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• If you are looking for a specific update, but it doesn't appear in this bulletin, try checking the Accounting CS Alerts & notices article. 
• New features and new reports that are released in this version might be protected by security privileges. If your firm has enabled firm security, please evaluate all enhancements and update your security groups as needed.

Accounting

• We have updated the tax codes that are available for selection in the Setup > Chart of Accounts screen and the Actions > Enter Trial Balance screen for integration with the 2020 versions of UltraTax CS and GoSystem Tax RS.

Report Designer

• We have added variables to the Payroll Item section of the variable tree. Details
  • We have added the following variable in the Payroll Item > Calculation section.
    • Weighted Allocation
  • We have added the following variables in the Payroll Item > Exclusions section.
    • Garnishment Disposable Income
    • Premium Wages
    • Weighted Average Overtime
  • We have added the following variables in the Payroll Item > Limit section.
    • Do Not Apply Catch-Up Limit
    • Subtract Cafeteria 125 Deduction Before Calculating
    • Use Lesser Disposable Income
    • Use Lesser Disposable Income Basis
  • We have added the following variables in the Payroll Item > Miscellaneous section.
    • Dependent Coverage Offered
    • Health Insurance
    • Plan Type
    • Require Direct Deposit Allocation
  • We have added the following variable in the Payroll Item > Special Type section.
    • CA Weighted Average Overtime

Layout Designer

• We have increased the width of the Box 14 Code variables on the following W-2 layouts to accommodate the default Box 14 descriptions that were added to the COVID-19 sick paid leave items.
  • W2
  • W2Copy1
  • W2Copy2
  • W2CopyA
  • W2CopyB2C
  • W2CopyBC
  • W2CopyD
  • W2Ss
  • W2Summary

  Note: If your firm has modified the predefined version of a layout, Accounting CS will not overwrite your existing layout with an updated version. If this is the case, you will need to make the necessary changes to your customized layout manually, or you will need to restore the latest predefined version using the Layout Designer. To do the latter, select the layout from the Layouts list pane in the Layout Designer and then choose File > Restore Default.

General - Payroll

• We have updated the confirmation prompt that is displayed when attempting to delete liabilities in the Actions > Manage Payroll Liabilities screen. If funds have been processed for at least one of the liabilities selected to be deleted, additional text will be displayed to indicate the funded transactions will not be automatically reversed.
• We have updated the workers' compensation limits for Ohio. For more information, see Workers' compensation overview.
• We have addressed the following issues.
  • An unprinted vendor check to a 1099-NEC recipient could not be saved in the Actions > Enter Transactions screen if there was no check date entered.
  • Updated accruable benefit balances, in certain circumstances, would not be sent to Time Rack and SwipeClock: TimeWorksPlus for clients using those third-party integrations.
• Connecticut. We have added the Connecticut Paid Leave tax that becomes effective January 1, 2021. For more information, see Connecticut FLI calculations.
• Oregon. We have added the City of Eugene Community Safety Payroll Tax (CSPT) that becomes effective January 1, 2021. The accompanying payment and reconciliation forms will be available in a future release, in time to meet the forms' respective deadlines.
• Pennsylvania locals. We have updated the application to accept either the 6-digit or the new 7-digit Withholding ID format (#######) issued by the Keystone Collections Group - EIT tax agent.

Form 1099-NEC changes

• We have made the following enhancements to the application for Form 1099-NEC.
  • We have added the Federal Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-NEC Corrected internet files.
  • We have updated the Recipient Data tab of the Actions > Edit Payroll Tax Forms screen to include all 1099-NEC vendors and independent contractor employees for a client regardless if they have checks entered for them. (Idea Incubator #1062)
  • We have added the ability to send an electronic copy of the Form 1099-NEC to the Employee Self-Service portals for independent contractors. For more information, see Employee Self-Service overview.
  • We have added the ability to send an electronic copy of the Form 1099-NEC to the WorkforceHUB portals for independent contractors. For more information, see WorkforceHUB integration overview.
  • We have added 1099-NEC as an available selection in the 1099 Form filter field in the report options for the 1099 Activity report. (Idea Incubator #1460)
  • We have added the ability to share Form 1099-NEC information between Accounting CS and UltraTax CS.
  • We have added the 1099-NEC internet/magnetic files supported by the following 35 states.

