Accounting CS Payroll features

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Accounting CS Payroll is a powerful and full-featured application that enables professional payroll processors to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of clients. Accounting CS Payroll has been designed from the ground up for high volume processing and tax compliance convenience. The following is a list of some of the significant features included in Accounting CS Payroll.

Setup features

Security features

  • Protect your clients' personal information with enhanced security features. You also have the option to add multi-factor authentication as an extra security measure.
  • Take advantage of the firm-level security feature by setting up security groups for staff working in specific areas of the application and requiring a password to open the firm database.
  • Modify security privileges using security groups to secure access to sensitive information by entire screen or by a specific tabbed page.
  • Limit staff access to selected clients, including the Firm client.
  • Use the event tracking feature to view database activity such as edits to employee and bank information, banks, the entry and suspension of batch payroll checks, the voiding and deletion of payroll checks, and the deletion of client records.

Processing features

  • Process a variety of standard reports that enable you to provide value-added analysis for your clients.
  • Process multiple payroll schedules per client.
  • Create new hire files electronically for all states.
  • Create independent contractor new hire files electronically for California.
  • Create State ACH payment files.
  • Create adjustment liability transactions for discrepancies between liability calculated for tax forms and liability created for payroll checks.
  • Automatically print corresponding payment forms when printing tax liability checks.
  • Expedite basic payroll entry using the spreadsheet-style Rapid tab within the Enter Batch Payroll Checks screen for rapid payroll check entry.
  • Use the MICR check-printing feature to avoid maintaining supplies of preprinted check stock.
  • Import data from ASCII and XML files for automatic check creation from supported time clock applications.
  • Import data from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for automatic check creation.
  • Generate payroll checks automatically for employees with standard wages or salaries.
  • Perform on-the-fly edits to employee records for mid-processing updates.
  • Process W-2, W-2C, 940, 941, 941-X, 943, 943-X, 944, 944-X, 945, 945-X, 1094-C, 1095-C, 1099, state payroll tax forms, and certain local payroll tax forms using a streamlined batch payroll tax process (including electronic filing).
  • Print filing instructions with corresponding payroll tax forms.
  • Expedite EFTPS processing using comprehensive features to create federal enrollment files and federal tax payments.
  • Maximize cash flow using the comprehensive impound features.
    • Fund liabilities from client accounts electronically.
    • Utilize the detailed client balance reporting.
    • Easily reconcile impound bank accounts.
      • Import bank statement files (including OFX, QFX, QIF, and BAI2 files).
      • Export adjustment entries in XML file format.
      • Make adjustment entries to offset the unreconciled amount when appropriate.
  • Provide maximum convenience to clients and your own firm with the comprehensive direct deposit features, including:
    • pre-noting
    • employee and payroll agent payments
    • child support payments
    • direct integration with Kotapay
  • View and print informational and critical diagnostic messages in a report from the Actions > Edit Payroll Tax Forms screen and the Actions > Process Payroll Tax Forms screen.
  • Maintain electronic notes for client processing.
  • Maintain multiple fee schedules.
  • Automatically calculate fees, including applicable sales taxes, on a per-check, per-direct deposit, per-payroll, or per-tax-form basis.
  • Create Citizens Bank Positive Pay files for impound bank accounts.
  • Create an export file containing summary or detailed payroll transactions that can be imported into your clients' QuickBooks Pro data.

Automatic calculations

  • Calculate an unlimited number of pay, deduction, and employer contribution items.
  • Calculate payroll checks for employees working in multiple states and multiple localities, honoring applicable state rules and reciprocal agreements.
  • Calculate per-check workers' compensation premiums.
  • Calculate creditor garnishments.
  • Calculate and report the number of hours used and accrued for benefits like vacation, sick time, and personal time.
  • Calculate amounts and generate checks for federal and state tax deposits.
  • Perform net-to-gross calculations.
  • Process cafeteria plan deductions, retirement plan deductions, and company matching amounts, including "safe harbor" employer contribution plans and employees' retirement plan catch-up contributions.
  • Set maximum limits on deductions for automatic turnoff.
  • Verify federal, state, and locality-specific minimum wage amounts for reported tip income.
  • Take advantage of the application's support for third-party sick pay.
  • Perform tip allocation calculations.

Optional add-on features

You can use any of the following vendors.

  • The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., to accommodate your need for pay-as-you-go workers' compensation insurance. Data is transmitted from the application through The Hartford's XactPAY service.
  • InsurePay Insurance, to accommodate your need for pay-as-you-go workers' compensation insurance. Data is transmitted from the application through the InsurePay service.
  • Kotapay, to handle processing of the direct deposit files created from Accounting CS Payroll.

    Disclaimer: Kotapay is an unaffiliated third party that some of our customers have engaged to provide direct deposit, tax payments, ACH processing, or credit card merchant services.

Document output

  • Print reports for multiple clients at one time. Create and save an unlimited number of custom report profiles to easily produce a collection of documents to send to clients.
  • Select from a variety of global printing options on the Reports tab of the Setup > User Preferences dialog.
  • Customize standard reports, invoices, and check layouts, or utilize one of the custom designers to create other formats to address specific reporting needs.
  • Produce reports as files, send them via email, store them in FileCabinet CS, and more.
  • Set up custom formulas for printing calculated values.
  • Utilize conditional expressions to modify document appearance during final printing.
  • Import or export formats to share custom designs with other professionals.
  • Optionally define the printer tray to use based on the type of output and automatically insert separator pages for printed output.

Employee Self-Service (via NetClient CS)

Employee Self-Service features available to individual employees at the client's office, via secure web-based portals, include the ability to do the following.

  • Handle time-entry tasks for payroll checks.
  • Edit W-4 information.
  • View and print payroll check stubs.
  • View and print W-2s.
  • View and print 1099s for independent contractors.
  • Hide sensitive information.

Data conversion

  • Accounting CS Payroll provides a method to convert client data from Payroll CS. This enables you to convert general client information, employee and earnings data, payroll items, vendors, and more. For more information, see Transitioning from CSA to Accounting CS services.
  • Generate liabilities based on converted checks or historical payroll data that are specific to the needs of your client for mid-period conversions.

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