Frederick Community College

 

ACCT117ONL – Payroll Accounting

 

FALL 2011

 

Class begins: 8/22/11

Class ends:  12/10/11

Last Day to Drop: 11/2/11

 

You must send your email address to the instructor before class begins

 

Instructor Information:

 

 

Name:   Donna J. Lane, CPA, MBA

Office:  C221

E-mail:  dlane@frederick.edu

Phone Number:  301-846-2603

Office Hours:  by appointment

Campus Mail Box #: 269

           

Course Information:

 

Credits:  3

On-campus Meetings:  none

On-campus Exams:  2

Prerequisites:  EN50A and EN52 or ESL95 and ESL99, and ACCT100 or ACCT101

Co-requisites:  none

 

Course Description:

 

Examines the concepts, regulations, laws and procedures related to payroll accounting.  The course is comprehensive and detailed to prepare students to be competent to account for the payroll of all businesses.  Includes hands-on preparation of all payroll forms, schedules, records and application of different systems.

 

Core Learning Outcomes:

 

Upon completion of this course students will:

1. Identify and apply relevant payroll laws and regulations.

2. Identify deposit and reporting requirements and prepare all quarterly and annual payroll-related forms.

3. Compare and contrast characteristics of different payroll systems.

4. Identify proper presentation and disclosure of payroll data within the financial statements.

5. Identify and compute:  gross earnings, tax and nontax deductions, net earnings for employees, and payroll taxes for employers.

 

 Instructional Methods:

 

Activities and projects

Problem solving/research

Online discussions

 

 

 

 

 How is this course organized:

 

The course is arranged by topics.  Each topic is a chapter that will be covered during a 2-week period and end with a quiz.  A continuing payroll problem begins in Ch. 2 and ends in Ch. 6.  The culmination of the course is an extensive problem that is done in a computer environment.

 

 

Text(s) for Course:

 

Required:  PAYROLL ACCOUNTING, Bieg, 2011 edition

ISBN#:  978-1-111531058

 

 

Progress Report:

 

By the end of the 6th week of the semester, you will have an opportunity to evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure your success in this course.

 

Evaluation Methods:

 

Tests / Papers / Projects

Point Value

Final Grade Scale

Exam 1 Chapters 1,2

Exam 2 Chapters 3,4

Exam 3 Chapters 5,6

  Project audit tests/forms

Continuing Payroll Prob.

  Discussion Board

  Quizzes

  Net Activities

TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE

100

100

100

100

50

60

60

60

630

 

A=567-630

B=504-566

C=441-503

D=378-440

F=Below 378

 

If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

 

Student Services

 

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

 

 

 

 

 Participation Policy:

 

 

No points are given for participation but students are expected to participate. 

 

The course is not self-paced so assignments are due when indicated.

 

Points are given for discussion board postings.

 

 

 

 

Email Policy:

 

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours.

 

Academic Integrity:

 

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times.  Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

 

 

Topical Outline

 

Week

SUBJECT

CONTENT

Week 1, 2

Ch. 1 THE NEED FOR PAYROLL/PERSONNEL RECORDS

State wage and hour laws

FICA

Income tax withholding laws

Unemployment tax acts

 

Week 3, 4

Ch. 2 COMPUTING/PAYING WAGES AND SALARIES 

Fair Labor Standards Act

Determining employees’ work time

Records used for timekeeping

Methods of computing and paying wages and salaries

 EXAM 1

Week 5, 6

 Ch. 3 SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES

Coverage under FICA

Forms SS-4 and SS-5

Form 941

Failure-to-comply penalties

 

Week 7, 8

Ch. 4 INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING

Coverage under Federal withholding law

Withholding allowances

Supplemental wage payments

Earned income credit

Tax forms

Independent contractors

 EXAM 2

Week 9, 10

Ch. 5 UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TAXES

Coverage under FUTA and SUTA

Unemployment compensation taxes and credits

Employer reports

Unemployment compensation benefits

 

Nov. 2

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM COURSE

 

Week 11, 12

Ch. 6 ANALYZING/JOURNALIZING PAYROLL TRANSACTIONS

Payroll register; earnings record

Recording gross payroll/withholdings

Recording taxes/adjustments

Recording other payroll deductions

Summary of accounts used

 EXAM 3

Nov. 25-28

THANKSGIVING BREAK COLLEGE CLOSED

 

Week 13

Ch. 7 PAYROLL PROJECT; article

CONTROLLING COSTS: PAYROLL, BENEFITS AND TAXES

Books of account

Narrative/questions

Employees’ earnings records

Submit Audit tests 1, 2, 3, 4

Week 14         

Continue project

Submit audit tests 5, 6, 7, 8

Week 15

Continue and complete project

Submit audit test 9 & Optional Activities

 

          THE TOPICAL OUTLINE MAY BE CHANGED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.