Payroll & Tax Guides
Plain-English answers to the payroll questions New England small businesses actually ask.
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How to Do Payroll Yourself: A Step-by-Step Guide for Massachusetts Small Businesses
A complete walkthrough for running payroll manually in Massachusetts — calculating federal and state withholding, FICA, PFML, and cutting the check correctly.
Massachusetts PFML: A Plain-English Guide for Small Business Owners
Everything you need to know about Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave — rates, who pays, deadlines, and how to calculate deductions for 2025.
New England Minimum Wage 2025: All 6 States in One Place
Current minimum wage rates for Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine — including tipped employee rules and upcoming changes.
The True Cost of Hiring an Employee in Massachusetts
Beyond the salary: a complete breakdown of what Massachusetts employers actually pay per employee — FICA, FUTA, SUTA, PFML, workers' comp, and benefits.
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Connecticut Payroll Tax Guide for Employers (2025)
Complete guide to Connecticut payroll taxes — state income tax withholding, CT PFML, unemployment insurance rates, and how to register and file as a CT employer.
How to Calculate Overtime Pay: A Step-by-Step Guide
Federal overtime rules, how to calculate the regular rate of pay, common mistakes with salaried employees, and how New England states handle overtime differently.
How to Fill Out the Massachusetts M-4 Withholding Form
Step-by-step instructions for completing the Massachusetts M-4 employee withholding certificate — what each line means and how to fill it out correctly.
Massachusetts PFML vs. FMLA: What's the Difference?
PFML and FMLA both cover family and medical leave in Massachusetts — but they work completely differently. Here's how they interact, who's covered by each, and what employers must do.
Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance (SUTA): Rates, Calculations & Experience Rating
How Massachusetts unemployment insurance works for employers — contribution rates, the wage base, experience rating, and how to avoid rate increases.
New Hire Checklist for Massachusetts Employers
Everything you need to do in the first 30 days when you hire someone in Massachusetts — paperwork, filings, registrations, and payroll setup.
Overtime Rules for Salaried Employees in Massachusetts
Do salaried employees get overtime in Massachusetts? It depends on their exempt status. Here's how to determine who qualifies, what the thresholds are, and how to calculate overtime correctly.
Rhode Island Payroll Taxes: A Complete Employer Guide
Everything Rhode Island employers need to know about payroll taxes — state income tax withholding, RI TDI, unemployment insurance rates, and how to register and file.
Tipped Employee Payroll in Massachusetts: Rules, Rates, and Calculations
How to calculate payroll for tipped employees in Massachusetts — the service rate, tip credit rules, tip pooling, and what happens when tips don't cover the gap.
How to Read a Pay Stub: Every Line Explained
A plain-English guide to every deduction on a pay stub — federal withholding, state tax, Social Security, Medicare, PFML, and pre-tax deductions.
W-2 Employee vs. 1099 Contractor: The True Cost Difference
Hiring a contractor feels cheaper than hiring an employee — but the math is more complicated than it looks. Here's what you actually pay for each.