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What's New Archive 2006
Previous News
Note: All news content is archived by year and accessed using the links below. Some older content may not be available - a general rule is the older the link, the less likely it is to be there. To search for information by topic rather than date, try our Alphabetical Site Index.
HomeDecember 2006
Friday 29th December
An employers' group is surprised a quarter of businesses pay off "problem employees" to avoid costly court battles.
Thursday 28th December
I want to use ir-file to send the IRD my details online rather than print a schedule. What is the monthly procedure for doing this?
Wednesday 27th December
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act,
written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.
Tuesday 26th December
Looking for new payroll software? Download our latest demonstration version today and find out why Ace Payroll is New Zealand's most widely used payroll system.
Monday 25th December
Ace Payroll takes this opportunity to wish all clients a very Merry Christmas. For clients who have staff working
on the stat days, this document covers your payment obligations.
Friday 22nd December
I'm wanting to find out what types of payslips are available from Ace Payroll. How do I go about ordering them?
Thursday 21st December
This document covers how the daily rate for annual leave is calculated when using the As Per Act routine in Ace Payroll.
Wednesday 20th December
Doing Christmas Pays? This document shows you how to overwrite the default PAYE calculation, useful if paying multiple weeks wages within one pay period.
Wednesday 20th December
Merry Christmas from Ace Payroll. Our help desk continues to operate throughout the holiday
period 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, public holidays excepted.
Tuesday 19th December
About to pay out your Christmas pays? This document covers the taxation of holiday pay and is especially relevant if paying out multiple weeks pay in one go.
Monday 18th December
The minimum adult wage, which applies to people 18 years and over, will increase from $10.25 to $11.25 an hour ($450 for a 40 hour week) from 1 April 2007.
Monday 18th December
This document shows how to record the upcoming Christmas and New Year stat days
when an employee does work on a public holiday and needs to be paid correctly for it.
Friday 15th December
This document shows how to record the upcoming Christmas and New Year stat days for employees that do not work on these days but need to be paid for them.
Thursday 14th December
When planning work drinks or office related functions, it is worth thinking about the safety of employees affected by alcohol.
Otherwise, you assume a risk that you will be held liable for what happens to staff who attend the function and then fail to keep themselves safe, or who cause harm to others.
Wednesday 13th December
The income threshold at which new Zealand-based borrowers must begin repaying their student loans will rise from $17,160 to $17,784 on 1 April next year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.
Tuesday 12th December
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is, where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.
Monday 11th December
With Christmas pays coming up, which days are the stat days this year? I've been confused in past years and
want to know in black and white.
Friday 8th December
This document shows you how to set up Ace Payroll to easily send your monthly PAYE data to the IRD using their ir-file system.
Thursday 7th December
A Hastings meatworks is mounting a last-gasp legal attempt to save a hi-tech smoking room it has set up for its workers.
Wednesday 6th December
What is Ace Payroll doing about the changeover to four weeks? Is there anything I need to do now, or is it going to happen automatically?
Tuesday 5th December
An employer paid a high price for trying to torpedo an Employment Relations Authority investigation into the unjustifiably sacking of a medical receptionist.
Monday 4th December
Payroll News Issue 92 December 2006
Friday 1st December
The company behind disbanded Wellington band Trinity Roots has pleaded guilty to 22 charges of failing to file tax and gst returns.
November 2006
Thursday 30th November
This FAQ documents how to change the batch number in Ace Payroll, which your bank may occasionally ask you to do.
Wednesday 29th November
A company's own employees are the most likely culprits when it is hit by fraud, but they are also its front line of defence, says KPMG.
Tuesday 28th November
Still doing payroll manually and handwriting the IR348 return every month? See how
Ace Payroll produces an IRD approved form, saving you time each month.
Monday 27th November
Inland Revenue today welcomed the prison sentence handed down on a Palmerston North tax fraudster who stole about $220,000 from clients of the accounting firm where he worked.
Friday 24th November
How can I password protect Ace Payroll, or change the password if I forget it?
Thursday 23rd November
This Inland Revenue document outlines the Kiwisaver scheme that begins on 1 July 2007 from an employer perspective.
