In late February, the IRS released the updated 2018 Form W-4 and an updated tax withholding calculator.  The calculator provides an opportunity for employees to check their 2018 tax withholding after the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, prior to filling out a new Form W-4.

2018 Form W-4

IRS Withholding Calculator

Do employee’s need to complete a new Form W-4 annually:

“Not necessarily. A W-4 form remains in effect until an employee submits a new one except when an employee claims to be exempt from income tax withholding.”

Employers should ensure they have new W-4s for:

  1. New employees. Employers should keep copies of the most current W-4s on hand.
  2. Employees who had a change in withholding events during the year.
  3. Employees claiming exemption from withholding. To continue to be exempt from withholding in the next year, employees must give employers a new W-4 claiming exempt status by Feb. 15 of that year. If an employee doesn’t give you a new Form W-4, employers must withhold tax based on the last valid Form W-4 for the employee that doesn’t claim exemption from withholding or, if one doesn’t exist, as if he or she is single with zero withholding allowances.”[i]

 

IRS Publication 15 provides guidelines for employers to remind employees before December 1 of each year to submit a new W-4 form if the withholding allowances changed or will be changing in the next year; due to added dependents, new tax legislation, etc.  As employers, we need to ensure all of our new hire paperwork is up-to-date.  This recent change should be noted as part of your organizations onboarding/new hire process.

 

NYC Evolving Legislative Changes:

NYC Mandates Temporary Schedule Changes 7/18/18

The new law provides employees with additional rights to demand changes to their schedule.  The law permits employees to demand two temporary schedule changes per calendar year for personal events.  The definition of personal events is broad, which leaves room for interpretation.  There are guidelines and certain exemptions to the new rule.  However, it is broad and will cover many organizations.

NYC Mandates “Cooperative Dialogue” 10/15/2018

This law codifies the organizations obligation to engage in a cooperative dialogue with any employee who may be entitled to reasonable accommodation.  “Specifically, you will need to engage in a good faith written or oral “cooperative dialogue” with the employee addressing:

  1. The employee’s accommodation needs.
  2. Potential accommodations that may address the needs, including alternatives to an employee’s requested accommodation.
  3. The difficulties that such potential accommodations may pose for your business.

After a final determination is made at the conclusion of the “cooperative dialogue,” you must provide the employee requesting the accommodation with a final written determination as to whether or not the accommodation is granted.”[v]

The  legislative changes in New York City will not impact employers in the Southern Tier, unless you have employees in the city.  However, as we have seen in the past, changes in NYC make their way to Albany, which result in statewide sweeping legislative changes, which can and do impact organizations in the Southern Tier.  Continue to watch for legal updates at the federal, state and local level.  If you are confused, seek guidance.  Legislative change is a continuous process and it can be complex.  As society evolves, so do our laws and regulations.  Asking questions, attending trainings, working with consultants and attorneys will provide you with a clearer picture of the evolving legislation.

Interested in learning more from me? Check out the options shared here: 

Upcoming Compliance Key Trainings

Elmira College: SHRM Certification Exam Prep Course- Coming in Spring 2019

Upcoming Corning Community College Training’s

[i] https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/hr-qa/pages/cms_015244.aspx

[ii] https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/compensation/pages/daylight-saving-time-wage-hour-problems.aspx

[iii] https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/compensation/pages/daylight-saving-time-wage-hour-problems.aspx

[iv] Burr Consulting, LLC, “3 Daylight Savings Time Wage & Hour Considerations”, Burrconsultingllc.com, November 6, 2017

[v] https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/state-and-local-updates/pages/new-york-city-employers-reasonable-accommodations.aspx

-Matthew W. Burr

Published by Mathew W. Burr, MJ-LEL, MBA, MHRIR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPHR-INT, Chartered CIPD

Mathew W. Burr, MJ-LEL, MBA, MHRIR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPHR-INT, Chartered MCIPD ABOUT: Matthew Burr has over 17-years of experience working in the human resources field, starting his career as an Industrial Relations Intern at Kennedy Valve Manufacturing to most recently founding and managing a human resource consulting company; Burr Consulting, LLC, Talentscape, LLC and Co-Owner of Labor Love, a Labor, and Employment Law poster printing company. Prior to founding the consulting firm, the majority of his career was heavy industry manufacturing and healthcare. He specializes in compliance auditing, training labor and employment law, conflict resolution, performance management, labor, and employment relations. Matthew has a generalist background in HR and operations, while providing strategic HR and operational solutions to his clients, focusing on small and medium sized organizations. He works as an Adjunct at Alfred State University, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and Montgomery Community College. He successfully designed an HR Concentration in the business management major that aligned with both SHRM and HRCI certifications, providing opportunities for students to sit for both the SHRM-CP and aPHR certifications upon completion of the degree, concentration, and internship hours as an Assistant Professor of Management at Elmira College (Retired January 2022). Matthew is also the SHRM Certification Exam Instructor, with a current pass rate of 92% on the SHRM-SCP and 83% pass rate on the SHRM-CP and a combined 88% on both exams over a 7-year period of instructing the course (Elmira College, Collin College & The College of St. Rose). Matthew works as a trainer Tompkins Cortland Community College, Corning Community College, Broome Community College, and HR Instructor for Certification Preparation for the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). He also acts as an On-Call Mediator and Factfinder through the Public Employment Relations Board in New York State, working with public sector employers and labor unions. PUBLICATIONS: Matthew has publications at the American Bar Association (ABA) Experience Magazine, Cornell HR Review, Business Insider, New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), PayScale, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), and Expert 360 (in Australia). In early 2017, he published his first book, “$74,000 in 24 Months: How I killed my student loans (and you can too!),” proceeded by his second book, which was published in January 2021, “Slay the Student Loan Dragon: Tips and Tricks on How to Conquer the Student Loan Game” and his most recent book, “Unbox Your HR Career” in July 2023. VOLUNTEER WORK: Matthew is currently the New York State Society of Human Resource Management (NYSSHRM) District-Director. EDUCATION & TRAINING: Additional Training & Development:  SHRM Workplace Coaching and Mentoring Recertification Program, 2020  SHRM Foundation Employing Abilities @Work Certificate, 2020  SHRM Foundation Veterans at Work Certificate Program, 2018  Delta County Chamber of Commerce: Delta Force Leadership Program, 2013 FEATURED IN & ON: Matthew was featured on CNN Money, Fast Company, Fits Small Business, Fox News, Magnify Money, Monster.com, My Twin Tiers, Namely, Student Loan Hero, Smart Sheet and CEO Blog Nation, Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

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