Frequently Asked Questions
List of Services
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How does your payroll system work?Item Link List Item 1
MasterPay USA helps you automate time-consuming payroll work through a convenient online system. Simply contact us to enroll. Then, step-by-step, we will keep you on track for all your payroll tasks, whether you’re running payroll or issuing W-2s. Upcoming tasks appear on your Dashboard every time you login to your account. For pay days, MasterPay USA instantly calculates your deductions and lets you pay employees either by direct deposit or by a check from your account. Payroll tax payments are scheduled automatically. All federal and many state payroll tax filings can also be made electronically. Best of all, MasterPay USA integrates with QuickBooks as well as many other accounting software packages, so you never have to enter data twice.
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How secure is my information?Item Link List Item 2
We take the security of your data very seriously. Password protection, advanced encryption technology, 128-bit Secure Socket Layers, firewalls, heavily guarded servers and intrusion-detection devices all work together to prevent unauthorized access.
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What accounting software can I export to?Item Link List Item 3
Our system integrates with many accounting and bookkeeping solutions, including QuickBooks, Quickbooks Online, QuickBooks for Mac, Quicken, Microsoft Money and Peachtree. With our accounting and bookkeeping integration, you never have to enter data twice.
You can also export your payroll data to Microsoft Excel.
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What is the difference between a W-2 employee and an Independent Contractor? (click here for more details)Item Link
Determining whether a worker is a 1099 or W-2 can be difficult. The IRS relies on employers to determine a workers’ status, so if you’re not sure, please contact us to be sure that you have your workers classified correctly.
A W-2 employee is trained by the employer, only works for the employer, and the employer controls the methods and results of the work to be done. Employee wages are subject to FIT, SIT, FICA, SUTA, FUTA, workers compensation, etc.
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Do I have to pay overtime? (click here for more details)Item Link
An employer who requires or permits an employee to work overtime is generally required to pay the employee premium pay for such overtime work, unless specifically exempted.
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Why can my employee not have a social security number that begins with a 9?Item Link
A number that begins with a 9 is a tax identification number, not a social security number. A tax identification number allows a person to file a tax return, but does not give him/her the right to work in the United States.
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How will my employees get paid?Item Link List Item 4
You have options:
- Direct Deposit – The easiest and safest was to pay employees is to take advantage of our free direct deposit. For employee records, we create professional pay stubs you can print on your own paper. Even better, employees can log into a secure website to view and print their pay stubs online.
- Payroll Cards– Now you can offer the convenience of direct deposit to everyone, even without a bank account. Our free payroll debit cards give your employees instant access to their funds on pay day. No more long lunch breaks going to the bank or waiting for checks to clear. It’s a better option for everyone!
- MasterPay USA Check Distribution-Checks from your account will be printed at our office and sent to you for distribution on pay day, or mailed directly to your employees.
- Print Checks On-Site– Print paychecks from your computer using pre-printed computer check stock. Our system works with Quickbooks-compatible voucher checks with the check on the top third of the page, and the stub on the bottom two thirds of the page. You can order the correct check stock here .
- Manual/Handwritten Checks– Alternatively, you may hand write checks using your own manual checks and print pay stubs using your own blank paper.
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I fired an employee – what do I need to do?Item Link
States have their own laws on how quickly a terminated employee must be paid. Please contact your Payroll Manager to be sure you are in compliance.
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Do you offer paperless payroll?Item Link
Of course! Paperless is a fast, efficient, and secure way to receive your payroll reports and pay stubs.
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How does direct deposit work?Item Link
Direct deposit enables you to transfer funds electronically from your bank account to your employees’ accounts.
To set up direct deposit, submit a completed Application for Electronic Funds Transfer. Initial setup takes approximately 10 business days. After that, there is a 3-day lead time for direct deposit, for example, approve direct deposits on Tuesday by 8pm EST to guarantee they will arrive in your employees’ accounts on Friday.
You may direct deposit to employee accounts at any U.S. bank, and direct deposit is free of charge.
