FAQs - Ithaca Payroll Services



	What if I have a brand new business? If I have been doing payroll with another service? Isn't it complicated to switch? What if I have done some payrolls, tax deposits, and/or tax returns myself? Does Ithaca Payroll handle all my tax needs including year-end W-2's and stuff? How do I get my tax and payroll records from Ithaca Payroll? How much extra is it if I want to do weekly payrolls or do a bonus check run? What if I am dissatisfied with the service and want to change to another payroll service? What makes Ithaca Payroll different from other payroll services?

	What if I have a brand new business?
	Ithaca Payroll's local, personalized attention is designed to help new business owners. First of all, we cover you in every way. We do all of your payroll functions, including payroll related tax depositing and filing, and all your year-end payroll filings and w-2 reporting. But much more than that, we make sure you are aware of all those other things. When we get together, we'll ask you if your insurance is in order, if you have handled your new employee filings and other little compliance details you might not have thought of. Set-up of your services is a process that we'll do with you, step by step, over time. We'll help you with your EIN#, State ID set-up (for withholding, Unemployment Insurance, etc). We can be ready to run payroll the first day you come to us, but many set-up functionality requires State and Federal applications which we will do for you. We make budgeting easy. Your charged flat rates, and all of our little extra services and advising are all included. Furthermore, if your new business grows, you can lock in your monthly rate (and get a month free) by paying for a year of service in advance. No other Payroll service offers this. Our flat rates and lock-in special is unique and represents our dedication to making full service payroll available to smaller business by keeping prices manageable. back to top

	If I have been doing payroll with another service? Isn't it complicated to switch?
	First of all, there are a lot of good payroll service providers out there. There are corporations that can also offer you retirement plans, flex accounts, MSAs, Human Resource consulting. Ithaca Payroll just does your payroll and all the related deposits and filings. We keep it simple, to keep your costs manageable. If you decide that a service provider change us right for you, don't worry, you'll find that changing is not so difficult after all. Your current provider will be helpful and will follow through with all their commitments. Furthermore, your records are yours and whether or not you have kept good copies, your current provider can be expected to forward you any documentation that is rightfully yours. Ithaca Payroll will handle any and all loose ends, such as payroll returns based on payrolls processed by the predecessor service. You will need to spend a few minutes with your Ithaca Payroll manager to discuss the steps to take and information to gather. The bottom line is, if you come to us today, we can make your transition smooth with no gaps in the payroll services your employees expect. back to top

	What if I have done some payrolls, tax deposits, and/or tax returns myself?
	One of the main reasons small business owners come to Ithaca Payroll is because they are tired of the processing headache and they want to focus on their business. We totally understand. That is why we are here. Whether or not you have done a good job at keeping in complaince with the payroll and tax processing that you have done yourself (in-house) for your employees, we can take over the job and make a smooth transition for you, if that is what is right for you. Ithaca Payroll will handle any and all loose ends, such as payroll returns based on payrolls processed by you. You will need to spend a few minutes with your Ithaca Payroll manager to discuss the steps to take and information to gather. The bottom line is, if you come to us today, we can make your transition smooth with no gaps in the payroll services your employees expect back to top

	Does Ithaca Payroll handle all my tax needs including year-end W-2's and stuff?
	You need to understand one thing: We cover you in every way. We process your payrolls, do your tax deposits, prepare your tax returns. We do your year end returns, we produce your year end W-2's. We do it all. Furthermore, we keep you aware of other common employer compliance requirements. We'll inform you about insurance issues, 1099 year-end requirements, and other things outside the scope of payroll services but very relevant to all employers. And everything we do for you ~ all of our services ~ are provided to you at no extra charge as part of your flat monthly rate. back to top

	How do I get my tax and payroll records from Ithaca Payroll?
	Your payroll records and related documentation are of ultimate importance to us. We maintain your records in our electronic database at a secure 3rd party site where records are backed up continuously. Furthermore, a hard copy of all your reports and tax returns are maintained in a secure locked location at our Ithaca Payroll office. Every time we run your payroll, or provide some other service such as make a tax deposit or file a tax return, we send you hard copies of your report/tax return... Furthermore, we will provide you with additional copies at any time, should you require. We promise to you that we will maintain stewardship of your information for 7 years after the date it was produced, and will make it available to you upon request regardless of whether you are a still working with Ithaca Payroll. We are confident that you will stay with us as long as you need payroll services, but we will assist you wherever you go (for whatever reason you go) by making sure your records are available to you. At Ithaca Payroll, we know that your payroll records are sacred and confidential and yours. Your information is safe and at arm's reach when you work with your local partner, Ithaca Payroll. back to top

