COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

 

COURSE IDENTIFICATION

 

              

Course Prefix/Number:           ACCT 107                   

Course Title:                            Payroll Accounting    

Division:                                  Applied Science Division      

Program:                                  Business/Office and Information Systems

Credit Hour(s):                       3                                               

Initiation/Revision Date:         Fall 2006 

 

 

CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTION

 

               Academic

 

   x          Vocational

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course is designed to provide comprehensive, yet practical instruction in payroll.  Payroll systems, the preparation of payroll tax returns and reports, as well as payroll laws and regulations will be studied.  Computer applications will be included.

 

PREREQUISITES AND/OR COREQUISITES

 

None

 

 

TEXTS

 

Payroll Records and Procedures, 5th ed., Haddock and Cohen, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2006.

 

Payroll Practice Set to accompany Payroll Records & Procedures, 5th ed., Haddock and Cohen, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE OUTCOMES/COMPETENCIES (as Required)

 

At the end of this course, a student should be able to do the following:

 

OUTCOME 1:  Identify and discuss payroll laws and regulations.

Competencies:

1.         Identify and discuss the basic federal payroll tax laws.

2.         Explain the record-keeping requirements for payroll.

3.         Explain the main features of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

4.         Explain briefly the value to employees of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967, and the worker’s compensation laws.

 

OUTCOME 2: Set up new employee records. 

Competencies:

5.         List at least three items of information the job application form cannot request because of regulations under fair employment laws.

6.         Explain how to obtain a social security card.

7.         Complete an Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate (Form W-4).

8.         Explain why the information contained in payroll records must remain confidential.

 

OUTCOME 3:  Process and maintain time and work records and determine gross earnings.

Competencies:

9.         Define and explain the common payroll periods:  weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly.

10.     Explain the use and value of time cards and time clocks.

11.     Explain in general terms how electronic time-recording systems work.

12.     Calculate hours worked, using the quarter-hour system.

13.     Define and explain the hourly rate, salary, piece rate, commission, and salary-commission systems of pay.

14.     Explain the difference between temporary and contract workers.

15.     Compute gross earnings based on regular hours worked and overtime hours worked.

16.     Compute gross earnings using the piece rate, commission, and salary-commission plans.

17.     Explain the difference between employees and independent contractors.

 

OUTCOME 4:  Determine payroll deductions.

Competencies:

18.     List the four factors that are used in the design (and use) of the federal income tax wage-bracket tables.

19.     Use federal and state wage-bracket tables to determine income taxes due on employee salaries.

20.     Calculate social security and Medicare taxes on employee salaries.

21.     Explain how the employee earnings record is useful to payroll clerks.

22.     Explain the term voluntary deduction as it relates to payroll.

 

OUTCOME 5:  Use a payroll register and employees earnings records. 

23.     Explain the function of the payroll register.

24.     Accurately total and prove a payroll register.

25.     Complete, total, balance, and explain the use of the employee earnings records.

26.     Describe how wages and salaries are paid in cash, by check, and by electronic transfer of funds.

 

OUTCOME 6:  Compute federal payroll taxes and prepare federal payroll tax returns.

27.     Compute the employer’s share of the Social Security and Medicare taxes.

28.     Compute the amount of required deposit of withheld Social Security and federal income tax.

29.     Explain how Form 8109, Federal Tax Deposit Coupon, is used in paying federal tax obligations.

30.     Explain the system for making periodic deposits of taxes as required by the IRS.

31.     Demonstrate how to complete Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return.

32.     Demonstrate how to complete a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.

33.     Explain how Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, is used.

34.     Explain how federal unemployment compensation tax (FUTA) is computed and deposited.

35.     Complete a Form 940-EZ, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Return.

 

OUTCOME 7:  Compute state payroll taxes and prepare state payroll tax reports.

36.     Describe how state unemployment compensation systems function.

37.     Explain how state income tax is withheld and deposited.

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

 

I.            Payroll Laws and Regulations

A.     Federal, State, and Local Income Tax

B.     Social Security

C.     Minimum Wage Laws

D.     Worker’s Compensation, Disability, and Pension Security Laws

 

   II.       New Employee Records

              A.     Job Applications

              B.     Personnel Files

              C.     Employee Earnings Records

             

  III.       Time and Work Records

              A.     Payroll Periods

              B.     Time Records

              C.     Work Records

 

  IV.       Determining Gross Earnings

              A.     Hourly Rates, Salary Plan, Piece-Rate, and Commissions

B.           Bonuses, Profit-Sharing, and Tips

 