    Alabama	Arkansas	Arizona	California	Colorado
    Connecticut	Delaware	Georgia	Idaho	Indiana
    Iowa	Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana	Maryland
    Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi	Missouri
    Montana	Nebraska	New Jersey	New Mexico	North Carolina
    North Dakota	Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania	South Carolina
    Utah	Virginia	Vermont	Washington, D.C.	West Virginia

    For more information, see State 1099 files overview.

  • Wisconsin. We have added the ability to file form 1099-NEC electronically via FSET. For more information, see Wisconsin payroll tax information.

COVID-19 changes

• We have made the following enhancements to the Deferral of employee Social Security tax withholding functionality in the application. For more information, see COVID-19: Deferral of employee Social Security tax withholding.
  • We have added the Deferred FICA-SS repayment option to the Special Type selections available on deduction items in the Main tab of Setup > Payroll Items. Marking this option will allow the application to track the repayment of any employee FICA-SS tax amounts that were elected to be deferred in 2020.
  • We have updated the Social security tax withheld amount being reported on Form W-2 box 4 to net the employee FICA-SS tax amount in 2020 with the Deferred FICA-SS tax amount in 2020.
• We have made the following enhancements to the COVID-19 paid sick leave functionality in the application. For more information, see Setting up and using COVID-19 paid sick leave.
  • We have updated the application to disallow the calculation of COVID-19 paid sick leave in 2021 when neither the period begin/period end dates on the payroll check are in 2020.
  • We have updated the default W-2 Box 14 descriptions for the special type COVID-19 pay items to use the following descriptions.
    • COVID-19 self care = EPSLA 511
    • COVID-19 other care = EPSLA 200
    • COVID-19 extended child care = EFMLEA
  • We have increased the width of the Box 14 Code variables on the following W-2 layouts to accommodate the default Box 14 descriptions that were added to the COVID-19 sick paid leave items.
    • • W2
      • W2Copy1
      • W2Copy2
      • W2CopyA
      • W2CopyB2C
      • W2CopyBC
      • W2CopyD
      • W2Ss
      • W2Summary

    Note: If your firm has modified the predefined version of a layout, Accounting CS will not overwrite your existing layout with an updated version. If this is the case, you will need to make the necessary changes to your customized layout manually, or you will need to restore the latest predefined version using the Layout Designer. To do the latter, select the layout from the Layouts list pane in the Layout Designer and then choose File > Restore Default.

Employee Self-Service via NetClient CS

• We have added the ability to send an electronic copy of the Form 1099-NEC to the Employee Self-Service portals for independent contractors. For more information, see Employee Self-Service overview.

  Note: For 2019 and prior years, an electronic copy of Form 1099-MISC can still be sent to the Employee Self-Service portals for independent contractors.

• We have updated the My W-4 Information screen of the Employee Self-Service portals to include additional text that explains how to fill out the Federal Withholding (W-4) section. (Idea Incubator #358) Show me.
  

Accounting CS Payroll, for live payroll processing

In addition to any changes made for general payroll features listed above for after-the-fact payroll processing, the following changes have been made for the live payroll processing features specific to Accounting CS Payroll.

• For every release, be sure to check the Updates for payroll tax rates, limits, and minimum wage rates (year to date) article to stay on top of changes that may affect your firm and clients.

Payroll compliance

• The application will now attach a copy of the W-2 instructions for the employee when an electronic copy of an employee's Form W-2 is sent to the Employee Self-Service portals or the WorkforceHUB portals.
• We have addressed an issue that caused, in certain circumstances, zero liabilities from being automatically generated by the application. Details
  When attempting to generate liabilities with zero amounts, the application would display the following error message: "An error occurred while saving liabilities with zero amounts."
• We have made the following enhancements to the application for Form 1094-C/1095-C reporting. For more information, see Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting.
  • We have added the Healthcare plan start month field in the 1095-C Additional Information dialog (accessed from the Payroll Taxes tab in the Setup > Clients screen). By default, January is selected in the field.
  • We have added the following Box 14 codes to the 1095-C Part II: Offer and Coverage dialog (accessed from the Personal Information tab in the Setup > Employees screen) and to the Box 14 column in the Employee Data tab in the Actions > Edit Payroll Tax Forms screen.
    • 1L
    • 1M
    • 1N
    • 1O
    • 1P
    • 1Q
    • 1R
    • 1S

    Note: The new Box 14 codes are also available in the Employee Spreadsheet Import wizard (accessed via File > Import > Spreadsheet) for the 1095-C data type.

