Central Iowa Chapter APA

March 2020 Newsletter

                  Volume 2020                                                                                                    P.O.Box 131

                  Issue 2                                                                                                               Des Moines, IA 50301

Our Mission Statement

The Central Iowa Chapter of the American Payroll Association is dedicated to providing information and education, support and networking opportunities to professionals involved in all aspects of payroll through our meetings, our newsletters, and our website.  The Chapter strives to be a respected, essential and effective partner in the business community and to provide support to the national American Payroll Association. 

Share your ideas, experiences and knowledge with chapter members thru the newsletter.  Your knowledge is valuable - please email your articles to Newsletter Chair at [email protected] anytime you learn something that would benefit your peers in payroll. 

I hope everyone is healthy and staying safe during the state of the country. Hopefully you are working from home as much as possible. As we all know payroll forever changing!

I’m very thankful for having APA as a networking toolkit with all the emails/committees/webinars that they provide to keep us informed on the changes that are affecting all of us as payroll professionals. I would strongly encourage you to join as a national APA member for these tremendous benefits.

I hope all of you and your friends and families stay safe and healthy.

Tori Worley

President CIAPA

The IRS launches Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Webpage

The IRS set up a webpage focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses, and others affected by COVID19. And contains federal information on Economic Incentive Payments, IRS operations and services, People First Initiative, and New Employer Tax Credits (Sick and Family Leave and Employee Retention) and related IRS information including IRS guidance and IRS resources. The agency updates the page as new information is available. Other information about actions being taken by the U.S. government is also available.

Deferral of employment tax deposits and payments through 12/31/2020.

The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) allows employers to defer the deposit and payment of the employer's share of social security taxes and self-employed individuals to defer payment of certain self-employment taxes.  Employers can defer payment of their 6.2% employer share of social security taxes due between March 27, 2020, and before January 1, 2021. Employers would be required to deposit 50% of the amount due by December 31, 2021, and the remaining 50% by December 31, 2022.

DOL Issues Temporary Regulations to Implement the FFCRA

 The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a temporary rule §826, effective April 1, 2020, to implement the emergency paid sick leave and expanded paid family medical and sick leave requirements included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The temporary rule is available on the DOL website and is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on April 6. The rule is set to expire on December 31, 2020.

In general, the FFCRA requires covered employers to provide eligible employees up to two weeks of paid sick leave at full pay, up to a specified cap, to an employee who is unable to work because the employee:

• Is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19.
• Has been advised by a health care provider to selfquarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
• Is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis.

The FFCRA also provides up to two weeks of paid sick leave, up to a specified cap, at 2/3 this amount when an employee is unable to work because of:

• A need to care for an individual subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19 or who has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
• A need to care for the employee’s child whose school or place of care is closed, or whose childcare provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19 related reasons.
• The employee is experiencing a substantially similar condition.

The FFCRA also requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of expanded family and medical leave, up to 10 weeks of which must be paid at partial pay, when an eligible employee is unable to work due to a need to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed, or whose childcare provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19-related reasons.

Many Employers Must Display Mandatory Poster for FFCRA

 On March 26, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) created a poster that many employers must post to comply with the employee notice requirement of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The DOL created two versions of the poster – one for private employers and one for federal employers – which must be displayed by April 1.

Posters are available free from the DOL by calling 866-487-9243, or employers can download them at https:// www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic. The posters are available in English and Spanish. Employers must display them in a conspicuous place where they are easily visible to all employees (and not in a binder).

See the newsletter attachement for some help infomation Tori is able to share with us from her involvement with the GRTF – Child Support and Other Garnishments Subcommittee.

2020 Board Elections

The 2020 board elections are scheduled for the May 2020 chapter meeting.  I encourage everyone to consider nominating themselves or a member they believe would be an asset to any of the positions. This is a great opportunity to network with other payroll professionals or expand your existing networks. It is also an excellent opportunity for those who have never served to get involved with our local APA chapter and for those who have served in the past to continue their involvement.

The positions eligible for election this year are:  Vice President, Secretary, Hospitality Chair, Nomination Chair, National Payroll Week/Community Development Chair, and Education Chair. 

