35+ Sample Payroll Deductions

What Is a Payroll Deduction and Why Is it Important?

The calculation of an employee’s take-home pay is not an easy task. Aside from the gross pay, a lot of numbers are involved in coming up with the net pay. The difference between gross pay and net pay is that gross pay is the total amount of cash or similar value that an employee has before the deductions. On the other hand, net pay is the sum of money the employees will receive during payday. And whether we like it or not, it is a must for employers to withhold specific amounts from their employees’ paychecks in regular intervals—understandably, we refer to this as payroll deductions. Regardless of the amount of time an employee has rendered in the workplace, there will always be deductions incurred in their salary. It is the employer’s responsibility to inform each of their employees about the payroll deduction program the company follows. Its purpose is to keep the employees from feeling dismayed as they receive their paychecks. When clearly communicated, payroll deduction is not a thing companies should worry about.

The demands of a company should equate with the compensation each employee receives every payday. However, that does not make payroll deductions unlawful. It is the government that mandates companies to incur tax deductions from their employee’s paychecks. Why? To fund the federal and state programs. Because where else can the government generate enough finances for their programs, right? Besides, the substantial amount for tax withheld from an employee’s payroll will come back to them in the form of government-funded projects and benefits. Moreover, other payroll deductions aide workers in saving up for unforeseen circumstances where finances will be necessary.

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What are the Types of Payroll Deductions?

With over 327.2 million people in the United States as of this writing, approximately 157 million are employed. The majority works for a company, which means that there will be amounts withheld from paychecks as a directive from the government. However, payroll deduction is just a broad concept. It consists of various types that serve different purposes to the company and its stakeholders. Listed below are the different types of payroll deductions that may reflect in an employee’s payslip.

Federal Income Tax: The United States’ Internal Revenue Service (IRS) levies federal income taxes on the annual earnings of employees. Other legal entities, trusts, and corporations that operate in a specific city, state, or country also pay taxes to the government. Because of this, some companies and individuals consider the federal income tax as rent for carrying out business operations or living in the country. Nevertheless, paying taxes to the American government would mean that you are investing in the upkeep and development of your country in terms of infrastructure, food and housing assistance, emergency disaster relief, and among others. Since the United States is home to many businesses, the federal income tax generates the most revenue—thus, making it the government’s leading source of income.State Income Tax: If you are in the United States, bear in mind that you don’t only have to adhere to the federal laws but also state laws. Therefore, one of the obligations of an employee is to pay for the state income tax levied by the state. Also, note that the rates for this type of payroll deduction vary from one state to another. While most states collect taxes from the income of its people, some states have no income tax, namely Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.Social Security Tax: Individuals could not serve a company for the rest of their lives. Retirement or disability will always be a possibility. For this reason, the United States implements a social security program to protect the country from loss of earnings due to the eventualities mentioned above. However, this program wouldn’t be feasible without enough funding. It is when social security tax becomes beneficial. It is one type of tax levied on both employer and employee. Hence, both parties share equal responsibilities in paying the social security tax. The tax rate for each party at present is 6.2%.Medicare Tax: Just like the social security tax, the government collects an equal amount for Medicare tax from both the employers and employees. Currently, the total rate for Medicare tax is 2.9%, which means that 1.45% is deducted from an employees’ wage, and the employer will contribute an equal amount. But what does the Medicare tax fund? Medicare coverage for retired and disabled individuals. In addition, the Medicare program includes hospital and medical insurance, advantage plans, and prescription drug coverage.Garnishments: Another type of payroll deduction is garnishments or wage garnishments. However, it is only a necessity if an employee has unpaid debt. The employers can withhold a particular amount from their employees’ paychecks if the court issues an order which requires them to do so. The amount collected will then be sent to the individual or establishment the employee owes money from.Health Insurance: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 67% of the workforce in the United States that belongs to the private sector are provided with access to medical care benefits. Employers can offer various medical or health care benefits to their employees (e.g., dental, vision, etc.). Moreover, they have the freedom to choose whether they will offer short-term or long-term disability coverage. It is up to the employees as well if they will avail of the benefits offered. Those who participated in the benefit will pay their insurance premiums through payroll deductions.Retirement Plan: Employees should not just allocate the income they generate during their employment years for the present time. They must bear in mind that as years go by, the capability to get things done efficiently may deteriorate. As they reach a certain age, there will be a need for employees to retire and take a rest from the corporate world. When this time comes, how can one sustain their everyday living? The answer is simple—retirement plan. There are several retirement plans an employer may offer, some of these are Individual Retirement Arrangements IRA plans, pensions, and 401(k) plans.