Wednesday 22nd November
An Auckland supermarket director who made his former de facto wife redundant has been ordered to pay her more than $9000 for unjustified dismissal and hurt feelings.
Tuesday 21st November
How can I back up my Ace Payroll data to a memory stick or flash drive?
Monday 20th November
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is,
where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.
Friday 17th November
IRD Payroll News Issue 91 November 2006
Thursday 16th November
Is there a facility in Ace Payroll where I can check when public holidays fall, in this, and future years?
Wednesday 15th November
A fact sheet covering Bereavement Leave under the Holidays Act 2003, from the Employment Relations Service website.
Tuesday 14th November
When I go to calculate my regular payroll it shows last weeks pay date. What is wrong?
Monday 13th November
A pregnant waitress who says she was sacked as "a liability" is taking her case to the Human Rights Commission.
Friday 10th November
How to search for an employee on the Ace Payroll employee index.
Thursday 9th November
Management jargon can alienate staff and leave bosses looking untrustworthy and weak, according to a survey this week.
Wednesday 8th November
This document shows you how to overwrite the PAYE calculated by Ace Payroll should you wish to enter a manual figure for any reason.
Tuesday 7th November
Drug dealers are paying tax to "legitimise their income" and claim accident compensation, but the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is legally prevented from passing incriminating details to police.
Monday 6th November
Sick of printing and handing out payslips? Try emailing payslips - it saves time, money and paper. This document shows you how to get started with emailing payslips.
Friday 3rd November
British business could lose more than seven billion pounds in the run-up to Christmas as employees waste company time browsing the internet for presents, employment experts said today.
Thursday 2nd November
I am going to ask my IT person to put Ace Payroll on the network. How do they go about it?
Wednesday 1st November
The Government did a last minute U-turn on the design of the Kiwisaver scheme, against the advice of officials, unions and others, Cabinet papers released today show.
October 2006
Tuesday 31st October
New research showing younger people are more likely to be short-listed for jobs than older people comes with a caution from the Human Rights Commission.
Monday 30th October
I have received a letter from the IRD telling me to pay my PAYE twice a month from now on. How do I do this in Ace Payroll?
Friday 27th October
I use Ace Payroll to send wages to Deskbank, and rather than have one
total for wages appear on the bank statement, I want a separate amount for each employee.
Thursday 26th October
Frequently Asked Questions about the changeover to four weeks annual leave from the Auckland Chamber Of Commerce.
Wednesday 25th October
Under the Holidays Act 2003 it is important to identify actual dates taken for all leave types. How do I go about doing this in Ace Payroll?
Tuesday 24th October
How can I set the Provincial Anniversary Date on a company wide basis so that Ace Payroll knows this is a public holiday for my staff?
Monday 23rd October
Today is Labour Day - this document shows you how to handle Labour Day in Ace Payroll.
Friday 20th October
What is the procedure for working out my pays in Ace Payroll? Is there a checklist?
Thursday 19th October
The User Definable Employee Data Field allows you to set up and name a field, then use it to record whatever item of employee information you want.
Wednesday 18th October
If Italians' tax returns are to be believed the average shoe salesman in the prosperous northern city of Bolzano earns 673 euros ($NZ1300.23) per year, while jewellers around the country earn less than primary school teachers.
Tuesday 17th October
This tutorial explains the calculation methods used for paying holiday pay under
the Holidays Act 2003, then shows how Ace Payroll automatically handles these calculations.
Monday 16th October
Wondering about the transition to four weeks annual leave next year? This document covers the
legislation, the Ace Payroll changes and things staff will ask you about the transition.
Friday 13th October
I own a small business. My employees are entitled as a condition of their employment to staff buying privileges. One of my employees has
resigned and is currently working out his notice period. Can I deduct the amount owed on his staff account from his final pay? If not, how can I recover this money?
Thursday 12th October
National's finance spokesman John Key says it will be difficult to "rip up" the Kiwisaver scheme if elected to Government.
Wednesday 11th October
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is,
where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.
Tuesday 10th October
IRD Payroll News Issue 90 October 2006.
Monday 9th October
An employer who threw a whiskey bottle which hit an employee on the head during a night out at a karaoke bar did not intend to hit him, the Employment Relations Authority ruled yesterday.
