When April arrives, most attention turns to income tax filings and deadlines. While CPAs and tax preparers take center stage, payroll often operates quietly in the background — even though it plays a critical role in an employer’s overall tax compliance. Payroll isn’t just about paying employees on time. It’s one of the primary data…
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To help meet first quarter (1Q26) close deadlines, please adhere to the important dates below. Quarter Close Change Deadline April 3: Last day to make changes to records in the ADP RUN for Partners (RUN) platform that impact taxability, such as SUI rate changes, voids and reissues, jurisdiction changes, Third Party Sick Pay, etc. Tax…
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For many employers, the word audit immediately triggers stress. Images of document requests, tight deadlines, and unexpected findings often come to mind. But in reality, payroll audits are a normal part of doing business — and most are far less intimidating than they sound. March is when many payroll-related audits begin to surface, making it…
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Please note that Presidents Day is Monday, February 16, and banks will be closed in observance of the holiday. This closure may affect payroll processing timelines and check dates for upcoming payrolls. We strongly recommend logging into your Secure HR payroll account to confirm your check date and applicable processing cut-off times to avoid any…
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By February, most employers have officially closed the prior payroll year — but questions, corrections, and follow-ups are often just beginning. Employees start reviewing their tax forms, accountants ask for clarification, and small discrepancies that went unnoticed in January can suddenly feel urgent. February payroll isn’t about starting fresh — it’s about confirming accuracy, responding…
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Understanding Tip Reporting in Payroll For employers with tipped employees, how tips are entered into payroll matters just as much as the amounts themselves. Different types of tips—cash vs. credit card, paid vs. owed, qualified vs. nonqualified—are treated differently for tax reporting, wage calculations, and compliance purposes. The payroll entry options below represent specific “buckets”…
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The start of a new year brings more than fresh calendars and updated goals — it also marks one of the most important moments in the payroll cycle. Decisions and oversights made in January can quietly ripple through the entire year, affecting compliance, employee trust, and financial accuracy. January is when smart employers slow down…
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???????? Captain Max Orbit wrapping up the mission. Every journey has an origin story. Secure HR’s began with a simple observation: too many payroll providers offered either cutting-edge technology with terrible service, or decent service backed by outdated systems. Businesses were forced to choose between the two. The Problem We Saw Tech-heavy providers left clients…
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???????? Captain Max Orbit here, with advice for small business captains. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, but payroll can be one of their biggest challenges. Unlike large corporations with whole HR departments, small businesses often have just one person — or even the owner themselves — managing payroll. The Hidden Complexity of…
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???????? Captain Max Orbit broadcasting from the ISS. Life aboard the International Space Station teaches astronauts lessons about discipline, precision, and teamwork. Interestingly, those same lessons apply directly to payroll. Lesson 1: Redundancy Matters On the ISS, critical systems always have backups. In payroll, that means having layers of checks to ensure every number is…
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