  • We have added the Box 17: All 12 Mo column in the Employee Data tab in the Actions > Edit Payroll Tax Forms screen. By default, the application will use the zip code from either the primary work location or resident location for the employee on Form 1095-C, Line 17 in conjunction with the applicable code on Form 1095-C, Line 14.
• Arizona. The Arizona Department of Revenue now requires all employers to file Forms A1-APR, A1-R, and W-2 Copy 1 electronically and will no longer accept paper copies of the forms. Therefore, we have made the following changes to the application.
  • We have removed the Paper filing method for Forms A1-APR and A1-R and added the Web fill-in method. You can file the forms using the Electronic or Electronic with payment filing methods.
  • We have removed the Paper filing method for Form W-2 Copy 1. You can file the form using the Magnetic filing method.
• Connecticut.
  • We have added the CTPL Account ID field to the Connecticut Additional Information dialog (accessed from the Payroll Taxes tab of the Setup > Clients screen).
  • The accompanying payment and reconciliation forms will be available in a future release, in time to meet the forms' respective deadlines.
• Hawaii. Form HW-3 (2019). We have made the form to be year-specific as Form HW-3 became obsolete beginning in tax year 2020. In addition, we have removed the Electronic filing method from the form. You can file the form using the Paper filing method.

  Note: For tax year 2020 and later, Form HW-30 will replace Form HW-3. Form HW-30 will be available in a future release, in time to meet the form's respective deadline.

• New Jersey. The State of New Jersey - Division of Taxation now requires all employers to file Form W-2 Copy 1 electronically and will no longer accept paper copies of the form. Therefore, we have removed the Paper filing method for the form. You can file the form using the Internet filing method.

Updates for payroll tax forms, tax agents, and new hire files

To search for a specific state, locality, form, or file in one of the sections listed below, follow these steps.

• Payroll tax forms added

  We have added the following forms, internet files, and electronic files.

  Federal

  • Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-NEC Corrected internet files

  State

  • New Jersey – Forms 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, 1099-R, and W-2G internet files
  • Rhode Island – Form RI-941 internet file
  • Wisconsin – Form 1099-NEC electronic file

  Local

  • Kentucky
    • City of West Buechel – Form Annual
    • Cumberland Co Board of Education – Form SCH-A
    • Russell County Tax Administration – Form Annual
• Payroll tax forms updated

  We have updated the following forms, internet files, and electronic files to the latest versions available from the agencies. Those forms marked with an asterisk (*) were released via an alert between application updates, not as part of the current release.

  Federal

  We have updated the following forms for 2020.

  • Form 940 and electronic file
  • Form 943 and electronic file
  • Form 944 and electronic file
  • Form 945 and electronic file
  • Form W-2 Copy A and W-3 facsimile copies for 2020
  • Forms 1099 and 1099 Corrected internet files
  • Forms 1094-C and 1095-C

    Note: The internet files for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C will be updated on a future release. In addition, the Form 1094-C/1095-C internet files for California and Rhode Island will be released at that time.

  State

  • Alabama – Forms A-1 and A-6
  • Arizona
    • We have updated Forms A1-APR and A1-R to worksheet formats.
    • We have removed the Paper filing method from Form W-2 Copy 1.
  • Connecticut – Form CT-W3
  • Georgia – Form G-1003
  • Hawaii – Form HW-3 (2019). We have made this form to be year-specific as Form HW-3 became obsolete starting in tax year 2020.
  • Idaho – Form 967
  • Iowa – Form 1099 internet files
  • Kentucky – Forms K-3
  • Massachusetts – Form 1099 internet files. We have updated the files to include the .txt extension.
  • Mississippi – Form 89-140
  • Missouri – Form 1099 internet files. We have added a "K" record to the 1099 internet files created by the application.
  • New Jersey – We have removed the Paper filing method from Form W-2 Copy 1.
  • Ohio – Form IT-3
  • Pennsylvania – Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-R internet files
  • West Virginia – Forms WV/IT-103
  • Wisconsin – Forms 1099 and W-2 Copy 1 electronic files

