Overview
Do you know the common mistakes made by employers that result in audits?
Although agencies will tell you that you were selected "randomly;" the
truth is there are one or more red flags that made you a target.
Are
you publicly traded? If so, the Sarbanes Oxley act demands you have
sufficient internal controls over payroll and other systems that
materially affect financial statements. Even if you are private,
internal audits are essential to ensure long-term compliance and other
issues that can affect your company's very existence.
Have you
ever been audited by the various agencies that require payroll
information? Good preparation requires more than just documentation and
records. You have to know what to do, and what NOT to do, to ensure a
quick audit with positive results.
What are the penalties for
non-compliance? Some penalties are increased the longer it takes for you
to fix the problem. All penalties can be waived if you know how to
address them. Considering most payroll tax audits are three years in
length, the more serious non-compliance issues can result in bankruptcy
and/or extended legal battles.
Why you should attend
Maybe you've been "selected" for a payroll tax audit, or maybe you're taking precautions by performing a self-audit.
Either
way, this 4-hour online training will ensure you don't make mistakes
that could land you an audit, you're compliant with current regulations,
and your audit-proofing process is flexible enough to adjust to future
regulations.
Who Will Benefit
- Payroll and HR management and staff
- Audit members of the BODPayroll auditors, HR compliance personnel, and payroll accountants
- CPA, payroll accountants, and independent payroll consultants
- Budget staff
- Internal auditors and regulatory compliance personnel
- Payroll IT developers, programmers, and debuggers
Agenda
What it would mean for you to be audited - and how to safeguard your organization
- Evaluate
your system for areas at risk, including overtime, independent
contractors, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, executive
compensation, minimum wage, multistate employment, and more!
- How to quantify your audit exposure - how much is it going to cost you?
- The most common - and costly - mistakes made in payroll management
- Proof
your payroll system with an internal auditor to fix what has happened
in your past, adjust your systems for present compliance, and how to
sustain a compliant process and system
What to do if you're audited
- Preparing for the payroll tax auditor
- How to negotiate both the time and expense involved in an audit
- How to prepare yourself and employees for interviews (I.e. what you should - and shouldn't - say)
- What records could lead to other audits if you’re not careful - and how to ensure they're accurate and compliant
- The audit's over - but you're not done yet dealing with assessments, penalties, and interest
- When you should ask for a waiver - and when it’s a lost cause
- How to minimize audit penalties
Speaker Profile
Mark Schwartz is an employment tax specialist and has over 15 years of employment tax experience as an independent consultant and as a payroll tax auditor with the State of California. He has managed an audit caseload of 20 ongoing audits, from small home-based businesses to large multi-national corporations. He is expert at defining regulatory and statutory requirements from local, State and Federal government agencies; and helping the average businessperson understand what that means to their business. He has processed weekly and bi-weekly payroll checks plus tax forms for businesses with hourly as well as exempt workers, multistate operations and a wide variety of benefits.
Mr.Schwartz provides consulting services encompassing payroll processing and payroll tax issues. These include payroll tax minimization, payroll tax compliance reviews, independent contractor studies, use of electronic transfers, deductions, benefits, etc. Mark has represented both clients and the State in front of the State Appeals Board. He understands the complexities of local wage laws, unemployment and disability claims, and other wage and benefit issues affecting your employees.
Mark prides himself on his outstanding customer service skills. He listens attentively to his clientele, helping them bridge the gap between the small business world and Government bureaucracy. He eagerly assists with clients needs and feels that educating clients toward faster, accurate and more complete payroll processes provide the most value.
Mark is a participating member of the American Payroll Association. He earned his BA and MBA in Finance at Santa Clara University. He has held Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Investment and Derivatives Auditor Credentials. Mark is currently pursuing a Certified Payroll Fundamentals Credential with the American Payroll Association.
