Affordable Care Act Compliance for Small Businesses

Monterey, CA, January 15, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) now mandates government-approved health care coverage for all full-time workers at companies with 50 or more employees. This mandatory expansion of benefits will seriously affect how many business owners handle payroll processing, paycheck deductions, W-2 forms and other paperwork associated with human resources management.

While it is true that a small business with under 50 employees may opt not to offer health care plans to its employees, a number of provisions within the complex ACA will still take effect for businesses that do choose to offer health care coverage to any of its employees. Notably, these businesses must withhold more funds from payroll checks for some employees affected by Medicare rules, observe certain limits on contributions to flexible spending accounts and fill out new IRS forms for select insurance plans. It may also be necessary to adjust waiting periods normally imposed on employees seeking to enroll in benefit plans.

"Most business owners are deeply concerned about optimizing the limited time and energy available for actually growing their businesses and maintaining vital cash flow. A burdensome increase in regulatory activity stemming from implementation of the ACA threatens to distract managerial focus from core business activities," says Heather Fichter, who holds the title of Operating Manager at Pinpay Payroll Solutions. "Staying compliant under the ACA already promises for many smaller firms to be an expensive proposition that demands spending large amounts of time wading through complicated, confusing insurance marketplaces in search of affordable health insurance plans for all classes of company employees. Potential uncertainty over the exact extent of employer responsibility for payment of insurance premiums will likely further add to the workload."

As part of a continuing mission to stay ahead of emerging trends in a complex regulatory environment, Pinpay Payroll Solutions has created a subdivision called Pinpay Payroll Express to address the unique concerns of small businesses struggling with the reporting and tracking implications of the ACA. To ensure an optimal response to the challenges presented by the ACA, the new subdivision is staffed with dedicated personnel who have completed a specialized training program. "Many major consulting and payroll services firms have been concentrating on bigger firms that may have hundreds or thousands of employees. A large number of smaller businesses have similarly compelling compliance needs, however, and it is surprising to see this degree of relative neglect for such an important driver of economic activity as the small business sector," Ms. Fichter remarked. "Limited personnel resources at companies with fewer than 50 employees means that managers at these companies often appreciate personal attention and expert assistance with navigating the unfamiliar waters of the post-ACA regulatory climate."

The new Pinpay Payroll Express division relies on cloud-based software services to maintain up-to-date payroll and other employee records and to provide immediate, around-the-clock access for clients. The software automates the submission to insurance companies of all funds for insurance premiums that have been deducted from payroll checks, handles any withholding and reporting requirements imposed by the IRS and eases the burden of paperwork for business owners by allowing customized levels of client attention to detail. Pinpay Payroll Express's services include payroll options such as direct deposit or the mailing of paper checks, and funds are automatically subtracted from paychecks as needed to fulfill child support orders, meet IRS withholding requirements, pay premiums for worker's compensation or to satisfy any other purpose. The software also tracks all premiums paid and can automatically fill out a company's W-4 form with the yearly total.

To further strengthen its long-standing focus on meeting the needs of small businesses, Pinpay Payroll Express is now offering a free 60-day trial of its services to any business owner who signs up by February 28, 2014. Taking advantage of the free trial will show busy business owners how easy it is to import company data and how quickly it is possible to reach compliance with the regulatory thicket created by the ACA in 2014.

About Pinpay Payroll Express

Pinpay Payroll Express strongly supports small businesses with a simple, easy-to-use solution for every payroll-processing need. With service coverage spanning 45 states, Pinpay Payroll Express focuses on designing unique and highly customizable options for quickly handling management functions such as hours tracking, compliance with tax laws, employee enrollment in benefit plans, progress tracking for educational and professional skills programs, payroll distribution and many others. There are no hidden fees, and affordability and simplicity are the defining characteristics of services that are tailor-made for budget-conscious business owners.