Definition - Payroll Service
Generally, employees are paid at a set rate, either on an hourly or salary basis. Payroll service in Vietnam or few countries, employers are obligated to pay Social Security, Medicare, workman’s compensation, state, federal, and often local taxes for each employee. An employer also must deduct a portion of these taxes and other fees from the employees’ paycheck, and all of these transactions must be recorded for auditing and tax purposes.
A payroll service is a company that will, for a fee, handle all of these functions independently, freeing up the business owner's time for more important matters. Once an account is established, the employer simply provides the service with a list of all employees, the hours they worked, and any variances. This data is then processed and the funds are transferred from the employer's bank to the payroll service's account. Employees are paid either by standard check or direct deposit. The employer is then provided with payroll and tax reports.
A payroll service often offers other services as well. Employers can turn over the management of the company’s benefit administration and retirement services. Vacation and time off can also be tracked. Some services even offer the option of managing the employer’s tax payments, handling time and labor management issues, assisting with tax compliance, managing expenses, and even pre-screening assistance. The service also routinely handles the necessary paperwork for direct deposit of employees’ paychecks. Fees for services vary depending on the size of the account and the types of services rendered. Normally, there is a charge per person, plus a charge per check issued.
The first of Payroll Service
The first payroll service company was founded in 1949 by former New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg, and brothers Henry and Joseph Traub. Initially named Automatic Payrolls, the company offered simple services using an electro-mechanical calculator and a Comptometer bookkeeping machine. Automatic Payrolls, which was later renamed Automatic Data Processing (ADP), kept up with technology. Automatic data processing became a pioneer in the use of computerized bookkeeping, starting with punch cards and ending up with the most sophisticated technology in the industry.
Automatic data processing grew by acquiring smaller payroll companies, and ultimately went public in 1961. The company has continued to grow, and is recognized as an leader in the payroll service industry with over 500,000 customers and a staff of over 40,000 people. Today, Automatic data processing handles not only payrolls, but also handles a variety of brokerage and dealer services as well.
The success of Automatic data processing served as a payroll service business model, and this concept continues to evolve with improvements in technology. Today, many services interface with their customers directly through the Internet. A customer can simply enter payroll data into his or her Web portal and the transaction is processed immediately. The customer has access to all payroll and personnel records, and this information can be updated when the need arises. Reports can be quickly accessed, simplifying corporate payroll tasks and eliminating costly errors.
The proliferation of the computerized payroll service has led to some instances of fraud and outright theft of funds. Therefore, it is critical to do some research to ensure that a given company is reputable and reliable. This company, after all, will have access to a company's most confidential records, including its bank account. In addition, if a service fails to make tax payments on schedule, the company will be held accountable and fined accordingly. Because these cases are generally rare, the benefits of using a payroll service outweigh any of the risks.
