Payroll Year-End 2026 & Year-Beginning 2027: Tax Updates, Reporting Requirements & Compliance

Overview

As the calendar year comes to a close, payroll professionals must focus on completing year-end reporting, reconciling payroll records, and preparing for the new tax year. Staying on top of changing federal and state requirements is essential to avoiding errors, meeting filing deadlines, and ensuring a smooth transition into 2027.

This webinar will provide practical guidance on handling year-end payroll responsibilities and preparing for the upcoming tax year. Topics will include reconciling Forms W-2 with Forms 941, understanding the latest IRS, SSA, DOL, and state-level updates, reviewing changes to important payroll forms, and addressing the tax treatment of fringe benefits. Participants will also learn how to organize payroll procedures, communicate effectively with employees, and handle common year-end issues.

The session will include practical resources such as sample checklists, employee communication memos, and forms to help payroll departments manage their responsibilities more efficiently.

Agenda – Key Topics Covered

1. Federal and State Regulatory Updates: Key IRS, SSA, DOL, and state-level updates affecting 2026 payroll, including changes to Forms W-2, W-4, 941, and Publication 1494.
2. Preparing for the 2027 Tax Year: Updates on wage bases, fringe benefit limits, mileage rates, per diem allowances, and qualified transportation benefits.
3. Organizing Your Payroll Department: Practical approaches to payroll organization, including year-end checklists, employee communication memos, and procedures for handling duplicate W-2 requests.
4. W-2 and Form 941 Reconciliation: Best practices for reconciling Forms W-2 with Forms 941 and maintaining accurate payroll records throughout the year.
5. Fringe Benefits and W-2 Reporting: Understanding the tax treatment of fringe benefits, white-collar exemption updates, and requirements for electronic delivery of Forms W-2.
6. Correcting Payroll Reporting Errors: When and how to use Form W-2c, important filing deadlines, and third-party sick pay reporting requirements.
7. State Payroll Updates: Reviewing state-specific changes, including minimum wage increases, SUI wage bases, and EFW-2 reporting requirements.

Why Should You Attend

Year-end payroll processing involves more than simply preparing and distributing Forms W-2. It requires careful reconciliation, accurate recordkeeping, employee communication, and an understanding of the latest regulatory changes.

This session will help payroll professionals prepare for year-end responsibilities while establishing better procedures for the year ahead. Attendees will take away practical guidance and resources to reduce administrative work, avoid common reporting mistakes, and approach the 2027 tax year with greater confidence.

Whether you manage payroll for a small organization or oversee a larger payroll department, this training will provide useful information to help you stay organized and maintain compliance.

Areas Covered

·      Understand the latest IRS, SSA, DOL, and state-level changes affecting year-end and beginning-of-year payroll processing.

·      Learn how to organize payroll operations using practical checklists and templates for year-end and year-beginning procedures.

·      Develop procedures for handling duplicate Form W-2 requests, including establishing internal policies and potential fee structures.

·      Review updates to Forms W-4 and W-2 for 2027, Publication 1494, and other important payroll forms and filing deadlines.

·      Learn how to reconcile Forms W-2 with Forms 941 and identify common reporting discrepancies.

·      Understand the tax treatment of fringe benefits and the requirements for electronic delivery of Forms W-2.

·      Review when and how to issue Form W-2c to correct previously reported information.

·      Receive a sample year-end employee memo to help communicate important payroll information and reduce administrative questions.