Friday 6th October
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act,
written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.
Thursday 5th October
The non-wage costs of employing people are rising at a record pace, pushing profits down and prices up.
Wednesday 4th October
I'm paying an employee a large amount of holiday pay. How do I make sure I tax it correctly?
Tuesday 3rd October
What is the correct way to show ACC payments on the IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule?
September 2006
Saturday 30th September
The High Court has upheld a judge's decision that a Hastings meat works was breaching anti-smoking law with a special room for workers who couldn't smoke outside.
Friday 29th September
For those that like to be prepared in advance, this document covers how you handle the 2006/2007 Xmas and
New Year public holidays in Ace Payroll.
Thursday 28th September
Ace Payroll is sometimes asked what the difference is between a casual and a part time employee.
Wednesday 27th September
Set your clocks forward one hour this Sunday 1st October. If staff are
employed during the transition, our Daylight Saving and the Time Act 1975 clarifies the situation.
Tuesday 26th September
Tax evasion is like pornography, says Julie Segedin, tax manager at Beattie Rickman. "You may not be able to define it very easily, but you know when you see it."
Monday 25th September
Holiday pay FAQ's from the Employment Relations Service.
Friday 22nd September
An old employee has come back to work for me again. How do I resume them in Ace Payroll?
Wednesday 20th September
Looking for help with Ace Payroll? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions where we answer well over one hundred questions about Ace Payroll with simple explanations and screenshots to demonstrate the answers.
Tuesday 19th September
There is no legal obligation to pay an employee for time on jury
service. However, some employers see this as part of their social or community obligations.
Monday 18th September
How can I set up Ace Payroll to do direct credits automatically using my banking software, rather than me making the payments manually?
Friday 15th September
My computer came up with a message saying I had a General Protection Fault. What could this mean and what do I do?
Thursday 14th September
The Child Support Amendment Bill passed its final stages in Parliament last night. Changes include a partial write-off of late payment penalties - to encourage lapsed payers of child support to
begin making regular payments again - and strengthened Inland Revenue powers to investigate liable parents' financial affairs.
Wednesday 13th September
Skills shortages are prompting employers to buck the trend and employ female apprentices, a report released recently shows.
Tuesday 12th September
The Ace Payroll Site Index is an alphabetical listing of items on our website - it
makes searching for the items you wish to learn about quick and easy.
Monday 11th September
This FAQ explains why the figures on your monthly IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule do not match other wage data for the month.
Friday 8th September
Looking for new payroll software? Download the latest Ace Payroll demo - the demo version allows you to
run pays for up to 8 weeks, allowing you to compare it to your present system.
Thursday 7th September
I have accidentally filed a pay for an employee and it is showing on my reports. How do I delete it?
Wednesday 6th September
This list documents what the different function keys in Ace Payroll do and links to documentation about each of the associated routines.
Tuesday 5th September
At the request of an employee, I want to set a default amount of PAYE or student loan to appear each week, rather than have it calculated by Ace Payroll. How do I do this?
Monday 4th September
IRD Payroll News Issue 89 September 2006
Friday 1st September
Sick of printing payslips and stuffing envelopes? Ace Payroll can email payslips straight to your staff
in an easy to read HTML format. No external software, no attachments. This document shows you how to get started.
August 2006
Thursday 31st August
This FAQ describes the best way to direct credit all an employee's nett pay.
Wednesday 30th August
The Wages Protection Act governs the way in which wages are paid, the
making of deductions, and recovery of over payments.
Tuesday 29th August
The KiwiSaver scheme is a solution to a non-existent problem, says a saving expert, who is disgusted by the Government's introduction of last-minute changes without consultation.
Monday 28th August
Recruiting a new staff member and unsure what to ask? - These 109 questions include both traditional and behavioral interview questions.
Friday 25th August
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is,
where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.
Thursday 24th August
A theft conviction for a Whangarei man who downloaded material from the internet from his work computer was unlikely to open floodgates for employers annoyed by high web usage, Business NZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly said yesterday.