Payroll Withholdings and Deductions: Mandatory vs. Voluntary

The types of payroll deductions mentioned beforehand fall into two major categories—mandatory and voluntary. Clearly, mandatory payroll deductions are the ones required by the government. These are the amounts withheld from your paychecks to help fund programs ran by the government for the public. Since they are statutory deductions, failure to pay may result in penalties. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax, federal income tax, state and local tax, and garnishments belong to this type of payroll withholdings and deductions. In addition, under the FICA tax are Social Security and Medicare taxes. Unlike other payroll taxes wherein the deductions are incurred on the employees’ paychecks alone, FICA tax obliges both the employer and employee to contribute an equal amount to the government. On the other hand, state and local taxes depends on the area where the business operates. Note that each state or locality has its own income tax structure. While some require individuals and corporations to pay taxes, others don’t.

Aside from mandatory payroll deductions, employers may need to deduct an additional amount from their employees’ paychecks if they opt to participate in various benefits offered. However, there will be a need for the employer to ask consent from their employees if they dock certain amounts on their paychecks. It isn’t called voluntary payroll deductions for no reason. Among the types of payroll deductions mentioned in the previous section, health insurance, and retirement plans belong to voluntary payroll deductions. In addition to that, some businesses withhold particular amounts from their staff’s paychecks for job-related expenses, which include meals, uniforms, and union dues. Although the government does not require employers to cut a portion of their employee’s salaries or offer such benefits, there are federal and state laws that may affect these payroll deductions.

How Do You Create a Payroll Deduction Authorization Form?

Documents hold a great significance in the various processes of a company. However, some professionals find the task of writing documents a hassle, especially when they have some other responsibilities to handle. But you should also note that documents are not just for compliance; it also helps streamline business operations and ensure consent. One type of document employers must prepare is a payroll deduction authorization form. This document provides evidence that an agreement about payroll deductions has been made between the employer and its employees.

Moreover, a company’s staff can refer to it when they want to see if the deductions incurred during their payday are accurate. Most importantly, it provides the employees with a way to grant the company the authority to dock particular amounts in their paychecks. If you are given the task to create a payroll deduction authorization form, read the step-by-step instructions outlined below for you to accomplish the task more easily.

Step 1: Know the Legal Payroll Deductions

Before setting up a payroll deduction program for a company, it is crucial to know what the law considers legal and what is not. That is why it is important for you to have a full understanding of the laws your country, state, or city adheres to. Doing so will help prevent lawsuits, litigations, and costly legal processes. Generally, payroll deductions are deemed illegal when it drags the worker’s salary below the minimum wage of where the business operates. Furthermore, you should also read about state laws about payroll taxes and deductions in addition to the federal laws if your company carries out its operations in the United States.

Step 2: Start With the Basics

The first part that should reflect on a payroll deduction authorization form is the basic details. This includes the current date and relevant employee information. In the blank sheet, insert the following text: present date, employee name, job title, number, social security number, department, and company name. Then, put blank spaces next to each item. Make sure that they would be enough for the employees to write down the needed information later on.

Step 3: Insert a Table

Now that you have created a section for the employee’s information, the next component of a payroll deduction authorization form is the specification of the payroll deductions. After writing a brief authorization statement, insert a table with three columns and type on the topmost portion: type of payroll deduction, amount to be deducted, and amount of deduction per payday. In this section, both mandatory and voluntary payroll deductions should be specified. For voluntary payroll deductions, though, it is up for the employees to decide whether or not they will avail of the benefit.

Step 4: Pen a Statement of Agreement

An employer creates a payroll deduction authorization form for two main purposes—to make the employees aware of the money deducted from their salary and to have evidence that the employee agreed that such tax contributions and other allocations for the amount deducted are of their responsibility. Therefore, the form should have a statement agreement followed by the signature blocks. The statement should make it clear that the employees have a clear understanding of the arrangement made in relation to the deductions. It is also important to include in the statement other terms and conditions that apply.

Step 5: Inform Employees

Employer-employee misunderstandings and disputes may occur if payroll deduction arrangements aren’t communicated clearly. As an employer, you must inform the employees about the payroll deductions applicable in your company so that they won’t have to question why they receive such amounts when they receive their payslips and paychecks. The best time to inform the employees of this arrangement or program is during employee orientation or right after they get hired. After discussing the matter with the workers, make sure that they fully understood the settlement and have the document signed.

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