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Payroll Practice Essentials

A Course Overview

Come away from this one-day program with the payroll knowledge, skills, and abilities required to produce accurate paychecks, ensure payroll compliance, and improve job performance. Payroll Practice Essentials teaches fundamental pay calculations through hands-on exercises and complex pay calculations and concepts.

The Payroll Practice Essentials course is fully accredited by the National Institute of Accounting Technicians (NIAT) and is an important first step in payroll education. This interactive, classroom-based training covers the basic procedures, processes, and terminology defining the daily workload of the beginning payroll practitioner. This program provides a thorough overview of the laws and regulations that affect payroll. Practical experience is also gained through "hands-on" excel-based exercises that allow each participant to work through actual payroll forms and payroll calculations.

Benefits of the PPE Program to You

  • Match your job title and responsibilities
  • Evaluate and assess your knowledge of payroll concepts and terms
  • Expand your knowledge of vital payroll topics
  • Ensure that you are updated with the latest in payroll compliance and industry trends
  • Receive a certificate from NIAT recognizing your competence in payroll and tax accounting
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest in payroll industry trends and earn CPD points with various continuing education opportunities

Who Should Attend the PPE Program?

The Payroll Practice Essentials (PPE) Certificate Program is open to all those who wish to demonstrate a baseline of payroll competency. The program is designed for:
  • Entry-level Payroll Professionals
  • Sales Professionals/Consultants serving the payroll industry
  • Systems Analysts/Engineers writing payroll programs
  • Payroll Service Client Representatives
  • Payroll Analysts
  • Bookkeepers
  • Human Resource Professionals

PPE Program Syllabus

Module 1: What Does the Payroll Department Do?
  • Pay employees
  • Deduct, withhold, and remit taxes
  • Report to national and local tax authorities
  • Deduct and withhold employees’ benefit contributions
  • Make and keep payroll records
  • Provide support to auditors
  • Explain impact of payroll issues on employee’s pay
  • Respond to inquiries confidentially
  • Share information with other areas of the company

Module 2: Who is an Employee?

  • Independent contractors vs. employees
  • Common law test
  • Misclassification problems
  • Forms new employees complete

Module 3: How are Employees Paid?

  • What is the significance of exempt and non-exempt employees?
  • Calculating pay
  • Minimum wage
  • Tips
  • Shift differentials
  • Special payment issues
  • Calculating overtime
       -What are hours worked?
       -Workweek definition
       -What is included in the regular rate of pay?
  • Overtime pay calculations
       -Hourly paid employee calculations
       -Multiple hourly rate calculations
       -Piecework calculations
       -Salaried non-exempt calculations
  • What is time worked?
  • Overtime for public sector employees

Module 4: What Withholding is Required?

  • What wages are subject to withholding?
  • Factors affecting withholding
  • Form 2316
       -Requirements
       -Invalid forms
       -Exempt forms
  • Income tax withholding
       -Wage bracket method
       -Supplemental wages
  • SSS, Pag-Ibig, HDMF
  • Withholding issues

Module 5: What Benefits are Taxable?

  • Non-taxable benefits
  • Calculating taxable benefits
  • Representation privileges
  • Prizes and awards
  • Gifts cards and certificates
  • Education assistance

Module 6: Deductions from Pay

  • Voluntary deductions
  • Remittances

Module 7: Preparing the Payroll and Tax Returns

  • Complete tax returns
  • Form 1601c

Module 8: Payroll Accounting

  • Accounting periods
  • Accruals/reversals
  • General ledger reconciliation
  • Payroll balancing

Module 9: Record Keeping

  • Payroll master file
  • Retention requirements
  • Methods of retention