Wednesday 23rd August
The Government is expected to postpone the start date of its flagship Kiwisaver workplace scheme amid concerns it will not be ready in time.
Tuesday 22nd August
My employee wants to pay back more than the minimum student loan so has
asked me to increase the amount I deduct each week. How is this done in Ace Payroll?
Monday 21st August
KiwiSaver starts on 1 April 2007. The employer obligations introduced by KiwiSaver will be handled
within Ace Payroll, but if you want general information about how the scheme as a whole works, this factsheet from the IRD answers frequently asked questions.
Friday 18th August
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act,
written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.
Wednesday 16th August
I imagine some people think unlimited bereavement leave starts the day they are employed. That is not correct, is it?
Tuesday 15th August
I have a casual employee who has recently become a permanent employee. How do I change their holiday pay from 6% each pay?
Monday 14th August
Looking for help with Ace Payroll? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions where we answer well over one hundred questions about Ace Payroll with simple explanations and screenshots to demonstrate the answers.
Friday 11th August
In this article we look at the calculation of Relevant Daily Pay for an employee who
works irregular hours. We examine both the legislation as well as what you need to do to handle this requirement in Ace Payroll.
Thursday 10th August
Employers can employ new staff on trial periods, as long as they specify
in writing that the employee is on a trial period - now also referred to as a "probationary arrangement".
Wednesday 9th August
Wages are rising at the fastest clip for 13 years - not fast enough to keep pace with inflation but enough to keep the Reserve Bank nervous and interest rates high.
Tuesday 8th August
How you can be sure that Ace Payroll is fully IRD compliant.
Monday 7th August
The IRD has sent us an IR23 Special Tax Code Certificate asking to deduct student loan at 12 cents in the dollar. How do we do this?
Friday 4th August
How do I show employee IRD numbers on the payslip?
Wednesday 2nd August
A child support variation code is used if you regularly deduct child support from an employee's
wages, but the amount deducted in a certain pay period is different from the usual deduction.
Tuesday 1st August
IRD Payroll News Issue 88 August 2006.
July 2006
Monday 31st July
The introduction of new coins on Monday is likely to cost some businesses dearly.
Friday 28th July
The Official Cash Rate (OCR) will remain unchanged at 7.25 per cent.
Thursday 27th July
When I print the IRD approved IR348, the first page comes out with IR348 printed
on it, but the second and subsequent pages say IR349. Why is this?
Wednesday 26th July
The deemed rate of return used for taxing foreign investment fund interests for the 2005–06 income tax year has been set at 9.82 percent, down from 10.17 percent last year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.
Tuesday 25th July
A Department of Labour survey released yesterday found 52 per cent of New Zealanders regarded their work-life balance as good or excellent. However, 40 per cent had some or a lot of difficulty getting the balance they wanted, and 46 per cent had experien
Monday 24th July
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is,
where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.
Friday 21st July
This article provides some tips on dealing with absent employees.
Thursday 20th July
Looking for new payroll software? Our testimonials page contains comments made by our clients every
day. Due to the number of testimonials, this page may take a moment to load.
Wednesday 19th July
What is the significance of figures that appear in blue in Ace Payroll?
Tuesday 18th July
I have deductions set up for many of my staff. Some of these deductions are linked to a bank account, but some (such as "Repayment of Advance") are not.
How can I see which deductions have been direct credited?
Monday 17th July
How can I show year to date totals on payslips in Ace Payroll?
Friday 14th July
Looking for new payroll software? Download our latest demonstration version today and find out why Ace Payroll is New Zealand's most widely used payroll system.
Tuesday 11th July
A change in the Inland Revenue's guide for individual income taxpayers could lead to some people underestimating the tax they owe and having to
pay up later - even if they have done exactly what the IRD says
Monday 10th July
I am the only person who has the password for Ace Payroll. How would my company gain access if something happened to me?
Friday 7th July
For monthly salaries, why is there a small discrepancy between the IRD printed tax tables, and the figures calculated by Ace Payroll?
Thursday 6th July
An important part of the Holidays Act 2003 is the introduction of an Employee Leave
Profile. How do I attend to this in Ace Payroll?
Wednesday 5th July
IRD Payroll News Issue 87, July 2006.
