Payroll

Paychex reported some softening in employment growth among small businesses last month.

Private sector employment increased by 200,000 in September, according to payroll giant ADP, in another sign of an improving economy, albeit with some negative indicators.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages and faces the prospect of needing to hire caregivers, accountants are increasingly being called upon to help families sort out the tax issues associated with hired domestic help.

Between legislative changes and proposed rules and guidance issued by government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, business owners have a lot of red tape to navigate and understand.

This week happens to be National Payroll Week, so it’s a good time to sort through some of the misconceptions and lingering questions about payroll that accountants may be hearing from their business clients.

Another 173,000 jobs were added by employers in August, including 3,100 in accounting and bookkeeping services, sending the unemployment rate down two-tenths of a point to 5.1 percent.

Average starting salaries in accounting and finance are expected to rise 4.7 percent next year, according to a new salary guide from the staffing company Robert Half.

Private sector employers added 190,000 jobs in August, according to payroll giant ADP, in another sign of steady employment gains.

Compensation and revenue at small businesses increased this summer, along with the number of hours worked, Intuit reported Tuesday, although employment fell last month.

Payroll giant Paychex detected a slight slowdown in small business employment growth last month.