Payroll Delaware, Unique Aspects of Delaware Payroll Law and Practice

The Delaware State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:



Division of Revenue Withholding Division

820 N. French St.

Wilmington, DE 19801

302-577-8200

www.state.de.us/revenue



Delaware allows you to use the Federal W-4 form to calculate state income tax withholding.



Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Delaware cafeteria plans are: not taxable for income tax calculation; taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are: not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.



In Delaware supplemental wages are required to be aggregated for the withholding calculation..



You must file your Delaware State W-2s by magnetic media if you are required to file your federal W-2s by magnetic media.



The Delaware State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:



The Department of Labor

Division of Unemployment Insurance

4425 N. Market St.

Wilmington, DE 19802

302-761-8446

http://www.delawareworks.com/Unemployment/welcome.shtml



The State of Delaware taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $8,500.00.



Delaware has optional reporting of quarterly wages on magnetic media.



Unemployment records must be retained in Delaware for a minimum period of four years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.





The Delaware State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:



The Department Labor

Division of Industrial Affairs

Labor Law Enforcement Section

4425 N. Market St.

Wilmington, DE 19802

302-761-8200

www.delawareworks.com



The minimum wage in Delaware is $6.15 per hour.



There is also no general provision in Delaware State Law covering paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer.



Delaware State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehires. The employer must report the federally required elements of:



Employee's name

Employee's address

Employee's social security number

Employer's name

Employers address

Employer's Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)



This information must be reported within 20 days of the hiring or rehiring.

The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.

There is a $25.00 penalty for a late report in Delaware.



The Delaware new hire reporting agency can be reached at 302-577-7171 or on the web site at www.state.de.us/dhss/dcse/index.html .



Delaware does not allow compulsory direct deposit.



Delaware requires the following information on an employee's pay stub:



Wages due

pay period dates

hours worked for hourly workers

itemized deductions



Delaware requires that employee be paid no less often than monthly.



Delaware requires that employees must be paid within 7 days after the end of the pay period.



Delaware payroll law requires that involuntarily or voluntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by the next regular payday or by mail upon request.



Deceased employee's wages up to $300.00 must be paid to the surviving children under 21 custodian, surviving spouse, children 21 and over or the deceased's parents (in that order) when a "Proper Demand" has been made.



Escheat laws in Delaware require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after five years.



There is no provision in Delaware law concerning record retention of abandoned wage records.



Delaware payroll laws allow for a tip credit against Delaware State minimum wage of $3.92 per hour.



In Delaware the payroll laws covering mandatory rest or meal breaks are: a 30-minute meal period during a 7 and one half-hour shift. Taking place after the first two hours and before the last two hours o the shift.



The Delaware law requires that wage and hour records be retained for a period of at least three years.





The Delaware agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:



Division of Child Support Enforcement

P.O. Box 904

New Castle, DE 19720

302-577-7171

http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dcse/services.html





Delaware has the following provisions for child support deductions:



When to start Withholding? 7 days after first payday after receipt of order.

When to send Payment? Payday.

When to send Termination Notice? "Promptly" Maximum Administrative Fee?

No Provision

Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.









Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.





Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice.

Mr. Read is the author of "How to Start a New Business."



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See an excerpt of Mr. Read's interviews from William Shatners "Heartbeat of America" television show on the web sites linked above.