2024 Payroll Update

Social Security & Medicare Tax

As of January 1, 2024, the maximum amount of annual earnings subject to Social Security increases to $168,600 (from $160,200 in 2023). There is no limit on the amount of earnings subject to the Medicare tax.

The maximum Social Security tax to be deducted from an employee’s compensation during 2024 will be $10,453.20 (6.2% x $168,600).

The employer Social Security and Medicare tax rate will remain unchanged at 6.2% and 1.45%, respectively. The employee Medicare tax rate will remain at 1.45%, except for high wage earners.

High income taxpayers who have wages, compensation or self-employment income in excess of certain filing status thresholds ($250,000 if married filing jointly, $125,000 if married filing separately and $200,000 for all others), will be subject to an additional Medicare tax of 0.9%. For withholding purposes, wages in excess of $200,000, regardless of the filing status, will be taxed at a rate of 2.35% (1.45% + 0.9%). Only employees are subject to this additional Medicare tax.

Income Tax Withholding

Federal rates are unchanged. Annual changes to wage brackets tables are found in Publication 15-T. The IRS redesigned Form W-4, changing the way federal income tax withholding is calculated. Current employees do not have to submit a new form unless they want to make changes, but are encouraged to file an updated W-4 if they received a large refund or owed taxes in 2023. The IRS online tool, Tax Withholding Estimator, is available to assist with completing the form.

There will be no change in the Maryland (MD), Delaware (DE), District of Columbia (DC), Pennsylvania (PA) or Virginia (VA) withholding tables.

MD’s maximum individual income tax rate remains at 5.75%. The special nonresident rate remains at 2.25%. At the county level in MD, Cecil County went from 2.80% to 2.75%. For 2024, the tax rates for Anne Arundel and Frederick counties were further adjusted by adding new local tax brackets based on filing statuses and taxable income. Anne Arundel ranges from 2.7% to 3.2%. Frederick ranges from 2.75% to 3.2%. You can find additional information on tax rates here.

DE’s and VA’s maximum individual income tax rates will remain at 6.6% and 5.75%, respectively. DC’s maximum individual income tax remains 10.75%. PA’s individual income tax rate will remain at 3.07% for 2024.

Supplemental Wages

The federal tax withholding rate on supplemental wages (e.g., bonus payments) exceeding $1 million during a calendar year remains at 37%. The rate for supplemental wages up to $1 million subject to a flat rate remains at 22%, unchanged from 2023.

PA and VA also allow flat rate withholding for supplemental pay at rates of 3.07% and 5.75%, respectively. MD rates range from 3.2% to 8.95%.

Unemployment Taxes

The federal unemployment tax (FUTA) deposit rate is 0.6% for 2024. The federal taxable wage base will remain at $7,000. State taxable wage bases and rates for 2024 are listed on the chart below. Unemployment taxes are paid by the employer. PA employees are responsible for an additional withholding of 0.07% of total wages.

MD and PA require all employers to file quarterly contribution reports electronically. DC employers with at least five employees are required to submit reports electronically.

The minimum threshold amount for quarterly FUTA tax deposits remains at $500.

State unemployment tax rates vary according to the employer’s experience and are sent to the employer annually. 2024 wage bases and preliminary employer rates are as follows:

Unemployment Online Filing & Assistance

• MD Division of Unemployment Insurance (DUI) BEACON 2.0*: https://employer.beacon.labor.md.gov 

• DE: https://labor.delaware.gov/divisions/unemployment-insurance

• DC DOES: https://essp.does.dc.gov

• PA Unemployment Compensation Management System: https://www.uctax.pa.gov

• VA: https://www.vec.virginia.gov/taxes

*MD employers can access annual rates and confirm filings and payments once registered.

Tax Deposits

All federal tax deposits (employment tax, excise tax, corporate income tax, etc.) must be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT). Generally, electronic funds transfers are made using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). Employers may arrange for their financial institutions to initiate a same-day tax wire payment on your behalf. De Minimis deposit rules still apply for employment taxes of less than $2,500 for a return period. Those who fail to use EFTPS will be subject to a 10% penalty.

State EFT thresholds for tax payments are as follows: MD - $10,000 or more; DC - $5,000 or more; PA - $1,000 or more; DE and VA require EFT for payment of all state taxes. MD, DC, DE and PA allow online processing of returns. VA requires every employer to file all withholding tax returns and payments electronically.