Tuesday 4th July
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax payments and deductions for the financial year selected.
Monday 3rd July
One of my staff wants to have their wages paid straight to their credit card. How do I set this up in Ace Payroll?
June 2006
Friday 30th June
Is there a place in Ace Payroll where I can record hours in lieu that have nothing to do
with a public holiday? For example, if an employee works three hours on a Saturday and I wish to hold these in lieu?
Thursday 29th June
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has apologised for wrongly sending out about 3500 letters regarding tax summaries.
Wednesday 28th June
This document shows you how to overwrite the PAYE calculated by Ace Payroll should you wish to enter a manual figure for any reason.
Tuesday 27th June
My employee has only worked for me for a few months, and is demanding a few days of paid holidays. Am I required to allow this?
Monday 26th June
I have heard that I should be showing the 8% accruing for the 4 weeks that comes in on 1 April 2007 now. Is this true?
Friday 23rd June
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act,
written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.
Thursday 22nd June
How can I enter an employee's email address into Ace Payroll so that I can email their payslip?
Wednesday 21st June
The next time you click "forward" on that hilarious email about your boss, be aware that Big Brother is watching, and he is not amused.
Monday 19th June
We have an annual closedown at Christmas and all employees are on the same anniversary date which is a requirement of the Act.
I assume the upcoming 4 weeks entitlement is retrospective to Christmas 2006?
Friday 16th June
I know it is unusual these days, but can I still pay some of my staff in cash using Ace Payroll. How do I go about this?
Thursday 15th June
Frequently Asked Questions about the changeover to four weeks annual leave from the Auckland Chamber Of Commerce.
Wednesday 14th June
Reserve Bank Governor Allan Bollard has warned he might push up interest rates if workers get "extravagant" pay rises.
Tuesday 13th June
What is Ace Payroll doing about the changeover to four weeks? Is there anything I need to do now, or is it going to happen automatically?
Tuesday 13th June
There were glum faces behind the flickering lights of Queen St shop fronts before businesses slowly returned to life after the power cut.
Monday 12th June
From 1 April 2006 the way tax is calculated for people who take in private boarders, including student homestays, will change and fewer people are likely to have to file a tax return.
Friday 9th June
Under what circumstances are we to exclude school students, contractors and companies from the IR348?
Thursday 8th June
A plasterer who wrote graffiti on a client's house and tried to use his employer's fuel card for his own van has been awarded $2400 for hurt
and humiliation after he was eventually sacked for being late.
Wednesday 7th June
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is, where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.
Tuesday 6th June
How can I back up my Ace Payroll data to a memory stick or flash drive?
Monday 5th June
Ace Payroll hopes you are enjoying a pleasant Queen's Birthday long weekend. This document shows you how to
pay for the public holiday.
Friday 2nd June
Is there a facility in Ace Payroll where I can check when public holidays fall, in this, and future years?
Thursday 1st June
IRD Payroll News, Issue 86 June 2006
May 2006
Wednesday 31st May
After two years of consultation, Inland Revenue is refusing to budge from its view that owners of residential rental properties cannot depreciate assets - such as plumbing, wiring and kitchen joinery - faster than the actual buildings they are in.
Tuesday 30th May
This FAQ documents how to change the batch number in Ace Payroll, which your bank may occasionally ask you to do.
Friday 26th May
How can I set the Provincial Anniversary Date on a company wide basis so that Ace Payroll knows this is a public holiday for my staff?
Thursday 25th May
I am going to ask my IT person to put Ace Payroll on the network. How do they go about it?
Wednesday 24th May
A Tauranga horticultural contractor was sentenced today in the Tauranga District Court to three years and two months in prison for evading tax of more than $650,000.
Tuesday 23rd May
This tutorial explains the calculation methods used for paying holiday pay under
the Holidays Act 2003, then shows how Ace Payroll automatically handles these calculations.
Friday 19th May
Still doing payroll manually and handwriting the IR348 return every month? See how Ace Payroll produces an IRD approved form, saving you time each month.
Thursday 18th May
Meat workers have been abusing the Holidays Act, forcing absenteeism rates to new highs and contributing to a $17 million wage-bill blowout, employers claim.
