1. Unemployment Taxes Federal Unemployment Tax Act - FUTA
State Unemployment Tax Act - SUTA
Both taxes are paid by the Employer, not the Employee
FYI… This is true in Illinois. Some states may have employee contribution.
FUTA – monies collected pays for the Federal & State administration of unemployment programs
FUTA covers the costs of administering the UI and Job Service programs in all states. In addition, FUTA pays one-half of the cost of extended unemployment benefits (during periods of high unemployment) and provides or a fund from which states may borrow, if necessary, to pay benefits.
SUTA – monies collected are used for payments directly to the unemployed

2. Unemployment Taxes FUTA Employer (…is the employer FUTA-eligible?)
Employer pays tax for whole year if one of the following occurred during current or preceding year:
wages >= $1,500 during any quarter
employed at least one person for 20 weeks or more
need not be consecutive weeks
need not be the same employee(s)
Agricultural employers, under certain conditions
Household employer paying $1,000 or more during any quarter for household services
A household worker is an employee who performs domestic services in a private home. Examples of household employees are: babysitters, caretakers, cleaning people, drivers, nannies, health aides, yard workers and private nurses.

3. Unemployment Taxes FUTA (cont.) Wages and Taxes
From the 2016 Form 940 Instructions:
Credit reduction state. A state that has not repaid money it
borrowed from the federal government to pay unemployment
benefits is a “credit reduction state.” The Department of Labor
determines these states. If an employer pays wages that are
subject to the unemployment tax laws of a credit reduction state,
that employer must pay additional federal unemployment tax
when filing its Form 940.
For 2016, there are credit reduction states. If you paid any
wages that are subject to the unemployment compensation laws
of a credit reduction state, your credit against federal
unemployment tax will be reduced based on the credit reduction
rate for that credit reduction state. Use Schedule A (Form 940),
to figure the credit reduction. For more information, see the Schedule A (Form 940) instructions or visit IRS.gov. (2016 Schedule A shows Illinois with no (0.000) credit reduction.)
Wages and Taxes
Only the first $7,000 per employee is taxable
fyi… Wages “grid” from Publication 15, pgs
fyi… Fringe Benefits “grid” from Publication 15-B, pg. 6
The net FUTA rate is 0.6%
the actual calculation is 6.0%, less…
a credit of 5.4%.
The credit is available if state unemployment (SUTA) taxes are paid on time.
Title XII allows states to borrow unemployment compensation funds from federal government.
The credit can be reduced for late SUTA payments!
The credit can also be reduced if in a state that is in default on their Title XII advances.
2016 Schedule A
Therefore, the maximum FUTA tax per employee is:
$7,000 x = $42.

4. X Unemployment Taxes FUTA (cont.) Payments & Reports
If accumulated liability exceeds $500 at the end of any quarter, then employer must deposit electronically by end of following month. X
FYI… Form 8109 is no longer used to deposit taxes via check.

5. Unemployment Taxes FUTA (cont.) Payments & Reports
If accumulated liability exceeds $500 at the end of any quarter, then employer must deposit electronically by end of following month.
Annual Report - Form 940
due January 31st
Form EXAMPLE
Form 940 Schedule A - EXAMPLE

6. Unemployment Taxes SUTA Employer
Interstate Employee – what state is given the contribution (tax)?
Four Tests determine the State (in order of application):
Place where the work is localized.
Location of base of operations.
Location from which operations are directed or controlled.
Location of employee’s residence.

7. Unemployment Taxes SUTA (cont.) Wages and Taxes
Illinois - first $12,960 (for 2017) per employee is taxable.
SUTA Rate History:
2002 – 4.0% (6.8%)
2003 – 5.3% (7.2%)
2004 – 6.8% (8.6%)
2005 – 9.8% (9.8%)
2006 – 8.9% (8.9%)
2007 – 8.2% (8.2%)
2008 – 4.5% (7.2%)
2009 – 3.4% (6.8%)
2010 – 2.7% (7.2%)
2011 – 8.4% (8.4%)
2012 – 9.45% (9.45%)
2013 – 8.95% (8.95%)
2014 – 1.75% (8.55%)
2015 – 2.05% (8.15%)
2016 – 2.65% (7.75%)
2017 – ???% (7.35%)
The rate for a company varies between the minimum and maximum set for the year (0.55% % represents min/max for 2015).
based on experience rating.
new employer files a UI-1 form within 30 days – new rate is determined, but will be at least 3.9%.
maximum rate of 5.4% for small employer
(“small employer” pay < $50K in wages/qtr).
IDES Rates - History
Arens’ SUTA Rate Announcement for 2012
Arens’ SUTA Rate Announcement for 2014
Arens’ SUTA Rate Announcement for 2015
Arens’ SUTA Rate Announcement for 2016
SUTA Taxable Wage Bases for All States

