Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in North Haven, CT

TPS Group is a family of companies based in North Haven, Connecticut. It started in 1964, when The Pension Service began running retirement plans for employers. Over time the firm moved beyond pension work, and its affiliates now cover retirement plan management, payroll and employee benefits. Payroll is handled by Payright Payroll Affiliates, the group's payroll division, which works from the same Washington Avenue address as the parent company.

Payroll services through Payright

Payright Payroll Affiliates sets up payroll for employers large and small. Instead of one fixed package, it shapes each setup to how complex the client's needs are. Its offering combines payroll processing with tax management and links to related workforce tools. Buyers comparing providers will find these services:

• Payroll processing and payroll tax management
• Time and attendance tracking, including options built on Kronos software
• A human resources system that connects directly to the payroll platform
• Pay-as-you-go workers' compensation, with premiums worked out from actual wages and collected automatically each pay period

The pay-as-you-go workers' compensation option may suit companies whose headcount changes often, because it avoids paying a large estimated premium up front. Earlier company materials also said the payroll operation held SAS-70 certification, an audit standard for internal controls that matters to firms handling sensitive pay data.

Retirement and benefits expertise

What sets TPS Group apart from a stand-alone payroll bureau is its long experience running retirement plans. Through The Pension Service, it acts as a third-party administrator for 401(k), 403(b), eligible 457(b), profit sharing, defined benefit, cash balance and multiple employer plans. It also builds prevailing wage plans for open shop contractors on public projects.

Typical work includes nondiscrimination testing, Form 5500 filings, contribution and vesting calculations, loans, distributions and enrollment support. A separate unit, TPS 3(16) Service, can take on ERISA 3(16) plan administrator duties. The group also provides group employee benefits with combined billing, and it sends human resources consulting to its strategic partner, Blueprint HR Solutions.

How it works with clients

TPS Group describes itself as a small-to-midsize firm that serves businesses of a similar size. Clients pick only the services they need instead of buying a full bundle. An employer can pair payroll with retirement plan administration, benefits or HR support within one group. This can make it easier to pass payroll deductions to plan contributions.

The firm stresses lasting personal relationships with each client. It notes that many staff have been with the company for fifteen years or more, and it names technology as a key part of how it delivers service.

Leadership and locations

James P. Cantey leads the company as president and owner, with Ben Gagliano as partner and vice-president and Jennifer Davie, Esq. as legal counsel. Besides its Connecticut office in North Haven, TPS Group lists offices in Acton, Massachusetts; Gorham, Maine; Amherst, New York; and Newark, Ohio. Its payroll division markets to employers across Connecticut, including the Hartford and Fairfield areas, as well as in New York and other states.