Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Sacramento, CA

Compliance Payroll, Inc. is an independent payroll processor based in Sacramento, California, that has handled payroll for local employers since its founding in 1997. The firm deliberately keeps its footprint regional. It operates no branch offices elsewhere and concentrates its client base in the Greater Sacramento area.

Its pitch to buyers is that a locally owned shop can match much of what national providers offer. It adds direct access to staff who know each account, competitive rates and close attention to accuracy.

Core payroll processing

The company works mainly with small and midsized employers and says its system can scale to organizations of varying size. Clients can run payroll themselves through an online platform, including a mobile tool called Employer On The Go. They can also send hours and changes to the service team by email, phone, fax or web. Before a payroll is finalized, employers can preview the results to catch mistakes. Notable features include:

• No limit on custom earnings and deduction types
• Pay options including live checks, direct deposit, a payroll debit card, or a mix
• Checks and reports printed on site by the employer, or produced and delivered by the firm
• Gross-to-net and net-to-gross paycheck calculators
• Email alerts covering payday, processing completion and funding needs
• Self-service web and mobile access for staff to view pay stubs, W-2s and 1099s
• Hundreds of reports, including job costing, labor distribution, EEOC and audit trails, which can be scheduled for automatic delivery

Tax filing and compliance

Payroll tax management is central to the offering. Compliance Payroll calculates and deposits federal, state, and municipal payroll taxes. It prepares the required returns and reconciliations and guarantees that those filings are timely and accurate. Clients receive copies of filings and detailed tax summaries, and the team responds to notices from tax agencies on the client's behalf.

Related services include automated new hire reporting to state agencies and calculation of court-ordered wage garnishments. Data is protected with SSL encryption, permission-based user access, and backups held at primary and secondary sites.

Services beyond payroll

The firm extends its platform into several adjacent areas. Its timekeeping system supports physical time clocks, a web-based clock and smartphone punches. It can track breaks, tips, job-level hours and piece work, and it can import hours from point-of-sale systems. Reports flag overtime risk, missed punches, tardiness and absences.

Restaurants and other employers with tipped staff receive specific support for wage and tip rules. On the HR side, clients can record items such as certifications, training, licenses and company property. They also gain access to an online HR Support Center with handbook development, job descriptions, policy templates and resources on federal and state law.

An optional HR On-Demand subscription adds unlimited phone and email consultation with an HR professional. The company also helps businesses set up 401(k) retirement plans. Through partnerships with insurance carriers, it calculates and remits workers' compensation premiums with each payroll.

Partner programs

Compliance Payroll runs referral and reseller programs for CPAs and other advisers who serve smaller companies, such as insurance agents, banks, TPAs, financial advisors and industry associations. CPA partners get a single login to view client payroll data, tax payments and year-end forms. They also have access to referral discounts, private label options, and reduced-cost or free payroll for their own firms. For Sacramento-area buyers weighing a hometown provider against a national brand, the company offers a free payroll quote.