Wednesday 17th May
Is the lunchtime pint facing extinction? Only a minority of companies now allow staff to drink during the working day.
Tuesday 16th May
Looking for help with Ace Payroll? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions where we answer well over one hundred questions about Ace Payroll with simple explanations and screenshots to demonstrate the answers.
Monday 15th May
What is the procedure for working out my pays in Ace Payroll? Is there a checklist?
Friday 12th May
The User Definable Employee Data Field allows you to set up and name a field, then use it to record whatever item of employee information you want.
Thursday 11th May
A fact sheet covering Bereavement Leave under the Holidays Act 2003, from the Employment Relations Service website.
Wednesday 10th May
If your printed IR348 Employers Monthly Schedule as produced by Ace Payroll is
returned by the IRD as unsuitable, there are only three possible causes.
Tuesday 9th May
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax payments and deductions for the financial year selected.
Monday 8th May
IRD Payroll News Issue 85 May 2006
Friday 5th May
When I go to calculate my regular payroll it shows last weeks pay date. What is wrong?
Wednesday 3rd May
I employ just eight staff but I'm keen to set up a health and safety system for my business. I have been in business two years so I don't have a lot to spend. Can I achieve this at minimal cost?
Tuesday 2nd May
How can I password protect Ace Payroll, or change the password if I forget it?
Monday 1st May
I have received a letter from the IRD telling me to pay my PAYE twice a month from now on. How do I do this in Ace Payroll?
April 2006
Saturday 29th April
A tannery worker, whose employer accidentally paid him over $200 an hour instead of the $13 he was entitled to, has been ordered to pay the money back.
Friday 28th April
My employee usually works 2 days a week. What is their annual holiday entitlement?
Thursday 27th April
This feature in Ace Payroll lets you decide whether an employee receives a printed or emailed payslip,
both types, or no payslip at all. You can define this on a per employee basis.
Wednesday 26th April
How to search for an employee on the Ace Payroll employee index.
Tuesday 25th April
ANZAC Day is held on this day each year to commemorate New Zealanders killed in war. We will remember them. If you employ staff on ANZAC day, these notes may assist.
Monday 24th April
The government will introduce legislation to minimise the use of excessive 'salary sacrifice' as a means of paying less tax, Finance Minister Michael
Cullen and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced last week.
Friday 21st April
Email payslips to some or all your employees using this new Ace Payroll feature.
Thursday 20th April
Having a compulsory closedown? Make sure you tax lump sums paid to your staff correctly - this document shows you how.
Wednesday 19th April
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations
Service.
Tuesday 18th April
The Internal Revenue Department says it will rely mostly on people's honesty to comply with the new tax on foreign share investments, which experts say will be tough to police.
Monday 17th April
We hope our clients are having an enjoyable Easter - this document covers how the Easter 2006 public holidays are handled in Ace Payroll.
Friday 14th April
What is the correct way to show ACC payments on the IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule?
Thursday 13th April
Under the Holidays Act 2003 it is important to identify actual dates taken for all leave types.
How do I go about doing this in Ace Payroll?
Wednesday 12th April
At the request of an employee, I want to set a default amount of PAYE or student loan to appear each week, rather than have it calculated by Ace Payroll. How do I do this?
Tuesday 11th April
Is Easter Sunday a public holiday or not? This document courtesy of the Employment Relations Service clarifies the situation.
Monday 10th April
How do I handle paying for the upcoming Easter 2006 public holidays in Ace Payroll?
Friday 7th April
An old employee has come back to work for me again. How do I resume them in Ace Payroll?
Thursday 6th April
The Ace Payroll Site Index is an alphabetical listing of items on our website - it
makes searching for the items you wish to learn about quick and easy.
Wednesday 5th April
Can an employee use their sick leave for first weeks ACC if their injury is not work related?
Tuesday 4th April
I own a small business. My employees are entitled as a condition of their employment to staff buying privileges. One of my employees has
resigned and is currently working out his notice period. Can I deduct the amount owed on his staff account from his final pay? If not, how can I recover this money?
Monday 3rd April
There is no legal obligation to pay an employee for time on jury
service. However, some employers see this as part of their social or community obligations.
