To support the recent IRS policy changes regarding cell phones, BEACON has configured two new wage types that can be used for non-taxable cell phone reimbursements.
1504 - Cell Phone Reimbursement Nontax
1505 - DOT Cell Phone Reimbursement Nontax

The existing wage types for taxable cell phone supplements are still available.
1500 - Cell Phone Supplement
1502 - DOT Cell Phone Supplement

HR/Payroll/Time Conference Calls
The conference call scheduled for October 4, 2011 has been cancelled. The next scheduled conference call will be Tuesday, October 11 at 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. The call in number for this meeting is 919-715-0769. Items that we plan to cover on this call is as follows:

NCFlex Annual Enrollment concerns/issues/questions
Recent System Release corrections/ enhancements. Questions or concerns about the release changes.

Other items may be added if needed If anyone has any items that you want discussed on the conference call, please notify Ray Scerri at 919-707-0704.

Future HR/Payroll Conference Calls
The schedule for future HR/Payroll conference calls is under review.  The next call is tentatively set for September 20, 2011.  More details will be posted to this page as they become available.

HR/Payroll/Time Conference Call Schedule
Below are conference call/webinar dates for July 12 - August 30, 2011.
The call-in phone number will be the same for all dates:  733-2511
Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Payroll/Time Wall Date to Change to 4/1/2011
Monthly cycle employees will be updated after finalization on July 26.

Separation Action Revised to Keep Direct Deposit Option for 90 days
Separation actions entered beginning 6/24/2011 no longer immediately convert the employee’s direct deposit option to a check option.   As part of a separation action, the system will create a new IT0009 Bank Detail record for “Main Bank” effective 90 days into the future.  Employees on direct deposit at separation will remain so until 90 days have passed.  Then the direct deposit information will no longer be in effect and the separated employee would receive any future payroll payments by paper check.  Please note that this change is to the Separation action only.  This change does not apply to the Separation Pay Continuation actions nor does it change “Other Bank” records.

Payroll/Time Conference Call Schedule:
Beginning in May, BEST is combining the Payroll/Time conference calls with the existing OM/PA call.  This change will provide better integrated communications and information to agencies and save time since many of the participants attend both calls.  If you are not a regular attendee of the OM/PA call  and need to be added to the email announcement list, please send a request to  Teresa.Shingleton@osc.nc.gov.  The May – June schedule is as follows:

Payroll/Time Conference Call Schedule:
The April 2011 schedule for the Time/Payroll conference call is as follows. 
Please note the different phone number for the April calls. All calls begin at 2pm.

Change to Payroll/Time Wall Date
With the completion of the W-2’s for 2010, BEST is moving the payroll/time wall over the next few months to the 2011 calendar year.  This setting stops most data entry affecting a payroll period prior to the wall date.  Please plan accordingly.

Repaying 2010 Overpayments Net of Taxes
Checks must be received at OSC by 5pm, Thursday, January 6, in order for an employee to repay the overpayment net of withheld taxes.  All prior year repayments received after January 6 must be at the higher, gross amount.

Change in Federal Tax Withholding Rates
New federal tax withholding rates went into effect 1/1/2011, including a reduction in the Social Security (FICA) tax rate from 6.2% to 4.2%.  Biweekly employees will see this change beginning with their January 7 paycheck.   Monthly employees will see this change beginning with their January 31 paycheck.

New Vacation Accrual Rates
OSP has implemented new vacation accrual rates effective 1/1/2011.  See the policy at http://www.osp.state.nc.us/manuals/manual99/Vacation%20Leave.pdf  .The Beacon system has been adjusted to accrue at the new rates.