Employers should receive notification from the IRS and state taxing authorities as to the frequency of their depository requirements. Semi-weekly depositors have three banking days to make a deposit. Monthly depositors’ due dates are the 15^th day of the next month for DE, MD, PA and the IRS, the 25^th for VA and is not required for DC.

Quarterly depositors may remit accumulated tax with the quarterly tax returns, which are generally due the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter. MD and DC’s quarterly returns are due the 15^th and 20^th day of the following month, respectively. DE’s eighth-monthly depositors’ payments are due within three working days after the close of the eighth-monthly period. Eighth-monthly periods end on the 3^rd, 7^th, 11^th, 15^th, 19^th, 22^nd, 25^th and the final day of every month.

Through the IRS website, employers can pay electronically using IRS Direct Pay or access the IRS Online Tax Calendar to view deposit dates and sign up for email reminders.

Accelerated deposit dates are required for federal tax accumulations of $100,000, which are due the next business day. VA employers must also remit VA withholding within three days of the date withheld. MD employers who withheld $15,000 or more during 2023 and currently have accumulated $700 or more in withholding tax must make a deposit within three business days after the payroll pay date. Employers who can file federal withholding tax returns on a monthly basis may apply to MD for a waiver of the three-day rule described above.

Wage Statements

Federal rules require employers filing 10 or more W-2 forms to file electronically (down from 250). DE and PA follow the federal threshold. DC’s and MD’s requirements remain at 25 or more. VA requires all employers to electronically file. MD and PA allow withholding statements on magnetic media or other machine-readable formats.

Employers required to file at least 50 W-2 forms must report the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored health insurance coverage on the W-2 form. The IRS has granted exemption to companies that file less than 50 W-2 forms until further notice. Employers with more than 50 full-time employees but less than 250 did not previously have to file reports regarding health insurance.

All federal and state Form W-2s are due to the taxing authorities by January 31, 2024.

Employers can set up electronic delivery of Forms W-2 with the employee’s consent. Paper copies must be presented if no consent is given.

Information Return Penalties

Penalty amounts for failing to provide timely, complete and correct information returns are as follows:

• $60 if correctly filed within 30 days (maximum $664,500 per year or $232,500 for small businesses)

• $130 if correctly filed more than 30 days after the due date by August 1 (maximum $1,993,500 per year or $664,500 for small businesses)

• $330 if filed after August 1 or if required returns are not filed (maximum $3,987,000 per year or $1,329,000 for small businesses)

Failure to comply with electronic filing requirements could lead to a penalty up to $330.

Additionally, payers are required to acknowledge their compliance with information return filings on their business income tax returns.

Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour for employees covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. PA follows the federal law. Current and future hourly minimum wage rates for DE, DC and VA are as follows:

Government contractors and grantees are subject to minimum wages and benefits based on type of contract and grant awards. Review any contracts and grant awards for minimum wage and benefit requirements if your company is performing work on a government contract or government grant.

Effective January 1, 2024, all Maryland employers will have to pay hourly employees a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.

Howard County, MD has scheduled increases based on company size. Minimum hourly wages for small (less than 15 employees) and large (15 or more) employers are as follows:

Montgomery County, MD minimum wage is based on company size. The current hourly minimum wage rates for small employers (10 or fewer employees), midsize employers (11 - 50 employees) and large employers (51 or more employees in the county) are as follows:

***Employers will be subject to annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each July 1.

Overtime

The Department of Labor has proposed the threshold salary level for exemption from overtime be raised to $55,000/year ($1,059/week) from $35,568/year ($684/week). It also proposes increasing the Highly Compensated Employee exemption threshold to $143,988/year (currently $107,432/year) as exempt from earning overtime.

Online / Self-Service Portals

Coming in 2024, the Maryland bFile system will be replaced with Maryland Tax Connect. The self-service tax portal will include filing, paying, updating and application services. Maryland businesses should receive a welcome letter in February to help with registration.

• DE: https://onestop.delaware.gov

• DC: https://mytax.dc.gov

• MD: https://marylandtaxes.gov/MDTaxConnect

• PA: https://www.mypath.pa.gov/_/

• VA: https://www.tax.virginia.gov/eforms 

Need Help?

Contact us here or call 800.899.4623 for help.

You can download this payroll update as a PDF here.

This payroll update was compiled by Dawn Ebeling, CPA and Jaidyn Nicely, CPA of the firm’s tax department.