Payroll Compliance Blog
Written by a working payroll manager. Practical explanations of the rules that trip up real teams — with free calculators attached.
No Tax on Overtime: What the OBBBA Means for Payroll
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act proposes eliminating federal income tax on overtime pay. Here's what payroll managers need to know about how it works and what changes.
How to Fill Out Form 8233 for Chinese F-1 Students
A step-by-step guide for payroll managers processing Form 8233 for Chinese F-1 students claiming tax treaty exemption on wages and fellowship payments.
Form 8233 vs W-8BEN: Which Form Does Your NRA Employee Need?
Form 8233 and W-8BEN both claim tax treaty benefits for nonresident aliens, but they're used for different income types. Here's how to tell them apart and when each applies.
Substantial Presence Test: How to Determine If Your Employee Is a Resident Alien
The substantial presence test determines whether a foreign national is a resident alien for US tax purposes. Here's how the day count works and why payroll managers need to get it right.
How to Handle NRA Withholding When an Employee Has No SSN or ITIN
A nonresident alien employee without a Social Security Number or ITIN creates a withholding and reporting problem. Here's how to handle it correctly while they obtain their TIN.
FLSA Overtime for Salaried Non-Exempt Employees: What Payroll Gets Wrong
Salaried doesn't mean exempt. Non-exempt salaried employees are entitled to overtime under the FLSA, and the calculation method is different from hourly workers. Here's how it works.
Gross-Up Calculations for Bonus Payments: The Formula Explained
When an employer wants to give an employee a specific net amount, a gross-up calculation determines the gross pay needed after all taxes are withheld. Here's the math.
How to Calculate Retroactive Pay When an Employee Gets a Mid-Year Raise
When a raise takes effect retroactively, you owe back pay for prior periods plus potentially additional overtime. Here's how to calculate retro pay correctly under FLSA rules.
Tax Treaty Withholding Rates by Country: Payroll Manager Reference
A reference guide to US tax treaty withholding rates for wages and scholarships by country, with notes on common treaty provisions payroll managers encounter.
W-4 Step 2 checkbox: what it does and when employees should use it
Learn what the W-4 Step 2 checkbox does and discover when your employees should use it to adjust their tax withholding accurately.
The FLSA Regular Rate Trap: Why Bonuses Make Overtime More Expensive Than You Think
Most payroll managers know overtime is 1.5x. What trips teams up is that nondiscretionary bonuses increase the 'regular rate' — which means your overtime liability is higher than your base hourly rate suggests.
NRA Tax Withholding for Payroll Managers: The Glacier Alternative That Costs a Fraction of the Price
Glacier charges thousands per year. YourPayBot's NRA Tax Wizard walks you through the same treaty determination logic for $15. Here's what nonresident alien withholding actually requires — and how to do it right.
Why We Made the NRA Tax Wizard Free for International Students
International students overpay thousands in U.S. taxes because treaty benefits are confusing. YourPayBot's NRA wizard generates Form 8233 and W-8BEN for free — here's why, and how it works.