All faculty and staff are invited to join in caroling at Assumption Village, a North Portland senior and assisted living facility, on Sunday, December 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. There will be treats, song books, and the incomparable Maureen Briare on piano. To join the fun or get more information, contact Ellen Radcliffe, controller’s office, at radcliff@up.edu.
Controller
Holiday Information From The Controller
With the holidays rapidly approaching, the controller’s office would like to make the campus community aware of the following:
- Please keep in mind that, while department funds may be used to sponsor holiday parties and events, they may NOT be used to purchase holiday gifts for staff, faculty, or student employees. Those who approve such purchases will be asked to reimburse the University. The full policy can be found online here.
- This is a great time to make sure that your home address is current in Banner so your W-2 tax form report is correct. Just go to Self-Serve Banner and, under “Personal Information” select “Update Address and Phones.” If anything needs to be updated, you can change it there.
- If you haven’t yet opted-in to electronic delivery of your W-2, please consider doing so. It is more convenient and saves time and money. To opt-in, go to Self-Serve Banner and, under “Employee” select “Electronic Regulatory Consent” and check the two boxes for W-2 and 1095-C and submit.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any of the above, please contact the controller’s office at x7337 or controller_up@up.edu.
New Oregon Payroll Tax: What To Expect
Beginning in July of this year, the State of Oregon is levying a 0.1% state-wide transit tax on all salaries and wages. UP employees will see a new deduction code, “SWT” (for state-wide transit) on paychecks beginning July 20. The July 5 and 10 paychecks are payments for work performed in June and are, therefore, not subject to this tax.
For more information contact Eric Barger, controller, at barger@up.edu.
2017 Tax Reform Legislation: Time to Double-Check Withholding
Tax reform legislation enacted in December, 2017 makes a number of changes for 2018 that affect individual taxpayers. The IRS has released the 2018 Form W-4, and has updated the IRS withholding calculator in order to assist taxpayers in determining the appropriate withholding allowances for the 2018 tax year.
The IRS specifically encourages taxpayers who fall into the following groups to double-check their withholding:
- Two-income families;
- Taxpayers with two or more jobs at the same time or who only work for part of the year;
- Taxpayers with children who claim credits such as the child tax credit;
- Taxpayers who itemized deductions in 2017; and/or
- High-income taxpayers and those with complex tax returns.
Below are links to the 2018 Form W-4 and IRS withholding calculator. While the IRS has stated that employees are not required to make any changes, they have strongly recommended that employees review their withholding to make sure it is accurate.
To access the IRS withholding calculator please use this link.
To view the 2018 Form W4 click on this link.
Please send new W-4 forms to the payroll department at least 10 days prior to the pay date you would like the change to take effect. If you have any questions please contact the payroll department at payroll@up.edu.
Payroll Office Returns to Waldschmidt Hall
The payroll office, which had been temporarily located at the main entrance of the information services office in Tyson Hall, has moved back to its renovated space in Waldschmidt Hall, according to Shiromani Narayan, payroll. For more information contact Narayan at x8338 or narayan@up.edu.
Temporary Location for Payroll Office
The payroll office is temporarily located at the main entrance of the information services office in Tyson Hall, according to Shiromani Narayan, payroll. They will be located there during the remodeling project taking place in their location in Waldschmidt Hall. Please drop all payroll related items to the interim location at Tyson Hall.
For more information contact Narayan at x8338 or narayan@up.edu.
New Face in Payroll Office: Ashmeeta Kumar
There is another new addition to the payroll office, named Ashmeeta Kumar, according to Shiromani Narayan, payroll. She joins the University from Direct Marketing Solutions and brings years of experience in payroll and HR functions. For more information contact Narayan at payroll@up.edu.
University of Portland Relay For Life, April 1
The University of Portland chapter of Colleges Against Cancer will hold its annual Relay For Life walk on Saturday, April 1, from noon to 8 p.m., in the Academic Quad. The UP Relay For Life is one of several relay events where teams and individuals take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team has a least one participant on the track at all times and participates in fundraising that supports the American Cancer Society.
Members of the UP community can join teams or form their own team and come walk to raise awareness for the American Cancer Society and the mission to save lives from cancer. Funds raised by Relay for Life support patient services, lifesaving research, prevention education, and advocacy efforts.
Click here to learn more about the program, or contact Rowena Bramlette at x8017 or torres@up.edu for more information.
New Policy on Employee Recognition: Awards, and Events
As we begin the holiday season, all departments should take note of a new policy adopted by the President’s Leadership Council with respect to employee recognition, awards, and events, according to Eric Barger, controller. This new policy was adopted to ensure compliance with tax regulations, appropriate use of University resources, and equity across the departments of the University. A significant point in the new policy is a general prohibition on the use of gift cards as gifts to employees. There may be infrequent exceptions to this general rule, and in those circumstances departments must have officer approval in advance and give notice to the Controller’s Office (so that the value of the card may be included in taxable income).
To clarify, the drawing items at the annual staff luncheon are not going to be taxed; other gifts outside that arrangement that will be taxed. Because of the random nature of the drawings, those benefits are considered “de minimis.” The new policy may be read at this link.
For more information contact the controller at x7393 or barger@up.edu.
Semi-Monthly Timesheets Due Monday, Aug. 29
Due to the semi-monthly payroll date of Friday, September 2, timesheets are due by 3 p.m. on Monday, August 29, according to Karen Davis, payroll. Supervisors will have until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30 to approve all hours.
For more information contact payroll at 7338 or davisk@up.edu.