Arizona payroll has some unique aspects and conditions. Some of the details and laws are set out in this article including information concerning: tax withholding and reporting unemployment insurance taxes and reporting wage and hour laws and child support withholding.
The Arizona State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:
Arizona requires that you use Arizona form "A-4, Employee’s Arizona Withholding Percentage Election" instead of a Federal W-4 Form for Arizona 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 Arizona cafeteria plans and 401(k)’s are not taxable for income tax calculation and are not taxable for unemployment purposes.
There is no provision in Arizona payroll law concerning supplemental wage tax rates.
You may file your Arizona State W-2s by magnetic media if you choose to.
The Arizona State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:
The State of Arizona taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $7000.00. Meaning that unemployment tax will only be calculated on the first $7000.00 of an employee’s wages each year.
Arizona magnetic media reporting of quarterly wage reporting is optional.
Unemployment records must be retained in Arizona 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 Arizona State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:
There is no general provision for minimum wage in the State of Arizona.
There is also no general provision in Arizona State Law covering paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer.
Arizona 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
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 Arizona.
The Arizona new hire reporting agency can be reached at 888-282-2064 / 602-340-0555 or on the web at www.az-newhire.com .
Arizona does not allow compulsory direct deposit.
Arizona requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:
Earnings and deductions if employee paid by direct deposit. information.
In Arizona pay frequency is semimonthly within 16 days of each other FLSA-exempt employees can be paid monthly by out of state employer.
The lag time between when the services are performed and when the employee must be paid is five days after the pay period (10 days if payroll system is out of state) 16 days for exception or overtime pay.
Arizona payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay with in 3 working days 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 up to a maximum of $5000.00 must be paid to the surviving spouse after an affidavit showing employee’s death and status of surviving spouse is tendered.
Escheat laws in Arizona require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after one year.
The employer is further required in Arizona to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of five years.
There is no provision in Arizona law concerning tip credits against State minimum wage.
In the Arizona payroll law there is no provision covering required rest or meal periods.
There is no provision in Arizona law concerning record retention of wage and hour records therefor it is probably wise to follow FLSA guidelines.
The Arizona agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:
Arizona has the following provisions for child support deductions:
When to start Withholding? 14 days after receipt of order.
When to send Payment? Within 2 days of Payday.
When to send Termination Notice? Within 10 days of termination.
Max Administrative Fee? greater of $4 per mo. or $1 per pay period.
Withholding Limits? 50% of disposable earnings
Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.
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."
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