Friday, February 29, 2008

Payroll Oklahoma, Unique Aspects of Oklahoma Payroll Law and Practice

By Charles Read
The Oklahoma State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:

Oklahoma Tax Commission
Withholding Tax Division
2501 Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73194
(405) 521-3155
www.oktax.state.ok.us/oktax/


Oklahoma allows you to use the Federal W-4 form to calculate state income tax withholding.


Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Oklahoma cafeteria plans are not taxable for income tax calculation; not taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.

In Oklahoma supplemental wages are taxed at a 6.65% flat rate.


W-2s are not required in Oklahoma.


The Oklahoma State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:

Employment Security Commission
Unemployment Insurance Division
P.O. Box 52003
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
(405) 667-7138
http://www.state.ok.us/~okdol/workcomp/index.htm

The State of Oklahoma taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $14,300.00.


Oklahoma has optional reporting of quarterly wages on magnetic media.

Unemployment records must be retained in Oklahoma for a minimum period of four years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.


The Oklahoma State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:

Department of Labor
Wage and Hour Division
4001 North Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5212
(888) 269-5353
www.state.ok.us/~okdol/

The minimum wage in Oklahoma is $5.15 per hour.


There is also no general provision in Oklahoma State Law covering paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer.

Oklahoma State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire. The employer must report the federally required elements of:

Employee's name
date of hire
state of hire
Employee's address
Employee's social security number
Employer's name
Employers address
Employer's Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

This information must be reported within 20 days of the hiring or rehiring.
The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.
There is no penalty for a late report in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma new hire-reporting agency can be reached at 800-317-3785 or on the web at http://www.ok.gov/oesc/


Oklahoma does not allow compulsory direct deposit

Oklahoma requires the following information on an employee's pay stub:

itemized deductions


Oklahoma requires that employee be paid no less often than semimonthly; monthly for public sector, qualified nonprofit, and FLSA-exempt employees.


Oklahoma requires that the lag time between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee not exceed eleven days.


Oklahoma payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by next regular payday (by certified mail if employee requests) and that voluntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by the next regular payday or by mail if employee requests it.


Deceased employee's wages of $3,000 to the designated beneficiary, surviving spouse, children or guardians (in that order).


Escheat laws in Oklahoma require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after one year.

The employer is further required in Oklahoma to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of 10 years.


Oklahoma payroll law mandates no more than 50% of minimum wage may be used as a tip credit.


In Oklahoma the payroll laws covering mandatory rest or meal breaks are only that minors under 16 must have 1-hour rest period during 8-hour shift; 30-minute rest period after 5 hours work.


There is no provision in Oklahoma law concerning record retention of wage and hour records therefor it is probably wise to follow FLSA guidelines.


The Oklahoma agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:

Child Support Enforcement Division
Department of Human Services
Capitol Station, Box 53552
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
(405) 522-5871
www.okdhs.org/childsupport/


Oklahoma has the following provisions for child support deductions:

When to start Withholding? Immediately after receipt of order.
When to send Payment? Within 7 days of Payday.
When to send Termination Notice? Within 10 days of termination.
Maximum Administrative Fee? $5 per payment; up to $10 per month.
Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.




Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.




About the author:

Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice.
Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business.”

To find professional payroll service at a budget price go to www.PayrollonaBudget.com a paperless payroll company.

For a full service payroll bureau with CPA’s on staff visit www.CustomPayroll.com .

See an excerpt of Mr. Read’s interviews from William Shatners “Heartbeat of America” television show on the web sites linked above.


Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Select a divorce lawyer New York with care and caution

By Damey Flower
A divorce is a painful occurrence where both the individuals involved end up losing something precious to them. People enter into the bond of marriage with many hopes and dreams for a future together and with the best of intentions to make it a success. However, certain unavoidable circumstances and irreconcilable differences may force them to part ways through a divorce. A time like this is emotionally and mentally disturbing for not only the couple but for their entire family as well. It can be especially painful if there are children involved as many other issues take priority in such a case. As it is an emotional and mentally disturbing time for the person involved and his or her family, it is quite natural that the individual will be unable to take logical decisions to fight a divorce case. In these circumstances it is best to hire the services of a divorce lawyer New York.