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How long does it take my direct deposit to start working?Item Link
Direct Deposit begins in the first payroll after an employee submits the direct deposit authorization form in its entirety and provides bank verification including the routing and account numbers.
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Why hasn't my employee's direct deposit posted to their account?Item Link
Funds should be available on check date, but banks have up to 48 hours after the check date to post money into an employees’ bank account. If there is a deposit pending, we can provide transaction details to your employee that they can share with their bank in order to locate the deposit.
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How do I print paychecks?Item Link
You can print paychecks from your computer using pre-printed computer check stock. Our system works with Quickbooks-compatible voucher checks with the check on the top third of the page, and the stub on the bottom two thirds of the page. You can order the correct check stock here.
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Can I hand-write checks?Item Link
Yes. Many businesses with just 1-2 employees choose this alternative. You can print a full pay stub on plain white paper to accompany the check.
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How do you help me pay payroll taxes and file tax forms?Item Link
When you approve a payroll, our system automatically schedules all of your federal payroll taxes and most state payroll taxes to be paid electronically.
We will also prepare and automatically e-file your federal and state payroll tax returns. You can print a copy for your records or to share with your accountant. If electronic form filing is not available for your state, we will provide a signature-ready completed form for you to sign and mail.
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What should I do if I receive a penalty notice?Item Link
You should forward the notice to your Payroll Manager immediately. We will contact the agency and get back to you within 72 hours.
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Will all year end work be done if we switch to MasterPay USA mid-year?Item Link
Yes. We will produce a complete W-2 for your employee that includes any wages they have earned from you that you have reported to us.
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Why is my W-2 different from my last check stub?Item Link
Pretax deductions and 401k will decrease the amount in Box 1 of form W-2. True gross wages appear on the pay stub. Taxable wages appear on the W-2 form.
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Can my CPA get copies of my payroll and quarterly reports?Item Link
Yes. You can grant them limited access to your account, so they can log in a get what they need or we can email payroll and quarterly reports to them directly with your authorization.
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Why are the employee and employer taxes more at the beginning of each new year?Item Link
For employees, tax tables can change in the beginning of a new year. They should verify with their CPA or tax professional that they are claiming the correct number of exemptions on form W-4.
For employers, State and Federal Unemployment taxes generally stop in the middle of the year due to wage limits. On January 1st, the wage base starts over again.
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What is the Social Security Wage Base? (click here for more details)Item Link
This limit changes each year with changes in the national average wage index.
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Do you support companies who pay taxes in more than one state?Item Link
Yes. We support all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
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What is needed to start electronic payments and filings?Item Link
During setup you complete our Application for Electronic Funds Transfer. This give us authorization to link your bank account to pay your employees and/or federal and state tax agencies. It takes approximately 10 business days to complete the necessary confirmations from federal and state tax agencies. In the meantime, you can begin payroll immediately, and pay your employees by check today.
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Tell me about pricing. How much will it cost?Item Link
Our services are only $20 per employee, per month. Click here for more details on what's included and to learn how you can start simplifying you payroll today.
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How do I pay for this service?Item Link
Payroll service fees will be automatically debited from your checking account on a monthly basis. You may cancel at any time.
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How long is my contract?Item Link
You may cancel at any time.
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How soon can I run payroll?Item Link
Today. You can pay employees by check today, as soon as you complete your account setup.
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How do I set up a new account? How long does it take?Item Link
It’s easy! We’ll guide you through the setup process, which takes about an hour for most small companies. You provide company and employee information during this setup process. You can add additional employees or change rates of pay at any time and the changes will be effective immediately.
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I’m ready to get started. What information do I need to get started?Item Link
Generally speaking, you need:
- Business name, address and phone number
- A business bank account with any U.S.-based banking institution
- The structure of your business
- Your Business Tax ID number (TIN) or Employer ID Number (EIN)
- Some basic information for the primary payroll contact/user; including name, phone number and e-mail address
- Your employees’ information including name, address, Social Security Number, tax withholdings, pay rate, and any benefit information
- Information on your business’ payroll cycle
- If you have already paid your employees this year, you will also need employee payroll history
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