Frank Loconte, president of NER Construction Management Corporation and NER Management LLC, based in Wilmington MA was sentenced to 20 months in prison following his involvement in a fraudulent payroll scheme. He was also ordered to pay over $4.5 million in restitution and a $15,000 fine. Loconte pleaded guilty in September 2023 to charges of mail fraud and failure to pay taxes. From January 2014 to May 2022, Loconte systematically underreported overtime hours worked by union employees and failed to make the necessary payroll tax withholdings and payments. He also failed to contribute to pensi ..read more

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a final rule for independent contractor classification under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Here are details on the rule. Here’s a summary: Beginning on March 11, 2024, the rule will effectively reinstate the longstanding version of the “economic reality” test the DOL previously used. This test uses a multifactor, totality-of-the-circumstances analysis to determine whether a worker is an employee who is economically dependent on the employer for work, or an independent contractor (IC) who is in business for themself. Although ..read more

The minimum wage for work performed on or in connection with federal contracts will increase as follows: Contracts Covered by Executive Order 13658
: The minimum wage will increase to $12.90 per hour and the minimum base wage for tipped employees will increase to $9.05 per hour. Contracts Covered by Executive Order 14026
: The minimum wage will increase to $17.20 per hour. Additionally, the ability to take a tip credit and pay a lower base wage for tipped employees will be eliminated. The Department of Labor has published helpful FAQs on Executive Order 13658 and Executive Order 14026 ..read more

The IRS standard mileage rate will be 67 cents per mile driven for business purposes (up from 65.5 cents in 2023). This rate also applies to electric and hybrid vehicles. Use of this rate is optional, though it’s widely accepted as an easy and standard reimbursement rate for employees who use their personal vehicle for work. If your organization uses the IRS rate to calculate mileage reimbursement, be sure to update your systems to account for this change. The post 2024 mileage reimbursement rates appeared first on PayPlus, LLC-Meredith, NH ..read more

In an effort to provide our clients with the most robust payroll and HR platform, we are pleased to roll out our new payroll software, iSolved, over the first quarter of 2024. The transition will be gradual over the next few months, with the goal of having all clients on the new platform.   We will let you know when your business has been transitioned to the new platform. In the meantime, continue to submit payroll as usual.    iSolved is a full payroll and human capital management (HR) software, which includes such features as:  Employee onboarding (new hires) Empl ..read more

Everyone needs time off from work, but not everyone’s able to take it. Paid time off helps a lot. People are better able to take the time they need without worrying about a smaller paycheck. Employers demonstrate to their teams that they value them as whole people and recognize that time away from work is important as well.   But implementing and managing paid time off isn’t a walk in the park. If you’re thinking about offering it to your employees, above and beyond what you may (or may not) be legally required to provide, here are some things to consider: What Does the Law Say ..read more

Here are the 2023 year-end schedule and checklist for clients. The post Year-End Schedule & Checklist appeared first on PayPlus, LLC-Meredith, NH ..read more

The Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure (HIRD) is a state reporting requirement in Massachusetts, which launched in 2018. State law (M.G.L. c. 118E, section 78) requires every in-state and out-of-state employer who had 6 or more employees within Massachusetts at any time during the past 12 months to annually submit a HIRD form, which collects information about your employer-sponsored insurance offerings. The HIRD reporting requirement is administered by MassHealth and the Department of Revenue through your MassTaxConnect (MTC) account. Even if you do not offer health ..read more

Protective gear and time worked: What federal appeals court said Do employees need to be paid for time spent putting on and taking off their safety gear? That common Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) question has popped up again in the courts, this time in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In Tyger v. Precision Drilling Corp., the federal appeals court ruled that the lower court had applied the wrong test when it decided employees didn’t need to be paid for donning and doffing protective clothing. So, it sent the case back to the federal district court for a trial. Here are the details: Rig ha ..read more

IRS Tax Tip 2023-99, Aug. 8, 2023 Crooks are always looking for new ways to scam unsuspecting taxpayers. Scammers impersonate the IRS by phone or email, in person, or by mail or delivery service – and cost people their time and money. By staying vigilant against schemes and scams, taxpayers can protect themselves. Scammers can pose as the IRS by mail – taxpayers should know the facts One of the newest and more devious schemes involves mail coming in a cardboard envelope from either a delivery service or the United States Postal Service (USPS). The enclosed letter includes the IRS masthead and ..read more