When you are fighting a divorce case it is best to hire the services of a competent divorce lawyer New York who is experienced in dealing with many such cases. The divorce lawyer New York will be accustomed to the nitty gritties and legal terms and conditions that are applicable to such cases as each state has a different law with regard to a divorce case. So the lawyer is best prepared to handle a divorce case on your behalf and help you get the most from a painful situation. If issues like child custody is also involved, then a divorce lawyer can find the ways and means to ensure the best provisions for your child as that is your main priority.

Divorce cases can turn ugly if both partners are not parting their ways amicably and often such is the case where financial assets are involved. A competent divorce lawyer New York can help you find out all that you deserve to get as your share and will help you claim such assets. Many couple do not go in for pre-nuptial agreements that could have taken care of all such financial divisions. Thus, the necessary intervention and expertise of a divorce lawyer is compulsory. However, before you hand over your case to any lawyer it is advisable to carry out your own reference check as trust is a vital criteria between any lawyer and client.

Some of the best ways to find a competent and reliable divorce lawyer New York is through the yellow pages or the internet. Also, another dependable option would be to get references from the lawyer's past clients for whom he has successfully handled other cases similar to yours. Once you have a lawyer of your choice and have discussed the monetary arrangements of fees and costs with him, trust him wholeheartedly. Let him know the complete details which are crucial to the case and will help the lawyer in getting a decision in your favor. So, no matter how painful the experience of divorce may be, a divorce lawyer can still help you emerge victorious and start life anew.


About the author:
Damyel Flower is an experienced divorce lawyer.He has successfully handled many divorce cases.He gives advice to clients who are looking for Art lawyer New York,Divorce lawyer New York,Best art lawyer,Divorce lawyer NYC.To hire services of a lawyer in New York and any legal advice visit us www.mtllp.com.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Indulge in your hobby with an art lawyer

By Damey Flower
Art has its own appeal to the people who are fond of any form of art. Art has many forms and each of them has some or the other beauty hidden in it. Paintings have a major appeal to people and there are many people who are fond of this form of art and have a habit of collecting great art pieces in the form of paintings. However, the world has been taken by forgery and the world of art has not been left from this devastating problem. Many a times, it happens that a person lands up buying a duplicate piece of art thinking it to be the original piece. Therefore, in such cases, what the person can do is to take the help of an art lawyer because this professional is the best person, who can help someone get justice.

Taking the help of art lawyer in such situations when someone has bought a fake art piece thinking it to be an original one is one of the best things to do. An art lawyer is a professional, who knows all about the aspects of art and understands this domain the best. Therefore, going to this person for help can be the best solution for any person who has become a victim of buying a fake art piece. Well, there are many art lawyers in the city and all across the country. Therefore, it is important that the selection is made accurately. It is important to check the record of accomplishment of the person and to see his success ratio. Moreover, you need to explain to him how you managed to buy the fake art piece and who sold it to you. Once this is done, the lawyer would try his level best to get you justice and help you get your money back from the fake art dealer. In fact, he would make sure that the fake art dealer is not allowed to sell any more art pieces.

The second instance wherein someone can help from an art lawyer is when a dealer sells an original art piece and the buyer does not pay the money on time or tries to act smart while paying the money to the dealer or the seller. In such situations, the dealer or the seller can take the help of this professional to get the money from the dealer. It is very easy to come across such a professional. You can search for one on the internet or can take some reference from any person, who has already taken the help of such a professional. Therefore, now there is no chance of any sort of a forgery.

Art lovers have always been mesmerized by any art piece and for them collecting art pieces is like worshipping. Therefore, given to their sentiments, it is natural that they would get hurt if they accidentally manage to buy a fake art piece. However, now there is nothing much to worry about because they can take the help of an art lawyer to save their souls and save them from buying a fake art piece. Therefore, take the help of this professional to indulge in your hobby of collecting original art pieces.

About the author:
Damyel Flower is an experienced divorce lawyer.He has successfully handled many divorce cases.He gives advice to clients who are looking for Art lawyer, divorce lawyer NYC, celebrity divorce lawyer.To hire services of a lawyer in New York and any legal advice visit www.mtllp.com.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

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