8. Unemployment Taxes SUTA (cont.) Payments & Reports
Form UI-3/40 (Wage Report) filed quarterly, even if zero wages.
Wage reports and payments due by end of month following each calendar quarter.
Large employers (250+ employees) must file electronically.
UI-3/40 - Example.pdf

9. Unemployment Taxes SUTA (cont.) FYI…. SUTA Dumping
Effective January 1, 2006, if an entity transfers all or a portion of its business and there is any substantial common ownership, management or control of the transferor and transferee, the experience rating records of the transferor and transferee shall be combined for the purpose of determining their contribution rate.
An employer that knowingly pays or attempts to pay contributions at a rate that is inconsistent with the SUTA dumping law is subject to substantial civil penalties and criminal liability, as is an individual or entity that knowingly advises another to pay or attempt to pay contributions at a rate inconsistent with the SUTA dumping law.

10. Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation System
Insurance that is purchased by employer to protect employees from losses due to injury or death incurred during employment.
Employers are mandated by state law to provide workers’ compensation insurance.
Premium rate based on a percentage of gross wages.
A higher premium exists for factory employees, as compare to office employees.
Insurance Premium for Admin (Clerical) Worker: $0.30 per $100 in Wages
Insurance Premium for Factory Worker: $6.80 per $100 in Wages

11. Journal Entries Payroll Register
Provides detailed information about the payroll for each pay period.
The totals of the Payroll Register are used to Generate Journal Entries, which record the payroll in the accounting records.
The payroll register information for each employee is transferred to his/her’s Earnings Record.

12. Journal Entries Employee’s Earnings Record
Contains the employee’s W-4 information (used to calculate FIT & SIT for each pay period).
Payroll Register information (earnings, deductions, etc.) is transferred here and accumulated in order to make reporting easier and to determine wage limits for taxes.
The information in the Employee’s Earnings Record is used to populate the employee’s W-2 at the end of the year.

13. Journal Entries Journalizing Payroll Transactions
Recording the Payroll Transaction
 (Remember: Two Journal Entries)
Below is a Simplified View (for Illustrative Purposes Only)
To record Wages Expense for the pay period:
Wages Expense $ XXX.XX
Withholding Payables (includes taxes) $ XXX.XX
Cash $ XXX.XX
Think about the EE (employee) portion of the transaction.
Think about the ER (employer) portion of the transaction.
To record Payroll Tax Expense for the pay period:
Payroll Tax Expense $ XXX.XX
Payroll Taxes Payable $ XXX.XX

14. Journal Entries Journalizing Payroll Transactions
Recording End-of-Period Adjustments  Wages Payable or Accrued Wages
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Jul 29
Jul 30
Jul 31
Aug 1
Aug 2
Friday, July 26th:
Wages Expense $ 5,000
W/H Payable (includes taxes) $ 1,000
Cash $ 4,000
Previously recorded on July 26th.
To record Wages Expense for the period 7/29 – 7/31:
July 31st:
Wages Expense $ 3,000
Wages Payable $ 3,000
End-of-Period Adjustment
August 2nd:
Wages Expense $ 2,000
Wages Payable $ 3,000
W/H Payable (includes taxes) $ 1,000
Cash $ 4,000

15. Journal Entries Journalizing Payroll Transactions
Recording End-of-Period Adjustments  Vacation Payable or Accrued Vacation
Example: An employee has earned 10 days of vacation for the year and has used 9 days during the year. If the company policy is to allow the employee to carry over the day of vacation to the next year, then the following transaction needs to be recorded by December 31st… (assuming the employee earns $300 per day)
To record Accrued Vacation as of December 31, 20XX:
December 31, 20XX:
Vacation Expense (Fringe Benefits) $ 300
Vacation Payable $ 300
Then, when you pay the employee their vacation day in the following year (period), the entry would look like this…
To record use of Accrued Vacation as of February 28, 20XX:
February 28, 20XX:
Vacation Payable $ 300
Cash $ 300