Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Montpelier, VT

Overview

Abacus Bookkeeping and Tax Services is an accounting practice located on River Street in Montpelier, Vermont. It runs payroll alongside bookkeeping, tax preparation and QuickBooks support. The firm describes itself as a full-service accounting firm that holds a Vermont license. It works with company owners, executives, self-employed professionals and private individuals in Montpelier and the surrounding region.

For employers comparing payroll providers, the main draw is a local team that can handle payroll as one part of a broader accounting relationship, not as a standalone software product.

Payroll Processing Options

The firm says payroll needs differ from one business to the next, so it offers two main ways to process payroll:

• Comprehensive payroll: Abacus handles the entire payroll cycle. It prepares and laser-prints paychecks on blank check stock built to Federal Reserve micro-encoding standards. Direct deposit is available. The service also covers federal and state tax reporting, EFTPS tax deposits, monthly, quarterly and year-end reports, W-2, W-3 and 1099 forms, tracking of vacation, sick and personal time accruals, new hire reporting, and ongoing upkeep of payroll records.
• After-the-fact payroll: Clients who write their own paychecks by hand send their payroll information to Abacus. The firm enters it into its own files and then takes care of the tax reporting, EFTPS deposits, year-end forms, accrual reports and new hire filings.

Specialized Reporting

Government agencies often ask employers for one-off filings, and Abacus prepares many of them. These include documentation for workers' compensation audits, responses to unemployment claims, Social Security and child support audits, W-2/W-3 and 1099/1096 processing, and help with federal and state employer registration forms. Union reports, certified payroll and workers' compensation reporting can be added to a payroll engagement. This may interest contractors and other employers with wage-reporting obligations.

How the Firm Works With Clients

Abacus presents outsourced payroll as a way for small employers to stop maintaining in-house systems, tracking changing tax rules, and paying specialized staff to do this work. Payroll is handled by accounting professionals, and the firm stresses personal, one-on-one attention for each client.

Pricing is quoted case by case after the firm learns about a company's size and the services it needs. Prospective clients can begin with a free consultation. The website also offers a client portal, secure file exchange, an online payroll link, tax due date reminders and a monthly newsletter.

Related Accounting Services

Because payroll connects closely to a company's books and tax filings, many clients may want to bundle it with the firm's other services:

• Small business bookkeeping
• Accounting for non-profit organizations, focused on the revenue and expense classifications the IRS reviews when deciding tax-exempt status
• Reviews of internal controls, followed by recommendations to strengthen operating procedures
• QuickBooks setup, guidance and tips for getting more out of the software
• Tax preparation and help resolving problems with the IRS
• Financial planning guidance for individuals and families

This range suits Central Vermont employers who want payroll, bookkeeping and tax work handled by one locally based firm.