Learn to do a payroll, starting at square one. Learn how to pay different kinds of employees under federal law . . . who gets overtime pay and who does not . . . how to process a W-4 and complete the 941, 940, W-2 and W-3 . . . how and when to deposit withheld taxes using the actual forms . . . all key payroll JEs.

Everything you need:

  • Instructor-led online lessons, reinforcement homework problems, comprehensive workbook with reinforcement quizzes to lock in your new skill, and optional open-book final exam. (Note: Workbook will ship to you after your 10-day trial has expired. View the student enrollment agreement.)
  • Self-paced—learn on your own schedule.
  • Access to your instructor with any questions.
  • A personal Certificate of Completion suitable for framing if you take the optional open-book final exam and achieve a grade of at least 70.
  • 1 month to complete (an extension fee may be charged)

Mastering Payroll is included in the online Certified Bookkeeper (CB) Prep Course.

Member Price ( Log in to receive your member discount): $275.00

$295.00 Member Price: $275.00

SKU: Mastering Payroll Online Course Category:

Instructor-led lessons • Self-paced—learn on your schedule

Lesson 1

  • Who is an employee? How to classify—and pay—different kinds of employees, independent contractors, temporary help, agency referrals.

Lesson 2

  • Federal v. state laws. How to know if your employer or employees are covered by key federal laws. Minimum wage rules. The enterprise test.
  • Paying employees. Who is paid overtime . . . how to compute overtime—which hours to include v. not include . . . when to pay v. not pay for nonproductive time (showering, changing, etc.) . . . when you can v. cannot dock employee pay.

Lesson 3

  • Required payroll data. Information, data and forms for each employee. How long to keep which data and information.
  • Form W-4. How it must be completed. When you must reject a W-4. Rules on withholding a flat dollar percentage or dollar amount of tax. State withholding forms.

Lesson 4

  • Withholding and depositing taxes. How to withhold federal income tax and FICA. Depositing federal income tax withheld under the monthly, semiweekly and Wednesday-Friday rules. The “lookback period.” Form 941-X.

Lesson 5

  • Filing federal reporting forms. Computing Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA). Who must file a 940, W-2, W-3, 941 and Schedule B, and 945. Backup-tax rules.

Lesson 6

  • When wages are taxable. When wages are earned v. paid. Handling wages paid in January for December work.
  • Other federal and state requirements. Handling the 1099, 1099-MISC, 1099-DIV, 1099-INT, 1099-R, 1096. Rules for distributing W-2s to employees. State W-2s. State unemployment insurance (SUI).

Lesson 7

  • Payroll journal entries. How to record salary, deductions and employer v. employee payroll expense, payment of taxes, premiums, pension contributions and more.

Final Exam

Take the open-book final exam online, attain a grade of at least 70, and instantly receive a personal Certificate of Completion in Mastering Payroll, suitable for framing.

Sample Video