PURGING PEACHTREE & QUICKBOOKS DATA

If you have a large company file, or have used the same software for many years, you might begin to notice that your computer is slowing down while you are in the software, or some data information is just not there anymore.  If this is the case, you should consider purging your data file.  Purging is the process of removing inactive customers, vendors, employees, jobs, quotes, invoices, purchases, etc. from the company’s file.  It summarizes the transactions for which you no longer need the details. Purging also reduces the size of the file and frees disk space for current and active data.  One thing to remember though, the purge process is not intended to remove or fix corrupt data. If you are experiencing problems with your data, call our office for assistance. 

Purging can be performed at any time, however we recommend that you purge your data every two years, and get in the habit of doing it at year-end.   

The amount of time required to purge your data depends on the size of your company file, your computer's speed and amount of memory, and other factors. The process could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.  Because of the length of time the process could take, you may want to purge data just before leaving for the day so that it can run during the night. 

It is extremely important to make a backup before you begin purging. During the purge process, Peachtree will prompt you to make a backup, while Quickbooks will not.  This should be a permanent backup that you may need in the future to get that purged detail back.  

For Peachtree:

Peachtree uses a Purge wizard to assist you through the process. You can cancel at any time while you are using the Purge wizard.  To get the Purge Wizard, go to:

• Tasks
• System
• Purge Wizard, and just follow the steps all the way through 

For Quickbooks:

Quickbooks uses a wizard called the “clean up process”.  To get the Wizard go to:

• File
• Utilities
• Clean Up Company Data, and follow the steps all the way through 

Please call us if you need help getting this started or if you would like us to schedule an appointment to assist you with this procedure.

questions about overtime & hourly wages

A recent article in The Morning Call discussed various overtime & hourly wage scenarios which might cause some confusion for employers and/or employees:

First, a question was presented regarding receiving overtime pay based on hours worked daily (i.e. an employee works more than eight hours in one day, but doesn’t receive overtime pay for it because they did not work more than 40 hours that week).  Federal laws allow companies to calculate and pay overtime by the week, not the day.  So if you qualify for overtime, that premium pay would kick in after you work more than 40 hours in a week.

The second situation involves a bus driver who was required to re-fuel their school bus at the end of the day.  Doing so usually resulted in the driver waiting for up to an hour for another employee to come to the fueling station with an access card.  Also, the driver was required to pick up an attendant each day to assist with the disabled students who ride the bus.  In both instances, the bus company refused to pay the driver for the time accrued to pick up the attendant and to wait for the bus to be re-fueled.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, both refusals are illegal because the company doesn’t give the driver any other choice but to perform both tasks.  Legally, if it’s a requirement of the job, then the employee must be paid for the time.

Source:  “The Morning Call”, April 29, 2007

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employers can reduce workers' comp costs

1.  Develop a certified workplace safety program.

Employers with a functioning workplace safety committee, certified by the Bureau, are eligible to receive a 5 percent annual workers’ compensation policy premium discount.

2.  Offer job openings to injured workers.

An employer is obligated by law to offer available jobs to its injured workers if the worker is capable of performing the job.

3.  Have a list of designated medical providers.

The employer may be relieved of its liability to pay for medical services rendered during the first 90 days of treatment if it posts a list of six or more health care providers (at least three of which must be physicians and no more than four of which may be coordinated care organizations), the list meets certain other legal requirements and the employee fails to treat with a medical provider on the list.

The employer is required to inform its employees in writing of their rights and duties regarding the provider list and to have employees acknowledge in writing that they understand those rights and duties.  After the initial 90-day treatment period, the employee has the option of choosing his or her own doctor.  The employee is required to notify the employer within five days of a visit to a non-designated provider.

4.  Strive for an injury-free workplace.

The Workers’ Compensation Act encourages employers to provide safe working environments by providing premium discounts to employers who have not experienced a compensable lost-time injury in the preceding two years.

Executive officers who have an ownership interest in a subchapter S corporation, or at least a 5 percent ownership interest in a subchapter S corporation, or who serve voluntarily, without pay, in a non-profit corporation, may apply for exclusion with their workers’ compensation carrier or, if no insurance, to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

6.  Report suspected workers’ compensation fraud.

Fraud contributes to the cost of doing business.  Anyone who commits fraud may be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

An employer commits fraud by understating payroll or misclassifying employee job codes in order to reduce premiums, thus making it difficult for the honest employer to compete in its market.  Medical providers and others may also engage in fraudulent activity by billing for services that were not provided.  Reports of these types of fraud should be directed to the PA Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority at 1-888-565-IFPA.

An employee commits fraud by knowingly and intentionally collecting total disability benefits or partial disability benefits in excess of the amount permitted by law while employed or receiving wages and/or by knowingly and intentionally failing to report wages, unemployment compensation, social security, severance or pension plan benefits while receiving workers’ compensation benefits. 

If you suspect that someone collecting workers’ compensation benefits is doing so fraudulently, send written correspondence to the Compliance Section, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.  Be sure to include the full name and address of the person collecting workers’ compensation benefits, the name of the employer by whom the individual became eligible to receive the benefits (if known) and your reasons for believing the individual is collecting benefits fraudulently.  If you are willing to provide additional information to the insurance carrier, include your name and address or telephone number, including area code.

If the information you provide enables the Compliance Section to locate an insurance carrier paying benefits, your response will be forwarded to that carrier so that it may conduct an investigation.

Source:  PA Department of Labor & Industry, “PA Workers’ Compensation Employer Information”

are you afraid of an irs audit?

Another tax season has come and gone, leaving behind some interesting statistics (according to a recent Zogby Interactive poll): 

* Most Americans (86%) are confident their income tax return will be filed accurately – free from error and taking advantage of all eligible deductions.  However, one in four (25%) still worry that they might be audited by the IRS.

* Those age 35-54 (30%) are more likely than other age groups to say they agonize about a possible audit, as are married respondents and those with children living at home.

* Women (27%) are slightly more likely than men (24%) to be concerned they might be audited.

Other tax-related survey topics: 

* People age 25-34 are most likely to be tax return early-birds (43% of them said they file right away).

* Only 7% said they put it off until the last possible minute and scramble to get their taxes filed.

More than half of all respondents (55%) said they have already received or plan to receive a federal income tax refund this year.  Once their refund arrives: 

* 53% said they plan to pay off some bills. 

* 46% said they’ll put at least some of their refund into savings.

* 11% said they would spend it on a vacation.

minimum wage increase

Don’t forget – the Pennsylvania state minimum wage increases again on July 1, 2007.  Employers with more than 10 full-time employees need to increase their minimum wage to $7.15 per hour.  Employers with less than 10 full-time employees need to increase their minimum wage to $6.65 per hour.