Employee Compensation & Benefits

Author: Danny Santucci, JD

Electronic version only

The various ideas, methods, and techniques to optimize the overall compensation package for key employees and principals are examined in this mini-course. Generally, businesses may deduct employees’ pay including wages, salaries, and other perks. Certain fringe benefits that can provide an unusually tax-favored manner of supplementing compensation are described and evaluated. In addition, equity participation is explored through stock sales, repurchase agreements, incentive stock options, ESOTs, stock options, and bonuses. Finally, deferred compensation arrangements are investigated. The goal of this mini-course is to provide participants with a working knowledge of the types of compensation necessary to structure a compensation package minimizing tax liabilities and cost.

With this four-hour course, you will:

• Get a 68-page PDF document
  
• Identify the common-law rules used by the IRS to determine whether a person is an employee for purposes of FICA, FUTA, and federal income tax withholding.
• Recognize employee and officer compensation deductibility factors and the related employment taxes and reporting obligations to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Identify fringe benefits specifying those that provide deductible incentive-based employee compensation.
• Specify the equity incentive opportunities available to employers showing the variety, tax treatment, and use of stock plans.
• Recognize the use of deferred compensation agreements to attain compensation and retirement objectives.

Course level: Overview
General understanding of federal income taxation is required.

Want to order by phone? Call us at: (800) 277-2257

This self-study is designed to meet the requirements for the specified number of hours of continuing education. This self-study has been designed to meet the requirements of the IRS Return Preparer Office; including sections 10.6 and 10.9 of Department of Treasury’s Circular No. 230 (Provider No. CRA7E); the California State Board of Accountancy; the California Bar Association; and the California Tax Education Council. This does not constitute an endorsement by these groups. The state boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints or refunds, contact Spidell Publishing at (800) 277-2257. Spidell Publishing, LLC has been approved by the California Tax Education Council to offer continuing education courses that count as credit towards the annual “continuing education” requirement imposed by the State of California for CTEC Registered Tax Preparers. A listing of additional requirements to renew tax preparer registration may be obtained by contacting CTEC at P.O. Box 2890, Sacramento, CA 95812-2890, or by phone at 877-850-2832, or on the internet at www.CTEC.org.

Spidell Publishing, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual course for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. This self-study is designed to meet the requirements for 4 hours of continuing education for the California Board of Accountancy. Level: Overview. Field of Study: Taxes. Delivery Method: Self-Study. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints or refunds, contact Spidell Publishing at (800) 277-2257. General understanding of federal income taxation is required.