Newsletters 
October MeetingWho’s Speaking?Please join us on Thursday, October 2, 2008 for the monthly professional education luncheon at Woodhaven Country Club from 11:30 - 1:30. The FWAPA guest speaker will be Christa Arocha-De Leon. The topic is “Electronic Child Support Payments”. Christa Arocha-De Leon has worked for the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Child Support Division for 12 years. Her experience encompasses two years in customer service and ten years in state office. Through her various positions within the agency, Christa has developed an array of experience and expertise. For seven years of her career in state office, Christa was dedicated to the development and implementation of the State Disbursement Unit (SDU) contract to include both the payment processing and call center operations. In fact, Christa served on one of the on-site management teams when the SDU was implemented in 2000. In 2003, Ms. Arocha-De Leon started her path of becoming a resident expert on electronic banking. For the last five years, Christa has led the effort to increase her knowledge on electronic banking and assist the agency with increasing Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) services options for all stakeholders to include other states, parents and employers. As the Manager of Employer Services, Christa’s focus has been on identifying ways to outreach and educate employers on child support responsibilities to the OAG. Through her partnerships and educational outreach efforts, she has been able to reduce the burden child support matters place on employers and assist employers to get payments to families quicker. Chapter AnniversaryHappy Birthday FWAPA!! We are 14 years old. There will be gifts for everyone attending our birthday luncheon, also cake, balloons and party favors.
Luncheon Reservations |
Member SpotlightCheryl Cook, CPP Celebrate our profession by displaying with pride the NPW poster. Cheryl was born in Augusta, Georgia and moved to Texas when she was 5. She grew up in Irving, TX and graduated from MacArthur High School
Cheryl has worked for ADP INC for 19 years. As a Support
Specialist II her main responsibility is to mentor associates who are
on the front lines assisting ADP clients. She also works part-time as a paramedic and has been doing this for 14 years. She has worked different jobs through the years, and is currently working for the Texas Rangers. She will work at the State Fair of Texas in the fall. This is her 10th season with the Rangers and 14th year working the State Fair. She loves to cook and is constantly collecting recipes and watching The Food Network. Her daughter, who is 5, loves helping out in the kitchen. Cheryl is the coordinator of our chapter cookbook, have you sent her your favorite recipe? Chapter Officer UpdateThanks to Samantha Bryant for her service as Chapter Treasurer. Due to job logistics she could not continue in this position. Thanks to Tammy Wyatt for stepping up and accepting the Treasurer position. Don’t forget to share your 2008 National Payroll Week celebration and activities with your chapter leaders. |
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Chapter Members Making a Difference
Tarrant County Back to School Roundup
TAFB Back Pack for Kids Program
Volunteer, it just makes you feel good Our second project is for SafeHaven. Geri Medlin has asked our chapter to help two families at Christmas with Christmas presents. She requested that we get at least one present from the list for each member of the two families. We will appoint teams and give each team a list of possible gifts for the family. The list and family will be selected by SafeHaven. Volunteer of the Year AwardAll our members are special but this is the time of year when our chapter takes great pride to recognize that exceptional member who has contributed to our chapter success. We are fortunate to have many members who continuously give their time and talent to make our chapter successful. Not sure who to nominate....visit with other chapter members or look around at the chapter meetings and nominate a member who is always volunteering and working to make our chapter one of the very best. Nomination forms will be available on the chapter website. Past recipients include Maureen Garbarino, Velma Martin, Sara Hawkins and Doris Short. |
October is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthBecause every woman is at risk for breast cancer – a disease that strikes at random and for which the causes and cures are still unknown every moment counts.