March 2006
Friday 31st March
I use Ace Payroll to send wages to Deskbank, and rather than have one
total for wages appear on the bank statement, I want a separate amount for each employee.
Thursday 30th March
Looking for new payroll software? See what others have to say about Ace Payroll on our Testimonial page.
Wednesday 29th March
Holiday pay FAQ's from the Employment Relations Service.
Monday 27th March
This FAQ explains why the figures on your monthly IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule do not match other wage data for the month.
Friday 24th March
I have accidentally filed a pay for an employee and it is showing
on my reports. How do I delete it?
Thursday 23rd March
Inland Revenue is to be allowed to waive penalties when people disclose inadvertent errors in their tax returns, in a move welcomed as pragmatic and overdue.
Wednesday 22nd March
If an employee does not normally work on the day that the Public Holiday
falls but works the Public Holiday are they entitled to an alternative holiday?
Tuesday 21st March
This list documents what the different function keys in Ace Payroll do and links to documentation about each of the associated routines.
Monday 20th March
The Wages Protection Act governs the way in which wages are paid, the making of deductions, and recovery of over payments.
Saturday 18th March
The dispute about whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor comes before the courts regularly for decision.
Friday 17th March
Looking for new payroll software? Download our latest demonstration version today and find out why
Ace Payroll is New Zealand's most widely used payroll system.
Thursday 16th March
From 1 April 2006, if you hire any type of contractor (individual, partnership, trust or company) for services or work related to the
pruning or thinning of fruit trees or vines, or the picking or packing of fruit or grapes, you must deduct withholding tax at the rate of 15
cents in the dollar, unless the contractor has a certificate of exemption or a special tax code certificate authorising deductions at a lower rate.
Wednesday 15th March
My computer came up with a message saying I had a General Protection Fault. What could this mean and what do I do?
Tuesday 14th March
Turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday 19th March. If staff
are employed during the transition, our Daylight Saving and the Time Act 1974 section clarifies the situation.
Monday 13th March
IRD Payroll News Issue 83 March 2006 is now available.
Friday 10th March
The Official Cash Rate (OCR) will remain on hold at 7.25 per cent.
Thursday 9th March
Can an employment agreement require medical certificates for all sick leave?
Wednesday 8th March
Questions and answers on what is KiwiSaver, how does it work, the calculation rate, participation, changing jobs, choosing to join, role
of employers, when will it start, will the money be protected, holidays from contributions, what is the Governments role, help and first home
buyers, borrowing against savings, retirement and KiwiSaver.
Tuesday 7th March
The student loan interest rate for the 2006-07 tax year has been set at 6.9%, down from 7.0%. The change was approved by Order in Council today.
Monday 6th March
Ace Payroll releases an upgrade each year - which most clients should have received by now - and we are
often asked when is the best time to install the upgrade.
Friday 3rd March
Recruiting a new staff member and unsure what to ask? - These 109 questions include both traditional and behavioral interview questions.
Thursday 2nd March
The KiwiSaver Bill has been introduced into Parliament. It provides a
legislative framework for the Government's new work-based savings scheme which is anticipated to start on 1 April 2007
Wednesday 1st March
My employee wants to pay back more than the minimum student loan so has
asked me to increase the amount I deduct each week. How is this done in Ace Payroll?
February 2006
Tuesday 28th February
I have a casual employee who has recently become a permanent employee. How do I change their holiday pay from 6% each pay?
Monday 27th February
In this article we look at the calculation of Relevant Daily Pay for an employee who
works irregular hours. We examine both the legislation as well as what you need to do to handle this requirement in Ace Payroll.
Friday 24th February
The rate used to calculate fringe benefit tax on low-interest, employment-related loans will rise from 9.01% to 9.55% from 1 April 2006.
Thursday 23rd February
At the start of each financial year Ace Payroll receives a number of calls from clients unsure
whether the tax is correctly calculated by the program. Here is a simple checklist.
Wednesday 22nd February
The Reserve Bank announced that New Zealand's new 50, 20 and 10 cent coins will be introduced on 31 July 2006.
Tuesday 21st February
This FAQ describes the best way to direct credit all an employee's nett pay.