Revised VSL Donation form
The Voluntary Shared Leave Donation form has been updated to include the consequences on State retirement credit when donating sick leave.
http://www.osc.nc.gov/BEST/forms/TM_VSL_Donor_Form.pdf

Payroll Calendars:
A new section has been added under Support Materials and the Payroll page titled Payroll Archives. Please refer to this section for past copies of payroll calendars.

www.ncosc.net/BEST/support/support_py_calendar_archives_html

Payroll/Time Conference Call Schedule:
The January – March 2011 schedule for the Time/Payroll conference call is as follows. 
Please note the different phone number for the January calls. All calls begin at 2pm.

2011 Payroll Calendar:
The 2011 Payroll Calendar has been posted.

Advanced Payments of Earned Income Tax Credit Repealed:
Legislation signed by President Obama on August 10, 2010 repeals the Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit, effective January 1, 2011.

General Termination Letter for AEITC

Effective January 1, 2011 the State can no longer advance payment of the EIC to employees. Eligible employees will still be able to claim the earned income tax credit on their personal income tax returns.

When the 2010 W-5 forms expire at the end of this calendar year, there will not be a replacement form.  Agencies should remove the W-5 form from any new hire packages or HR/Payroll form lists the agency maintains. 

For OSC BEACON support, call 866-NCBEST4U (866-622-3784) e-mail: BEST@osc.nc.gov  or fax 919-855-6861.

Link to  form SB-2362 E
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/forms/mar2362.pdf

For the September 2 Payroll/Time conference call, a guest speaker will present the DHHS methodology for researching negative quota balances.  Please have the slides and spreadsheet available to reference during this conference call. 

Payroll/Time Conference Call Schedule:
The October – December schedule for the Time/Payroll conference call is as follows.  All calls begin at 2pm.

Paper Payroll Savings Bond Program to be Discontinued; Electronic Payroll Savings available through Treasury Direct

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced it will stop issuing paper savings bonds through payroll savings plans as of January 1, 2011. To coincide with this change effective September 1, 2010, requests to start and or change savings bonds through BEACON will no longer be accepted. Employees currently enrolled in the savings bond program may cancel their savings bonds at any time prior to October 8, 2010 for employees paid bi-weekly and October 20, 2010 for employees paid monthly.
Future savings bond purchases must be made at a financial institution or through the Treasury Direct website, www.treasurydirect.gov.

Savings Bond Termination Memo

The Federal Treasury is changing how savings bonds purchases can be made effective Jan 1, 2011.  This change means that employees will no longer be able to purchase savings bonds through a payroll deduction.   BEST will send additional information on the impact of this change to agency payroll and HR contacts in early September.

Beginning July 1, 2010, the Beacon payroll and time conference call is changing to a new phone number and frequency.  The call is moving from weekly to the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.  In addition, the call will use a “meet me” phone number assigned by the State Operator.  This number may change from time to time.  With a “meet me” phone number, no “room number” code is needed.  The first caller continues to ring until a second caller dials in.  At that point, the two callers are immediately connected.  Additional callers are then immediately connected with previous callers.  The “meet me” phone number can accommodate up to 150 callers.  After 150 connections, any additional callers receive a busy signal.

The schedule for July – September is as follows.  All calls begin at 2pm.

May Payroll
As you are aware, there are currently two payroll cycles operated by the State – biweekly and monthly. To date, these payroll cycles have not coincided under the new BEACON system, but this will change with the May 30 payroll run. On this date more than 89,000 state employees will be paid out of the BEACON system.

We bring this to your attention because we anticipate higher than normal call volumes May 28 through May 30. Although we have staffed accordingly, we want to set the expectation that there may be longer than normal call wait times. Also, because we expect higher traffic than normal to the BEACON portal on May 30, we have dedicated additional hardware resources to help minimize Employee Self Service transaction times.

The BEST Shared Services Team appreciates your assistance in informing your respective agency’s employees of the potential for longer call wait times and slower portal transaction times.

Pay Statement Information
Since the April payroll the BEST Shared Services team has received many questions about remuneration statements. The attached posters are meant to address some of these questions. You should have already received the ESS and non-ESS generated pay statement posters, but we are including them along with a supplemental poster for easy reference.