Companies need employees to operate and make profits. Some companies may have a few individuals as employees, while others employ thousands of people. However, using employees also comes with costs. These costs come in many forms, such as salaries, taxes, insurance contributions, pensions, etc. Most of these costs are inevitable for companies. However, these costs provide returns as well.
When an employer pays their employees, any payment made represents an expense for it. On top of that, companies also need to deduct and pay taxes on payments made to employees. Usually, these deductions are on the employee’s behalf. Before understanding whether this tax is an expense, it is crucial to understand the payroll expenses for companies.
What are Payroll Expenses?
Payroll expenses represent any costs that companies or employers incur on employing people. These expenses commence from an employer who hires an employee up to when the employee leaves. Usually, a large proportion of this expense is the salaries and wages that employees receive. Bonuses, overtime, benefits, etc., may also contribute to an increase in payroll expenses.
For companies, all of these represent expenses that decrease their profitability. For employees, these are the income they receive in compensation for their work. However, the employer’s expense and the take-home pay for the employee may not be the same. It is because the employer makes several deductions from the amount before paying employees. That represents the differences between gross and net income.
What is Gross Income?
Gross income represents the amount that employees make for their work over a specific time. There are several factors that may contribute to this amount. Firstly, both the employer and employee define a rate for any time the employee works for the employer. This rate is monetary and usually shows a monthly or hourly income the employee will receive.
On top of that, the time an employee works for an employer also contributes to the gross income. For example, an employee who works for two hours will earn more income than an employee that works one, assuming the same rates. Similarly, bonuses, overtime, employee benefits, etc., also contribute to the gross income.
What is Net Income?
When an employee receives their payment from the employer, it is usually lower than the gross income they have earned. It is because the employer makes several deductions from the amount. This amount that employees receive after the deductions represents their net income. In short, net income represents the actual payment employees receive after any deductions.
There are several factors that will contribute to how much an employee receives. Usually, employers have to make mandatory deductions, such as tax or unemployment contributions from employees’ income. However, some employees may also opt into programs for which the employer has to make further deductions. After accounting for all of these, employees will receive their take-home pay.
What is Payroll Tax?
Payroll tax is the amount that employers withhold from an employee’s gross income. The employer then pays this amount to the relevant authority on the employee’s behalf. Payroll taxes are stepped percentages of total income. An employer must calculate an employee’s gross income and calculate the payroll tax on that amount using those percentages.
For most employees, payroll taxes account for the highest deduction in their gross income. For the employer, these taxes are a responsibility that they have to fulfill for tax authorities. Payroll taxes may include many types, including unemployment, Social Security, Medicare payroll taxes, etc. On top of that, federal and state governments may have their own taxes that employers must deduct from employees’ pays.
Is Payroll Tax an expense?
Payroll tax is a complicated topic. Most people get confused because of how payroll taxes work. Therefore, they are unsure whether payroll tax is an expense or not. Before understanding that, it is crucial to separate payroll taxes from employee expenses. Payroll taxes are deductions that the employer makes on an employee’s behalf.
The employer still has to pay the amount to the relevant authority. Therefore, most people argue that it is an expense for the employer. Technically, payroll taxes are an expense for the employer. It is because the employer has to pay the amount. However, these expenses aren’t tax-related. These are employee expenses that the employer bears. Regardless of whether the employer withholds the tax or not, it will remain an expense.
For example, an employee works in a company. The employee earns $1,000 in a month. Similarly, the tax rate in the country is 10%. Therefore, $100 will be the payroll tax for the employee. For the company, the $1,000 will be the payroll expense. The company records this when paying the employee or when it accrues. The $100 that the company deducts is the payroll tax. This payroll tax is a liability that the company will pay to tax authorities.
Overall, payroll taxes are an expense for the employer. However, these are employee-related expenses. As mentioned, even if the employer does not pay or withhold this tax, it will remain an expense because it relates to the employee. Taxes that employers pay without deducting it from the employee are direct tax expenses to employers.
Conclusion
Employees are crucial in running a business, but they come with costs. These are payroll costs that employers have to bear. On top of employee expenses, employers also have to make tax payments on the employee’s behalf. However, employers generally pay for these from the employee’s gross pay. Payroll taxes are employee-related expenses.
