Current Liabilities and Payroll Accounting

Contingent liability

Obligation to make a future payment if, and only if, an uncertain future event occurs.

Current liabilities

Obligations due to be paid or settled within one year or the company's operating cycle, whichever is longer.

Current portion of long-term debt

Portion of long-term debt due within one year or the operating cycle, whichever is longer, Reported under current Liabilities.

Deferred income tax liability

Corporation income taxes that are deferred until future years because of temporary differences between GAAP and tax rules

Employee benefits

Additional compensation paid to on on behalf of employees, such as premiums for medical, dental, life, and disability insurance, and contributions to pension plans

Employee earnings report

Record of an employee's net pay, gross pay, deductions, and year to date payroll information

Estimated liability

Obligation of an uncertain amount that can be reasonably gauged..

Federal depository bank

Bank authorized to accept deposits of amounts payable to the federal government

FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) Taxes

Taxes assessed on both employers and employees. For Social Security and Medicare programs.

Form 940

IRS form used to report an employer's federal unemployment taxes on an annual filing basis

Form 941

IRS form filed to report FICA taxes owed and remained

Form W-2

Annual report by an employer to each employee showing the employee's wages subject to FICA and federal income taxes along with amounts withheld

Form W-4

Withholding allowance certificate, filed with the employer, identifying the number of withholding allowances claimed

FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax)

Payroll taxes on employers assessed by the federal government to support its unemployment insurance program

Gross pay

Total compensation earned by an employee

Known liabilities

Obligations of a company with little uncertainty. Set by agreements, contracts, or laws.

Long-term liabilities

Obligations not due to be paid within one year or the operating cycle, whichever is longer.

Merit rating

Rating assigned to an employer by a state based on the employer's record of employment

Net pay

Gross pay less all deductions. Also called Take-home pay.

Payroll bank account

Bank account used solely for paying employees. Each pay period an amount equal to the total employees' net pay is deposited in it and the payroll checks are drawn on it.

Payroll deductions

Amounts withheld from an employees' gross pay.

Payroll register

Record for a pay period that shows the pay period dates, regular and overtime hours worked, gross pay, net pay, and deductions

Short-term note payable

A written promise to pay a specified amount on a definite future date within one year or the company's operating cycle, whichever is longer.

SUTA (State Unemployment Taxes)

State payroll taxes on employers to support its unemployment programs

Times interest earned

Ratio of income before interest expense (and any income taxes) divided by interest expense. Reflects risk of covering interest commitments when income varies

Wage bracket withholding table

Table of the amounts of income tax withheld from employees' wages

Warranty

Agreement that obligates the seller to correct or replace a product or service when it fails to perform properly within a specified period