Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Salt Lake City, UT

Butler Tax & Accounting is a locally owned practice on Redwood Road in the Salt Lake Valley. It offers tax work, bookkeeping, financial planning and real estate services in one office. For companies comparing payroll providers, the main draw is that payroll processing comes with year-round access to tax professionals.

The same team can handle wage reporting, business returns and accounting questions. Its clients are mainly small business owners, company executives and self-employed professionals in Salt Lake City, West Jordan and nearby communities.

Payroll options

The firm sees payroll as a chore that takes owners away from sales and customers. It offers three arrangements so employers can choose how much work they hand off:

• Full-service processing: staff run each pay cycle. Checks are laser printed on blank, secure stock, and direct deposit is included. The service also covers EFTPS deposits, IRS and Utah filings, and new hire reporting.
• After-the-fact payroll: employers who write their own paychecks submit their records. The firm posts the data, completes tax reporting and deposits, and tracks leave balances.
• Online processing: clients key in hours and earnings through a secure web system and can print checks on their own printer. Direct deposit and tax filing support are still included.

Every option includes payroll tax reports on monthly, quarterly and annual schedules, plus year-end W-2s, W-3s and 1099s. The firm also tracks accruals for vacation, sick and personal time and keeps records organized for later reference. For an added fee, clients can request union reports, certified payroll and workers' compensation reporting, which helps employers that must meet those requirements.

Beyond regular pay runs, Butler Tax prepares specialized government paperwork. This includes support during workers' compensation audits and Social Security audits, responses to unemployment claims, and processing of W-2 and W-3 forms. It also helps with federal and state registrations. This suits owners who want one point of contact when an agency asks for information.

Background and team

The practice has operated in Utah for decades. Its website cites between 45 and more than 50 years in business. Paul Butler is a CPA and enrolled agent. Several other team members are also enrolled agents, including Mark Butler, Russell Butler (who also holds the ChFC designation), Melony Sims, Kevin Hicks (who holds an MBA), Bart Ridd and Michael Butler.

Enrolled agents are federally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS, so payroll clients have access to representation if a tax problem comes up. Other staff focus on financial planning, real estate and accounting for businesses.

Related business services include small business accounting and bookkeeping, new business formation, and support for nonprofit organizations. The firm also provides QuickBooks setup, training and tune-ups, and it offers the QuickBooks software itself. Clients use a secure TaxDome portal to exchange documents, check deadlines, message staff and pay invoices. The firm stresses personal attention to each client and is available throughout the year, not just during filing season. It presents itself as a long-term advisor for growing employers.