  Local

  • Colorado
    • City of Greenwood Village – Form Greenwood Village. We have updated the form to a worksheet format.
    • City of Sheridan – Forms Sheridan_M and Sheridan_Q. We have updated both forms to a worksheet format.
  • Kentucky
    • City of Murray – Form OCC3
    • City of Vine Grove – Form 5
    • Cumberland Co Board of Education – Form Cumberland_Co_School_Q. We have renamed the form to Cumberland_SCH-Q.
    • Grant County Fiscal Court – Form Annual
  • Michigan
    • City of Lansing, Treasurer – Form LW-3
• Tax agents added

  We have added the following local tax agents.

  • State
    • Connecticut
      • Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Authority – We have added a new tax agent for the Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave tax that becomes effective January 1, 2021.
  • Local
    • Oregon
      • City of Eugene – We have added a new tax agent for the City of Eugene Community Safety Payroll Tax (CSPT) that becomes effective January 1, 2021.
• Tax agents updated

  We have updated the following tax agents.

  Local

  • Ohio
    • We have removed the following taxes from the Central Collection Agency (CCA) tax agent.
      • Ada City Tax
      • Alger City Tax
      • Barberton City Tax
      • Frazeysburg City Tax
      • Norton City Tax
      • Parma Heights City Tax
      • Warrensville Heights City Tax
    • We have removed the following tax from the City of Salem tax agent.
      • Salem City Tax
    • We have added the following taxes to the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) tax agent.
      • Ada City Tax
      • Alger City Tax
      • Barberton City Tax
      • Frazeysburg City Tax
      • Monroeville City Tax
      • Norton City Tax
      • Parma Heights City Tax
      • Salem City Tax
      • Warrensville Heights City Tax
    • We have added the following school district taxes to the Ohio School District Income Tax agent.
      • Delphos CSD
      • East Palestine CSD
      • Van Buren LSD
      • Washington Court House CSD
    • We have removed the following tax from the Village of Monroeville - Income Tax Department tax agent.
      • Monroeville City Tax
  • Pennsylvania
    • We have updated the municipality and school district liabilities for the following tax agents.
      • Borough of Churchill
      • HAB-LST
      • Keystone Collections Group - LST
• Forms pending approval

  The following forms are pending approval. Once the forms have been approved, we will make them available in a subsequent software update.

  Forms that are approved after the current update (and before the next update) will be made available immediately. We will inform you of the approval in the following ways.

  • Via an alert message that displays when you open the application.
  • In the Payroll Alerts section of the Notices portlet on the Home or Firm dashboard.

  Annual forms

  • Colorado – Form DR 1093
  • Hawaii – Form HW-30
  • Indiana – Form WH-3
  • Kentucky – Forms K-5
  • Montana – Form MW-3 and MW-3 Continuation
  • Rhode Island – Form RI-941
  • Pennsylvania local
    • City of Philadelphia – Form PHILADELPH_Annual
• Forms not yet released

  The following forms have not yet been released. Once the forms have been released and approved, we will make them available in a subsequent software update.

  Annual forms

  • Kentucky local
    • Fayette County Public Schools – Form 222-S
    • Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government – Form 222
  • Missouri local
    • Gregory F.X. Daly, Collector of Revenue – St. Louis Form W-3
  • Ohio local
    • Central Collection Agency – Form CCA-W3
    • City of Cincinnati Income Tax Division – Form W-3
    • Columbus City Treasurer – Forms IT-13 and IT-13J

Accounting CS includes two interactive tools that provide valuable payroll tax information.

• The Payroll Form and Filing Information portlet provides information on federal, state, and certain local tax agents in the Home Dashboard or Firm Dashboard.
• The State-specific payroll tax form information article provides information on state payroll tax forms, processing tips, due dates, filing methods, agency information, tax payment details, state ID formats, e-filing notes, new hire reporting requirements, and more.