fpc Flashcards
Account
A record of assets, expenses, liabilities, equity and revenues in the general ledger, to which debit and credit entries are posted to record changes in the value of the account.
Accountable plan
An employer’s business expense reimbursement plan that satisfies all IRS requirements regarding substantiation, business connection, and return of excess amounts in a reasonable period of time.
Accounting period
The period covered by an income statement (e.g., month, year); also known as the business cycle.
Accrual
The recognition of assets, expenses, liabilities, or revenues in the accounting period that the transaction has occurred.
ACH
Automated Clearing House. A Federal Reserve Bank or private financial institution acting on behalf of an association operating a facility that serves as a clearinghouse for direct deposit or other payment transactions; entries are received and transmitted by the ACH under the rules of the association.
ACH credit entry
A transaction in which a taxpayer instructs its financial institution to originate a federal tax deposit through the ACH system to the appropriate Treasury account. Also known as EFTPS-Through a Financial Institution.
ACH debit entry
A transaction in which an employer’s Financial Agent, after receiving instructions from the employer, instructs the employer’s financial institution to withdraw funds from the employer’s account for a federal tax deposit and to route the deposit to the appropriate Treasury account through the ACH system. Also known as EFTPS-Direct.
Actual deferral percentage (ADP)
The percentage of wages deferred by employees participating in a salary reduction plan (e.g., 401(k) plan). The IRS uses the ADP to determine whether the plan meets the agency’s nondiscrimination requirements.
AD&D
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
ADEA
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.
Adoption assistance
A benefit provided by an employer to an employee to assist the child adoption process. The benefit is excluded from federal income tax withholding, though not social security and Medicare taxes.
ADP
Actual deferral percentage calculation, part of a 401(k) plan’s discrimination testing.
After-tax deduction
A deduction from an employee’s pay that does not reduce the employee’s taxable wages. It is taken out only after all applicable taxes and other deductions have been withheld (e.g., union dues, garnishments, charitable contributions).
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
Federal law that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age (40 or older).
Aggregate method
Method of withholding federal income tax from supplemental wages in which the supplemental wage payment is combined with the regular wages paid during the most recent or current payroll period; after calculating withholding on the total amount using the wage-bracket or percentage method, the amount already withheld from the last wage payment is subtracted to reach the amount that must be withheld from the supplemental wage payment.
Alien
A citizen of a country other than the U.S. or one of its territories or possessions.
Allowances
The number of withholding allowances that the employee claims on Form W-4. The number of allowances multiplied by a value set by the IRS determines the value of the employee’s allowances when calculating federal income tax.
American Payroll Association
The premier professional society for Payroll Professionals in the United States providing education, support and recognition for practitioners in the payroll industry.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
Federal law that broadly prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities who can perform the essential functions of a job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Annual Wage Reporting (AWR)
The Social Security Administration’s system of recording wages reported annually by employers on Forms W-2.
APA
American Payroll Association.
ASP
Application Service Provider
Assets
Resources acquired by a business that are consumed by the business.