Monday 20th February
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax
payments and deductions for the financial year selected.
Friday 17th February
The IRD has sent us an IR23 Special Tax Code Certificate asking to deduct student loan at 12 cents in the dollar. How do we do this?
Wednesday 15th February
How do I show employee IRD numbers on the payslip?
Tuesday 14th February
A child support variation code is used if you regularly deduct child support from an employee's
wages, but the amount deducted in a certain pay period is different from the usual deduction.
Monday 13th February
How you can be sure that Ace Payroll is fully IRD compliant
Friday 10th February
I imagine some people think unlimited bereavement leave starts the day they are employed. That is not correct, is it?
Thursday 9th February
Employers can employ new staff on trial periods, as long as they specify
in writing that the employee is on a trial period - now also referred to as a "probationary arrangement".
Wednesday 8th February
When I print the IRD approved IR348, the first page comes out with IR348 printed
on it, but the second and subsequent pages say IR349. Why is this?
Tuesday 7th February
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.
Monday 6th February
Today is Waitangi Day, we hope you all have a pleasant day. This document shows you how to pay for Waitangi Day in Ace Payroll.
Friday 3rd February
IRD Payroll News for February 2006 is now available at their website.
Thursday 2nd February
I have deductions set up for many of my staff. Some of these deductions are linked to a bank account, but some (such as "Repayment of Advance") are not.
How can I see which deductions have been direct credited?
January 2006
Tuesday 31st January
How can I show year to date totals on payslips in Ace Payroll?
Monday 30th January
The Warehouse has sacked a long-serving senior manager for bullying in a case some experts believe could become a landmark in employment law.
Friday 27th January
The Official Cash Rate (OCR) will remain unchanged at 7.25 per cent.
Thursday 26th January
I am going to ask my IT person to put Ace Payroll on the network. How do they go about it?
Wednesday 25th January
I am the only person who has the password for Ace Payroll. How would my company gain access if something happened to me?
Tuesday 24th January
Looking for payroll software? Download the latest demonstration version of Ace Payroll and
run it for up to eight weeks against your current payroll system.
Friday 20th January
A fact sheet covering Bereavement Leave under the Holidays Act 2003, from the Employment Relations Service website.
Thursday 19th January
How do I backup to a zip drive in Ace Payroll?
Wednesday 18th January
This article provides some tips on dealing with absent employees.
Tuesday 17th January
For monthly salaries, why is there a small discrepancy between the IRD
printed tax tables, and the figures calculated by Ace Payroll?
Monday 16th January
I have received a letter from the IRD telling me to pay my PAYE twice a month from now on. How do I do this in Ace Payroll?
Friday 13th January
Is there a place in Ace Payroll where I can record hours in lieu that have nothing to do
with a public holiday? For example, if an employee works three hours on a Saturday and I wish to hold these in lieu?
Thursday 12th January
This FAQ documents how to change the batch number in Ace Payroll, which your bank may occasionally ask you to do.
Wednesday 11th January
If I have someone working on a public holiday, and they start at 10pm on the public holiday and work till 5am, do I have to pay them at time and a half for the whole day?
Monday 9th January
This document shows you how to overwrite the PAYE calculated by Ace Payroll should you wish to enter a
manual figure for any reason.
Friday 6th January
Paying staff under the Holidays Act adds to the wage bill and is an administrative nightmare, a couple who run cafe businesses in Ohope, Whakatane, say.
Thursday 5th January
How can I set the Provincial Anniversary Date on a company wide basis
so that Ace Payroll knows this is a public holiday for my staff?
Wednesday 4th January
Still doing payroll manually and handwriting the IR348 return every month? See how Ace Payroll produces an IRD approved form, saving you time each month.
Tuesday 3rd January
New Zealanders are split down the middle over whether restaurants and cafes should charge extra on public holidays.
Monday 2nd January
Looking for help with Ace Payroll? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions where we answer well over one hundred questions about Ace Payroll with simple explanations and screenshots to demonstrate the answers.
Sunday 1st January
Happy New Year from Ace Payroll. Our help desk continues to operate throughout the holiday period 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, public holidays excepted.
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