Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Watertown, SD

Chad E. Rausch P.C. is a certified public accounting practice in Watertown, South Dakota, that handles payroll alongside a broader menu of tax, bookkeeping and advisory work. The firm works with individuals as well as businesses of varying size, from home-based sole proprietors to small and mid-sized employers with staff on the books.

For companies weighing an outsourced payroll provider, the practice is an accounting firm first. Payroll is handled by people who also understand the tax and recordkeeping that surround it.

Payroll options

The firm offers several ways to work with it on payroll rather than a single package. Its full-service option covers the entire processing cycle. Checks are laser printed on blank security stock built to satisfy Federal Reserve encoding requirements, and direct deposit is included at no added charge. The firm also takes care of federal and state tax filings and EFTPS deposits. Employers receive periodic tax reports, year-end forms, leave accrual tracking and new hire filings.

Some businesses prefer to cut their own checks. For them, an after-the-fact service takes the owner's manually prepared payroll data and enters it into the firm's own system. That system then generates the same tax filings, deposits, reports and recordkeeping. A third offering covers the special reports that government agencies often request.

• Full-cycle payroll processing with printed checks and free direct deposit
• After-the-fact payroll posting for employers who write checks in-house
• Federal and state payroll tax reporting and EFTPS deposits
• Monthly, quarterly and annual reports plus W-2, W-3, 1099 and 1096 forms
• Vacation, sick and personal day accrual reports
• New hire reporting
• Support with workers' compensation, unemployment, Social Security and child support audits
• Help with federal and state registration paperwork
• Union, certified payroll and workers' comp reporting available as add-ons

Related accounting support

Payroll ties into the firm's outsourced bookkeeping. That work covers payables, receivables, bank reconciliations, inventory, general ledger work and cleanup of disorganized books. New businesses can get help building recordkeeping systems from scratch. Established ones can have existing processes streamlined with internal checks added. The practice also prepares individual and business tax returns and offers tax planning and estate planning.

It assists with business formation and advisory needs. It also represents clients facing IRS audits, unfiled returns, payroll tax problems or installment agreements.

QuickBooks is another focus. The firm holds Certified ProAdvisor status and provides setup, training, tune-ups and quick-answer support. Its site also offers a route to purchase the software. This can suit employers who want to keep some processing in-house while still having an accountant nearby.

Credentials and approach

The firm lists CPA and MBA credentials and is affiliated with the AICPA and the Accountant Finder Network. It frames its work around quality, responsiveness and professionalism, and it stresses ongoing professional education. It says much of its recent growth has come from client referrals. Clients can use a secure, password-protected online portal to store and retrieve financial documents. Payroll pricing is quoted individually after a consultation about the employer's needs and chosen services.

VRS P.C. is a certified public accounting practice in eastern South Dakota with offices in Watertown and Brookings. It works with individuals, families and business owners across the surrounding region. The firm describes itself as offering the breadth of a larger accounting organization while keeping the hands-on, individual attention of a smaller one.

Buyers evaluating payroll providers should see VRS as a CPA firm that handles payroll as part of a wider set of accounting, tax and advisory work. It is not a standalone payroll software vendor.

Payroll and core accounting services

Payroll is part of the firm's bookkeeping practice, which is one of its main service lines. Some companies prefer to have one accounting team manage their books, run payroll and prepare their tax filings. For them, this arrangement keeps payroll records, general ledger work and year-end tax preparation in one place.

The pages reviewed for this listing do not describe specific payroll deliverables. Prospective clients should confirm with the firm which payroll processing and reporting tasks it covers. The firm's main service areas include:

• Bookkeeping and payroll
• Tax services
• Reviews and compilations of financial statements
• Litigation support
• Advisory and consulting services

Advisory work for employers and owners

Several of VRS's advisory offerings deal directly with issues employers face. The firm runs a series of consulting sessions on sound recordkeeping and tax efficiency. Topics include:

• Whether workers should be classified as independent contractors or employees
• The treatment of business expenses
• Recordkeeping for LLCs
• Rental property operations
• How Social Security benefits interact with retirement income

Worker classification is closely tied to payroll compliance, so this guidance is relevant for small employers. VRS also advises owners on choosing a business structure when they start a company and on reorganizing it as the company grows, with attention to tax and liability consequences.

Beyond business consulting, the firm helps with estate and trust planning. This work aims to transfer assets smoothly, reduce the tax burden on heirs and support ownership succession for family businesses. Its financial and retirement planning covers asset allocation, monitoring investment results, funding college education, and insurance, taxes and retirement plans, with a focus on after-tax returns.

For new ventures, VRS reviews financial procedures and checks the reliability of records. It also helps owners manage costs, improve efficiency and adopt new technology as tax law and accounting standards shift.

Team and locations

The advisory team listed on the firm's site includes Chad Vilhauer, CPA; Danielle Mikkelson, CPA, ABV; John Dahl; Michael Snyder, JD, CPA, ABV; Nathan Noeldner, CPA; Scott Theisen, CPA; and Sherry Kleinsasser, CPA. The team combines CPA licenses, ABV credentials and a law degree. That mix supports the firm's litigation support work alongside its routine accounting services. Clients can reach their information through a secure online portal. The firm keeps two physical offices, one in Watertown and one in Brookings.

VRS P.C. may suit employers who want payroll handled by a local CPA firm that also prepares taxes, keeps the books and offers planning advice. Businesses that only need payroll processing may prefer a dedicated payroll provider.