically, when you exercise, you should know how much money you'll receive in the check from our broker (give or take a few dollars).

At the end of last year, an employee exercised a significant number of options. Due to a system glitch in our Payroll > Broker interface, the broker thought that the employee had already hit the FICA limit for the year. As a result, the broker didn't withhold any FICA from the employee's proceeds.

The employee did not meet the FICA limit. When the next payroll cycle hit, the employee ended up getting a paycheck for zero dollars, because payroll had to withhold money to cover the FICA shortfall. The employee was, understandably, upset. I believe the employee even threatened to sue. While the company goofed in reporting the YTD taxable compensation for the employee, the employee received the cash from the broker as part of the net proceeds. The employee had already spent the money, and didn't think to question the larger-than-expected stock payout.

I don't know how it was eventually resolved, but the employee's line of thought was that he/she shouldn't have to pay the taxes.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately *sometimes unfortunately anyway* I do work in payroll/HR. At one point I was posting the dumbest question/funniest question of the week. When we get busy I bet we'll see that resurface.

Best one recently is "...but it has to be a good [social security] card. I paid good money for it".

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

::evil grin:: march that person to me. We'll take care of 'em....hehehe

[sestree.livejournal.com]

It was sad really because he really WAS clueless. I told him no work until you have valid identification *sigh*

At work I am now known affectionately (or semi affectionately) as:

The Imigration Police
The Payroll Nazi
The Anal Retentive Bitch

It appears I earn every title nearly every day.