10 Critical To-Do's on Your HR Year-End Checklist

1. Note important dates and deadlines, and prepare necessary forms

While many employees mark the end of the year by using up remaining PTO, it’s the busiest time of year for HR. Prepare for a smoother season with these key dates:

• Your deadline for all 2023 adjustments is Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Remember to pay 2023 bonuses and third-party sick time before the deadline.
• Filing W-2s: Employers must provide Form W-2 to employees and the Social Security Administration by January 31, 2024.
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting: Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) must furnish Forms 1095-C to applicable employees by March 1, 2024, and all employers must file paper Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS by February 29, 2024 (or March 31, 2024, if filing electronically).
• FICA and FUTA forms: The IRS requires employers with Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax liability of more than $500 for the calendar year to deposit at least one quarterly payment. The due date for filing Form 940 is January 31, 2024, but if you deposited all FUTA taxes when they were due, you have until February 10, 2024, to file. If the due date for filing falls on a weekend or legal holiday, you can file the return on the next business day.
  

2. Validate employee personal and contact information

Whether an employee has moved, gotten married or divorced, or had a baby, their circumstances may be different than a year ago. Ensure employees receive their W-2s by encouraging them to log in and make necessary updates to their address, email address, and more.

Top things to review:

• Verify employee names and social security numbers are in the correct format.
• Confirm employee retirement plans are correctly listed on Box 13 of Form W-2s.
• Ensure any deceased employees’ status is Deceased.
• Confirm any deferred compensation plans are correct and verify employee contributions.
• Update and submit any Group Term Life Insurance claims.
• Verify withholdings are made properly.

3. Communicate paperless options

Keep employees in the loop and proactively communicate updates, such as when and how to access year-end documents. Send an announcement via Community and ensure your employees — even those without a company computer or email — receive necessary information and a consistent experience. Share the benefits of receiving W-2s electronically, such as instant and convenient ongoing access and less waste.

4. Review benefits and prepare for open enrollment

Have things changed over the past year? Open enrollment can be a great time to revisit plans and communicate any changes accordingly:

• Review coverage plans, pricing, and health insurance policies to determine if changes are needed.
• Prepare open enrollment communications and documents.
• Review Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions, such as Employer Shared Responsibility, and IRS 2024 Employer Health Plan Affordability.

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Learn More: ACA Compliance Guide for Employers

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5. Review compliance requirements

Review Department of Labor (DOL) requirements and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for any federal updates or alerts to help ensure your timekeeping practices are current and compliant.

6. Prepare final payroll

Process all bonus payments on a separate check, and before January 2, 2024, to take full advantage of tax overrides, auto-payments, gross-to-net calculations, and more.

7. Check tax rates and wage bases

Review current tax rates and set any new wage base limits to take effect on January 1, including federal and state unemployment tax, Medicare, Social Security, and state employment taxes.

8. Distribute tax forms if not paperless

• January 31, 2024: 
  • Tax forms such as W-2s and 1099s must be distributed to employees if they haven't opted for paperless forms.
  • Employers must file all Form W-2s to the IRS
• March 1, 2023: ACA Forms 1095-C, 1095-B, and 1094-C are due to employees.

9. Update employee handbook and policies

Have any paid time off policies changed due to updated or new legislation? What about compensation and benefits? Review your employee handbook annually and update any guidance for the coming year. Post and share the updated version with employees using a social collaboration tool, such as Community, or make it a course in your learning management system (LMS) to track readership.

10. Evaluate and ask for feedback

After year end is over, send a survey to gather feedback on what worked and what didn’t. For example, did your employees have the information they needed in time to enroll in benefits? Chat with stakeholders, senior leaders, and employees to gain 360-feedback, and adjust your plans accordingly for the following year.

For more helpful tips on this busy time of year, check out this Year-End Survival Guide. Level up with tips designed to help your organization deliver an improved employee experience, enhance communication, enforce compliance, and more.