Payroll Calculations - Health Insurance

SOLVED

Our company pays 100% of premiums for our employees. Therefore, I have had payroll calculations setup for EE, EE+Spouse, EE + Dependents, and Family. These are all based on a rate per pay period. 

We have a new employee that we are only paying for him and his spouse. He will pay the difference for family plan. I have setup a new calculation that is an employee deduction not subject to any of the income taxes or payroll taxes. Can someone confirm this is correct regarding the pre-tax deduction setup?

Also, when researching this, I noted that when the employer pays health insurance premiums for the S-Corp owners (over 2%), these should be reported as wages and then the owners can take a SE Health ins deduction on their 1040. We have not been doing this and I confirmed they have not been taking the deduction on 1040s. I feel like this would be more beneficial. In order to include this cost in owner wages, would I need to setup a new payroll calculation that is similar to the health insurance calculation (family) and include it as wages subject to all payroll and income taxes?

Thanks,

  • +1
    verified answer

    Regarding the S corp owner, you are correct.  This is required by the IRS to be reported in box 1 of the W-2, but should NOT be included in Box 3 or 5.  We use it for medical, dental and vision as all are health insurance subject to a pre-tax condition.  It would not be the same as any other payroll calculation because health insurance for a regular employee is not reportable in box 1.  So, it would require a separate calculation NOT subject to Social Security, Medicare, FUTA.  Technically it is not subject to income taxes either because it is currently allowed as a deduction before taxable wages on the individual tax return, however we have ours set to withhold as it hits box 1.  In our state, it IS subject to SUTA, so I can not speak to the state treatment in your environment.  You should contact your company accountant/payroll provider on that treatment.  Finally, it is marked as a box 14 item on the W-2 with the code of 2%SEHI. 

  • 0 in reply to Bushman

    So just to clarify... it will not let me setup a calculation that is calculation type "employer cost" and subject it to payroll taxes. The way I have all other employees setup is employer cost that is credited to health insurance payable, and when the premiums are paid, they reduce the liability account.

    So for the owners, do i need to keep the original calculation for them for the premiums and then add a separate calculation to report the premiums as wages? 

  • +1
    verified answer

    The employees deduction is subject to all taxes unless it is a section 125 cafeteria plan. Then no taxes apply.   

  • 0 in reply to Ralls Pennington

    We have a stand alone calculation for this issue and it is a calculation type of add/deduct taxable.  We also credit against the health insurance payable account.