payrollnews-pr110900

Press Release – 11/09/00

WSU PAYROLL SERVICES

NOVEMBER 2000

SPECIAL NOTE FOR THE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16th PAYROLL CALC

The payroll that is calculated Saturday, December 16^th, is always a very unique payroll because it is the last payroll calculated for this income tax year. This payroll creates the totals which appear on your employees’ W-2 Forms. If you overpay someone on this pay cycle, we do not have another payroll to process a correction such as a recovery. This is why it is critically important to the University that you take extra precautions when entering the proper hours worked or pieces completed into the Positive Pay input screen in Departmental Pay for the last pay cycle of the tax year. Also, please notify us if you know someone has separated and the paperwork has not yet been submitted.

ADDRESS CHANGE DEADLINE

The deadline to change your mailing address to affect the delivery of your December 22nd paycheck is Monday, December 18, 2000. Address changes are completed on the internet at http//www.wsu.edu/wsuinfonet .

W-4 FORM — IRS CERTIFICATE OF WITHHOLDING

The Internal Revenue Service requires all employees who claimed total exemption from federal income taxes in calendar year 2000 to refile a new W-4 Form with Payroll Services no later than February 15, 2001. If any employee had claimed total exemption from federal income tax during 2000 and fails to refile a 2001 W-4 Form at Payroll Services by February 15, 2001, the IRS requires Payroll Services to automatically change the employee’s withholding exemption to “Single” with zero withholding allowances.

W-2 WAGE AND TAX STATEMENTS

The W-2 Form Wage and Tax Statements will be mailed to your home address approximately January 15, 2001.

W-5 FORM EIC

Any employees on the Earned Income Credit (EIC) Program must complete a new W-5 Form in Payroll Services for any wage payments made after December 31, 2000.

OASI MAXIMUM FOR 2001

The maximum Social Security OASI gross wages will increase from $76,200 to $80,400. The combined percentage rate of 7.65% remains the same for 2001 for OASI and Medicare Tax.

REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNUSED SICK LEAVE

Eligible employees whose sick leave balance exceeds 480 hours may elect to be reimbursed for a quarter of their sick leave accumulated, but not used in calendar year 2000. Employees eligible for a reimbursement will be paid one hour for every four hours of unused sick leave earned in 2000.

Application for reimbursements should be made in accordance with Section 60.41.1 of the Business Policies and Procedures Manual. Classified employees should submit a separate Time Report and eligible faculty, administrative and professional employees must submit a separate Time Report or Leave Report in order to request reimbursement.

In accordance with RCW 251-22-124, payment must be made in January. The deadline for receipt of the Time Report or Leave Report in Payroll Services is Tuesday, January 23, 2001.

GRADUATE TUITION PAYROLL DEDUCTION AUTHORIZATION FORMS — 2001 SPRING SEMESTER PROCEDURES

During November all four hundred (400) Graduate students who had authorized a payroll deduction for the 2000 Fall Semester were mailed a new authorization form for the 2001 Spring Semester. Graduate students whose appointment ends December 31, 2000, were instructed to check with their department about the renewal of their appointment. Graduate authorization forms returned for the 2001 Spring Semester, which do not have renewed appointments, will not be honored.

If the Graduate student wanted payroll deduction to continue for the 2001 Spring Semester, they were to immediately sign and return the form to Payroll Services. Deadline for receipt of forms is January 26, 2001.

Graduate students who are brand new appointees for the 2001 Spring Semester or Graduate students who did not have a payroll deduction in the 2000 Fall Semester and desire a deduction in the 2001 Spring Semester will need to call Payroll Services (335-1277) or send an e-mail to payroll@wsu.edu and request a deduction form be created. If the Graduate appointment is in the HEPPS System, a Payroll Deduction Authorization form will be created within 24 hours. The Graduate student must come to Payroll Services, Room 236 French Administration Building, to sign the form. Forms may be faxed (335-1472) for any graduate student not on the Pullman campus. Forms authorizing payroll deductions of graduate fees must be received by Payroll Services no later than January 26, 2001.

As of November 9, 2000
Alice Smethurst