Training Grants and Withholding Calculator

A couple of items of interest from the latest General Ledger published by AIPB (www.aipb.org).

National Emergency Grants (NEGs) - Covers 50-90% of the hourly/salaried rate for on-the-job training if the new hire is a "dislocated worker" for firms of up to 50 employees.  "Dislocated" includes those laid off or notified they will be; those eligible for UI or who have exhausted their UI benefits; self-employed with no work due to economic factors or a natural disaster -- even displaced homemakers no longer supported by another family member.  There are several different kinds of NEGs.  Details at www.doleta.gov/neg/.
Registered apprenticeships.  Tax benefits and work force grants cover up to 75% of eligible wages for firms of up to 100 employees for combined on-the-job training and apprenticeships for 1,100+ occupations.  Benefits vary by state.  For details, contact your Regional Office of Apprenticeship (OA) at www.doleta.gov/oa/regdirlist.cfm or get in touch with your state apprenticeship agencies at www.doleta.gov/oa/stateagencies.cfm.
Workforce Investment Act Funding offers per diem subsidies for combined on-the-job training and classroom education while the new hire collects UI payments.  Details at the url tinyurl.com/yfhzjje (ignore the warning signals when you put this url in the browser; this is a perfectly safe page.)


Also:
When employees ask about how to complete their W-4's for 2011, you can direct them to www.irs.gov.  Once there, type 'calculator', click Withholding Calculator.  On a series of simple screens, they will be asked to check various boxes and will then know how to complete their W-4.  It would be doubly helpful, it appears, for employees with more than one job and would provide the best way to complete the W-4 for each.

1099 Changes in 2012 - Article

I found this article re changes to 1099 Reporting scheduled for 2012 interesting and wanted to share.  I know there are lots of questions.  I hope you enjoy it. http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/smallbusiness/1099_health_care_tax_change/

Publication 15 (Circular E) Employer Tax Guide, Federal Withholding

Publication 15 (Circular E) Employer Tax Guide is now available at www.irs.gov.

I would also like to share the fact that of the payrolls I have run so far for 2011, some employees net pay increases from last year, while others decrease.  It seems federal tax withholding for many has increased this year.  So, even though everyone gets the two percent reduction in their social security deduction, not all will have a bigger paycheck - some will be smaller this year.

W-4 Availability

W-4 forms for 2011 are now available at www.irs.gov.