Positions begin in June 2020 and run for two years.   Please consider nominating yourself or someone you know! 

Deadline for nominations - April 30, 2020.

Thank you,

Cheri Klyn, CPP Nominations Chair [email protected] 

 2020 Election Position Descriptions

Vice President

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Works directly with the President to ensure that the information provided protects the integrity and the intent of the chapter and the institute
• Will assume the duties and responsibilities in the event the chapter president is absent or unable to complete the term of office
• Assists the chapter president in all administrative functions, including long-range planning, direct and control of the activities of the chapter
• Along with the president, gives guidance to committees and receives regular activity reports and project updates
• Organizes the annual group Payroll Source book order

This position must be held by a member in good standing of the local Central Iowa Chapter and the national American Payroll Association. Regular attendance of monthly chapter meetings and board meetings is required.

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Secretary

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Works directly with the chapter president to ensure that information provided protects the integrity of the chapter and the institute
• Records the minutes, resolutions, votes and any other pertinent issues at all meetings
• Ensures that all correspondence, minutes and records regarding the business of the chapter are duly obtained, maintained and safeguarded
• being custodian of the chapters business records and monitoring record retention of necessary documents for the chapters 501 (c) (3) non-profit status, i.e. income statements, balance sheets, form 990 fillings, by-laws and amendments, application for recognition of exempt status, letter recognizing exempt status
• Preside over meeting in the absence of the president and the vice president

This position must be held by a member in good standing of the local Central Iowa Chapter and the national American Payroll Association. Regular attendance of monthly chapter meetings and board meeting is required.

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Hospitality Chair

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Determine location, menu and price of meetings
• Work with Education Chair to set up meeting schedule
• Compile survey feedback from meetings and distribution to board
• Keep a notebook to record locations used, date used, menu served, price of meal, and survey results of these locations
• Gives proper notice of meetings to members and directors (if not posted in newsletter)

This position must be held by a member in good standing of the local Central Iowa Chapter. Regular attendance of monthly chapter meetings and board meeting is required.

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Nominations Chair

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Handles the process for nominations
• Coordinates the annual nominations and election of officers
• Keep a notebook to record the committee activities

This position must be held by a member in good standing of the local Central Iowa Chapter. Regular attendance of monthly chapter meetings and board meetings is required.

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National Payroll Week/Community Development Chair

The individual appointed/elected to this position is responsible for organizing the chapter’s NPW activities and is the principal liaison with APA National for all NPW related communications. Getting all chapter members motivated to participate actively in NPW is the top priority.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Establish the chapter’s plans for NPW, which may include:
• an effort to obtain local NPW Proclamations
• an effort to obtain NPW annual sponsorships
• chapter celebrations
• media outreach
• outreach to community and charity organizations
• educational outreach involving local schools and libraries
• Relays information to the chapter members about APA National sponsored NPW contests and programs
• Organizing the chapter's involvement in community outreach projects
• Keep a notebook to record the committee activities

This position must be held by a member in good standing of the local Central Iowa Chapter. Regular attendance of monthly chapter meetings and board meetings is required.

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Education Chair

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Work with Hospitality Chair to set up meeting schedule for year
• Arrange for speakers at monthly meetings
• Obtain RCH approval from National in advance of meeting
• Complete RCH’s for participants for meetings and study groups
• Organize CPP/FPC study group for fall and spring exams
• Keep a notebook to record the committee activities, and a log of speakers and their topics, when they spoke and the survey results of the speaker/topic.

This position must be held by a member in good standing of the local Central Iowa Chapter.  Regular attendance of monthly chapter meetings and board meetings are required.

Central Iowa American Payroll Association 2020 Statewide conference will be held on Friday October 16 at the Iowa Hospital Association. More details to come!

Congress Xstream - An Online Conference & Expo

June 2-5, 2020

American Payroll Association Congress Xstream brings you online world class payroll education for professionals in payroll, tax, finance, global mobility, human resources, and benefits. This exclusive virtual payroll event provides opportunities to explore a wide spectrum of payroll topics and offers virtual networking opportunities with payroll professionals and vendors. Attendees will receive crucial payroll updates as well as priceless answers to payroll challenges.