Manual payroll processes are a thing of the past, and at this point, probably a hindrance to your business. Here is why countless businesses are making the switch to a paperless payroll system.
Paperless payroll implies that your payroll system, from collecting and processing tax documents to running payroll, requires no paper documents. All payroll records live in the digital ether, whether in your payroll software or electronic document management system.
Businesses that implement paperless payroll don’t cut physical payroll checks. Employees receive their wages and variable payments by electronic funds transfer (EFT), moving money from your company’s accounts to employees’ accounts without writing a physical check. Direct deposit is the most popular type of EFT for payroll.
The only tool you need to implement paperless payroll is payroll software. Aside from delivering employee paperless paychecks, this software automatically generates and stores digital payroll records.
Paperless payroll doesn’t preclude you from printing documents when necessary; instead, all payroll documents are generated, tracked, and stored electronically.
Sometimes, paper is unavoidable in the payroll process. For example, an employee without a bank account can’t collect wages by direct deposit, so a paper check is the next best option.
Taking paper out of payroll means digitizing paychecks, employee pay stubs, and payroll records.
Aside from picking the right payroll software for your business, you also need to decide which type of software is most appropriate.
On the 15th and last day of each month, money arrives in my bank account. This is called a direct deposit, a type of EFT. Paperless payroll implies that employees are paid without a physical check, necessitating an EFT.
Direct deposit is a transaction where a network — called an automated clearing house (ACH) — pulls money from your business bank account and places it into your employees’ accounts. All digital payroll solutions use direct deposit.
Few states allow business owners to require direct deposit for employees with bank accounts. Check your state’s labor department website to see if that’s an option for your business. Other states must provide paper checks to employees.
You’re required to provide another means to pay employees without bank accounts, no matter the state. It’s best to keep a stack of pre-printed paycheck stock at your office in case you need to pay an employee by paper check, even if you live in a state where you’re allowed to require direct deposit.
If you do payroll manually, you start by collecting employees’ paper timesheets. Employees then receive physical payroll checks with paystubs that show the taxes and other deductions from the paycheck. Without a physical check, where’s a lonely pay stub to go? To an online portal.
You’re likely familiar with the employer side of payroll software. To go 100% paperless, you need an employee payroll portal, formally called an employee self-service (ESS) model, where employees can submit timesheets and view paperless paycheck stubs and tax forms.
Depending on the software and features you enable, the site can operate more like a one-stop-shop human resources hub that allows employees to request time off and update their personal information. Most payroll solutions come with employee portals, some better than others.
Paperless payroll systems make file cabinets obsolete. For most small businesses, all payroll records are generated and stored in your payroll software’s secure document management system. Government agencies dictate how long to keep payroll records.
As a backup, you’ll want to save your payroll records periodically within your company’s electronic document management system. If you’re the only one who needs access to the files, you can get away with storing payroll records in Dropbox or Google Drive, provided you have the strictest security settings enabled.
Payroll records contain sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers (SSNs), and should be closely guarded. Develop an incident response plan to help you respond quickly if your records are compromised.
Here are five of the biggest benefits businesses can take advantage of by getting started with paperless payroll.
Maybe your file cabinets can hold your coat or a plant, but whatever you do with them, they won’t be needed anymore when you move to paperless payroll.
You’re required to retain payroll records for years after they’re produced, and that once meant guarding years of paper payroll registers under lock and key. No longer. Years’ worth of digital documents can fit in a hard drive the size of a fingernail, or you can use a cloud storage solution.
Paper documents are prone to getting misplaced and lost. Your payroll software can securely hold your payroll records, organizing them in a way you and your tax preparer can easily navigate.
Taking payroll digital will lighten your bookkeeping workload.
Payroll software can integrate with your accounting software to automatically record payroll journal entries The more automation you can bring into your bookkeeping, the better. Automated journal entries make it less likely you'll make a transposition error that causes discrepancies between your bank statement and accounting records.
When it comes to payroll, there are a lot of complicated moving parts and regulations that companies need to manage.
For instance, processing payroll in New York involves New York State Minimum Wage, Overtime Pay, Pay Period and Payroll Schedule Requirements, and more. Employers also need to keep up with various tax laws, rates, and deductions, like New York SUI Tax Rates to avoid violating labor laws and being hit with detrimental New York labor law penalties. Paperless payroll can also help with things such as New York Wage Notices under the New York Wage Theft Prevention Act.
Using modern payroll technology and a paperless system, employers can benefit from keeping their data in one place, and easily ensure that payroll is done correctly and that the proper taxes are always withheld by eliminating things like manual calculations.
Mother Nature and the forests will thank you for not printing dozens of documents every time you do payroll. You're not only saving money by printing less, but you’re also protecting the environment.
Direct deposit transactions usually post to employees’ bank accounts faster than paper checks, meaning employees’ wages are available earlier.
Direct deposit is a win-win for employees and employers since it reduces the number of checks outstanding at the end of the month. Having fewer outstanding checks simplifies monthly bank reconciliations, saving you time and headaches.
Once you’ve gotten your paperless payroll set up, you’re ready for the next step: taking your whole business paperless. If paperless payroll can save you time and money, think about what an entirely paperless company looks like. Check out our small business guide to going paperless.
Businesses that are still processing payroll manually or by hand should consider making the change to paperless payroll. It is a big business decision and one that will drastically change the way you run your business but ultimately will help your company grow into the successful organization it has the potential to be.
If you are a New York business looking for a New York Payroll Company to help you get started with paperless payroll, look no further than EBC HCM.
To learn more about the payroll solution features available through EBC HCM, contact us today.