V.             Determining Payroll Deductions

A.       Deductions Required by Law

B.       The Use of Tax Tables

C.       Voluntary Deductions

D.       Computing Net Pay

 

VI.          The Payroll Register

A.       Format, Making Entries, Totaling, and Proving

B.       Using the Payroll Register

 

VII.       Employee Earnings Records

A.       Format, Making Entries, and Totaling

B.       Using Employee Earnings Records

 

VIII.    Paying the Payroll

 

IX.          Federal Payroll Taxes and Tax Returns

A.       Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, Form 941

B.       Wage and Tax Statement, Form W-2

C.       Federal Unemployment Compensation Tax

 

X.             State Payroll Taxes and Tax Reports

A.       State Unemployment Compensation Tax

B.       State Disability Insurance Tax

C.       Worker’s Compensation Insurance

D.       State Income Tax

 

XI.          Payroll Systems

A.       Manual

B.       Computerized

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

 

1.         Discussion of the chapters.

 

2.         Explanation and illustration of the basic principles presented in each chapter, using the computer, overhead, and chalkboard.

 

3.         Assignment and discussion of exercises and problems at the end of each chapter.

 

 4.        Assignment of the practice set as a culminating activity.

 

 

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND METHOD OF EVALUATION

 

1.         Attendance and class participation are essential to successfully complete the course.

 

2.         Problems and exercises will be assigned frequently to be done at home by the student.

 

3.                  The practice set will be completed and graded for accuracy and completeness.

 

4.         Pop quizzes may be given periodically. 

 

5.         Examinations:  Three to four examinations, including the final exam, will be administered throughout the course. 

 

 

GRADING SCALE

 

            The grading scale is as follows:

                           90% ‑ 100% = A

                           80% ‑  89% = B

                           70% ‑  79% = C

                           60% ‑  69% = D

                           Under 60%  = F

 

Attendance Policy

 

Absences that occur due to students participating in official college activities are excused except in those cases where outside bodies, such as the State Board of Nursing, have requirements for minimum class minutes for each student. Students who are excused will be given reasonable opportunity to make up any missed work or receive substitute assignments from the instructor and should not be penalized for the absence.  Proper procedure should be followed in notifying faculty in advance of the student’s planned participation in the event.  Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of the planned absence.

 

Unless students are participating in a school activity or are excused by the instructor, they are expected to attend class.  If a student’s absences exceed one-hundred (100) minutes per credit hour for the course or, in the case of on-line or other non-traditional courses, the student is inactive for one-eighth of the total course duration, the instructor has the right, but is not required, to withdraw a student from the course.  Once the student has been dropped for excessive absences, the registrar’s office will send a letter to the student, stating that he or she has been dropped.  A student may petition the chief academic officer for reinstatement by submitting a letter stating valid reasons for the absences within one week of the registrar’s notification.  If the student is reinstated into the class, the instructor and the registrar will be notified. 

Academic Integrity

NCCC expects every student to demonstrate ethical behavior with regard to academic pursuits.  Academic integrity in coursework is a specific requirement.  Definitions, examples, and possible consequences for violations of Academic Integrity, as well as the appeals process, can be found in the College Catalog, Student Handbook, and/or Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

 

 

Cell Phone Policy

 

Student cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class times. Faculty may approve an exception for special circumstances.

 

 

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT GAIN

 

Pre‑assessment ideally begins during the advisement and enrollment process with the advisor and/or instructor interviewing the student to determine the proper level of placement.  During the first two weeks of a normal semester, students are observed and/or interviewed and assignments are examined to determine needed competency development.  Post‑assessment to determine gain in competency will be measured at the end of each unit of study.

 

VOCATIONAL/CAREER COURSE DOCUMENTATION

 

This course is one course from the approved program in Vocational Business/Office Education.  It is taken by students preparing for accounting or bookkeeping positions, students in transfer programs as a business elective, small business owners, and other business students.

 

 

ADVISORY COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT

 

The Business/Office Education program maintains an Advisory Board for this vocational component.  The coordinator communicates with the Board on a regular basis concerning issues or problems that occur and meets with the group one or two times each year.

 

 

NOTE:

 

Information and statements in this document are subject to change at the discretion of NCCC.  Changes will be published in writing and made available to students.

 

 

NOTE: If you are a student with a disability who may need accommodation(s) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify the Director of Advising and Counseling, Chanute Campus, Student Union, 620-431-2820 ext 280 or the Dean, Ottawa Campus, 785-242-2607 ext 312, as soon as possible.  You will need to bring your documentation for review in order to determine reasonable accommodations, and then we can assist you in arranging any necessary. accommodations