	How much extra is it if I want to do weekly payrolls or do a bonus check run?
	One of the many things that sets Ithaca Payroll apart from other companies is that we offer everything at one price. It doesn't matter how many check runs you do, it doesn't matter how many deductions you offer your employees, how many direct deposits you have, etc. Its all included for one price. If we provide it on any level, its included. Your only fee to Ithaca Payroll is a one time set-up fee, and then your monthly rate (based on average number of employees). Furthermore, you can lock in your monthly rate so that your payroll costs stay the same even as your business grows. You can do this for a year by paying 12 months in advance. When you do this, we even give you a month for free. We aim to be simple and affordable. Additionally, we want to be a rational, local company that you enjoy working with. We don't charge you more for seasonal spikes in your number of employees (like holiday time, etc)... and we're not rigid. If your number of employees goes down despite having locked in a rate for a year, we'll charge you the lower rate and refund the excess. Your cool, were cool. Payroll is easy to us. We love this stuff. back to top

	What if I am dissatisfied with the service and want to change to another payroll service?
	We haven't lost a customer due to dissatisfaction, but things happen. More commonly, businesses move on for other reasons. Regardless, we are committed to your payroll needs and we take the stewardship of your records seriously. Signing up with Ithaca Payroll is a no risk venture. If you decide to leave within the first month of service, we will refund all of your costs, including the one time set up fee, no exceptions. We follow through on our commitments. If you decide to terminate our services, we will follow through on processing your payroll until the time at which you desire that we stop. We will provide you with the related tax returns or forward the data necessary to our successor, as you require. We want you to maintain control over your business. You call the shots. We are there for you whatever your needs are or direction is. Your cool, were cool. Payroll is easy to us. We love this stuff. back to top

	What makes Ithaca Payroll different from other payroll services?
	Local versus National or Regional We are a local Tompkins County business, located right in Ithaca's downtown west end. We are accessible. Our little store front at 614 West State Street (right accross from Kinko's) has an open door and a friendly, neighborhood payroll person looking foward to assisting you. We don't have "regional sales reps" wearing power suits. We don't have superglossy, snazzy design catalogues and folders. We aren't worth a billion dollars. We don't have a line of products that includes everything a big corporation might want in the area of Human Resources and Benefits. We process payroll. We handle taxes. Everything included. We give you simple, readable reports. We keep you informed. We are available to you in emergencies. You'll have our 24 hour cell phone. We even deliver checks accross down sometimes when you really need us there for you. We're cool. Your cool. We love this stuff. Ithaca Payroll versus CPA Firms Ithaca Payroll is owned and operated by a local CPA, Richard Parker, operating under RCP Financial Services. Ithaca Payroll functions out of the same office as RCP Financial Services and is, for all intents and purposes, a part of that office. What makes Ithaca Payroll different than other CPA's offering payroll services are a handful of things. Organization ~ Ithaca Payroll is organized to operate exclusive of, but supported by, the CPA-side of the business. Ithaca Payroll's manager is exclusively dedicated to the Payroll Company. Ithaca Payroll's billing, style, and mission stands alone with a purpose and presentation that is all about payroll ~ all about Ithaca. Furthermore, we are, as far as we know, the most affordable professional payroll service provider in the area. We don't pass on CPA rates to our customers, or make them "pay" for the overhead required to operate a large company burdened with many employees and marketing to a large market. Ithaca Payroll keeps a minimal overhead, with a minumun number of employees dedicated to administering payroll. Ithaca Payroll in General We are local. We are reliable. We are affordable. We are accessible. We are all about Ithaca. We want to empower you to handle in-house what you can, and have manageable outsourcing when it suits you. By moving your payroll office to Ithaca Payroll, you liberate yourself from handling those compliance requirements, enabling you to spend more time handling your business. We like that and we think you will too. back to top