Workshop Addresses Anticipated Changes in 2020 Payroll

With COVID-19 ever-changing the business landscape, payroll also needs to change and adapt.

Andy Garboden, CPP, Director of Payroll Training at the APA, and Curtis Tatum, Esq., Director of Federal Payroll Compliance at the APA, brought Congress Xstream attendees up to speed and beyond in Tuesday’s Session 1 workshop “Payroll Changes in 2020.”

Tatum said the presentation had to be overhauled—not only to be presented virtually, but also to address new COVID-19 changes that had to be quickly implemented.

“Originally, this presentation was envisioned as an overview of the ‘usual’ types of compliance changes payroll professionals are accustomed to dealing with every year,” Tatum said. “With all the new payroll-related COVID-19 legislative and regulatory changes, the session has become an introduction to those new requirements while still covering some of the originally envisioned topics.”

The presenters discussed the issues COVID-19 has raised concerning relief legislation, new withholding procedures, clarifications for regular rate calculations under the FLSA, and more. Attendees in the chat greeted the presenters and shouted out where they're currently working from, ranging from California, Texas, Georgia, and more. 

"Unless you've been under a rock, you're probably aware the unemployment rate is at an all time high for obvious reasons," Garboden said to attendees. 

While covering withholding and revisions to Form W-4, attendees remarked in the chat how much has changed in the payroll industry in so little time. 

"The W-4 change feels like it was three years ago at this point with so much more having happened," wrote Amanda Smith, FPC. 

"Oh for the days when all we worried about was the new W-4!" wrote Mary Langford, CPP. 

Tatum said he hopes attendees leave the workshop with a better foundation of payroll knowledge to help them with the rest of Congress Xstream. 

“We really want our audience to have left with a basic understanding of new requirements, so they know what questions to ask or steps to take so that they remain in compliance,” Tatum said. “Our session was scheduled very early in the program so attendees who discover they need additional information have an opportunity to attend a more specific Xstream workshop or Virtual Congress presentation later on.”