Government UpdateIRS Again Postpones Effective Date of Smartcard, Debit Card Ruling Rev Rul 2006-57, 2006-47 IRB 911, issued in November 2006, explains how employers can use smartcards or debit cards to provide excluded transportation fringe benefits to employees with a minimum of paperwork. The ruling was to be effective on Jan. 1, 2008. Last year, the effective date of the ruling was postponed to Jan. 1, 2009. The IRS has now announced that the effective date will be further delayed until Jan. 1, 2010 [ Notice 2008-74, 2008-38 IRB , 9/3/08]. The delays have been granted because the Department of the Treasury and the IRS are aware that certain transit systems may need additional time to modify their technology and make it compatible with the requirements for vouchers in Rev Rul 2006-57, 2006-47 IRB 911 . Even though the effective date has been delayed, employers may rely on Rev Rul 2006-57, 2006-47 IRB 911 , with respect to transactions occurring prior to Jan. 1, 2010. International Direct Deposits will need to be formatted to the new International ACH Transaction (IAT rules by September 2009. For details go to website www.nacha.org No Dollar Limit on De Minimis Fringe Benefits The IRS Office of Chief Counsel has issued an information letter which says that there is no dollar cap on de minimis fringe benefits. The information letter was issued in response to an inquiry about a company that required noncash gifts to employees valued over $50 to be |
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processed through payroll with applicable withholding [ Information Letter 2008-0023 ]. IRC §132(e)(1) defines a de minimis fringe benefit as any property or service the value of which is so small (after taking into account the frequency with which the employer provides similar fringes to other employees) as to make accounting for it unreasonable or administratively impracticable. Reg. § 1.132-6(e)(1) provides the following examples of benefits excludable from gross income as de minimis fringe benefits: occasional typing of personal letters by a company's secretary; occasional personal use of an employer's copying machine, provided that the employer exercises sufficient control and imposes significant restrictions on the personal use of the machine so that at least 85% of the use of the machine is for business purposes; occasional cocktail parties, group meals, or picnics for employees and their guests; traditional birthday or holiday gifts of property (not cash) with a low fair market value;
occasional theater or sporting event tickets; The Chief Counsel's Office notes that the IRS does not include any dollar limits in the above examples. Fort Worth Chapter APA
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| Speaker/Topic/ Chapter Activity | |
| September 4, 2008 | – National Payroll Week |
| September 24 – 27, 2008 | Texas Payroll Conference – Corpus Christi, TX |
| October 2, 2008 | – 14th Chapter Anniversary |
| October 2, 2008 | – Christa Arocha-De Leon, OAG Child Support “Wage Withholding Orders & Electronic Submitting” |
| November 6, 2008 | – TBA |
| December 4, 2008 | – Holiday Party |
To contact any Chapter officer visit our website at www.fortworthapa.org
The Fort Worth Chapter Newsletter is distributed with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. The information contained in this newsletter is obtained from reliable statutory resources.
It’s that time of the year to renew your Chapter Membership. Thank you for supporting your chapter professional organization during the past year. By maintaining your membership in the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Payroll Association you join many payroll colleagues taking advantage of career enhancing opportunities.
The FWAPA brings together payroll professionals from a wide variety of industries that have diverse and demanding payroll compliance needs. Through the involvement of active and enthusiastic members we work to continually elevate the status and recognition of the payroll profession Membership entitles you too many significant benefits:
A membership renewal application is attached to this newsletter. Print and complete the renewal application and mail with your check today to continue receiving the many benefits membership provides. Many dynamic speakers and current topics are scheduled for 2009, don’t miss any of these speakers, and renew your membership today.
If you have any questions contact Sara Hawkins at sara.hawkins@nursefinders.com or 817-462-9057.
Don’t miss out in 2009. Print the Membership Form attached to this newsletter. Return the completed form and membership fee by mail or bring to the October luncheon.
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On September 10th Chapter members gathered at Tarrant
Area Food Bank and bagged food that will be used in the Back Pack for
Kids program. We packed 1300 bags of food that will be distributed
to 31 Fort Worth Schools to be sent home with kids so they have food for
the weekend. What a team effort!! The next volunteer date is Wednesday,
October 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm. Contact Kim Markle at kim.markle@omniamerican.com
for information.
