Deck 1: Payroll Practices and System Fundamentals

Question 1

Within how many days after initially commencing work must an employer report a new employee, according to PRWOR?

A) 7
B) 10
C) 20
D) 30

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits discrimination in employment practices for workers who are older than age 50.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Payroll-related legislation often reflects emerging issues in societal evolution.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The IRS uses EINs to track employers for tax purposes.

Question 5

Employment legislation during the 1930s included which of the following Acts:

A) FLSA, FUTA, and FICA.
B) ADEA, Davis-Bacon Act, and FLSA.
C) Walsh-Healey Act, FICA, and ERISA.
D) FUTA, ADA, and FLSA.

Question 6

According to FMLA, during the time that an employee is on family leave:

A) The employer must not contact the employee during the leave.
B) The employee is responsible for staying in touch with the employer.
C) The employer may make changes to the employee's benefits.
D) The employer is responsible for alerting the employee to changes in processes and benefits.

Question 7

Internal payroll reports are used to inform a firm's managers and decision-makers about labor costs.

Question 8

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prevented mandatory retirement for workers over the age of:

A) 55.
B) 50.
C) 45.
D) 40.

Question 9

The purpose of payroll legislation is to:

A) Increase the complexity involved in compensating employees.
B) Protect the rights of employees by legislating workplace equity.
C) Generate increased tax revenue for governmental entities.
D) Promote governmental involvement in business activities.

Question 10

The payroll volume tends to be greater for small companies than for large businesses.

Question 11

Payroll taxes were instituted by the 16^th Amendment to the United States Constitution:

A) To pay for governmental salaries.
B) To make money from businesses that had employees.
C) To fund infrastructure improvements of booming cities.
D) To penalize people who needed employment.

Question 12

The U.S. v. Windsor case repealed an Act and affected payroll tax withholdings for certain employees. Which Act did Windsor repeal?

A) OSHA
B) ARRA
C) ATRA
D) DOMA

Question 13

The USERRA legislation provided the following:

A) Military service members receive mandatory priority during the hiring process.
B) Military service members receive preferential treatment for promotions and raises during the normal course of business.
C) Military members must receive the same promotions and compensation that they would have received when they return from active duty.
D) Injured military veterans must be allowed to return to work, but their compensation may be reduced based on their disability.

Question 14

Payroll accounting systems may involve an integrated software package that contains business-planning tools.

Question 15

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act legislated penalties for violations of which Act?

A) HIPAA
B) ERISA
C) PRWOR
D) DOMA

Question 16

Which Act extended medical benefits for certain terminated employees?

A) ADEA
B) COBRA
C) OSHA
D) ERISA

Question 17

The Lilly Ledbetter Act of 2009 was the first act that mandated equal pay for men and women who perform identical tasks.

Question 18

The ethical principle of due care pertains to the upholding of rights and justice of stakeholders.

Question 19

The Worker's Compensation Act of 1935 legislated the payment of worker's compensation insurance.

Question 20

The use of outsourced payroll relieves employers of the responsibility for payroll accuracy.

Question 21

In the event of an ethical breach by a payroll accountant, which entity is ultimately liable for any monetary damages due to stakeholders?

A) The payroll accountant
B) The company's CEO or president
C) The governmental entity associated with company oversight
D) The entity that issued the license to the accountant

Question 22

Which Act governs the minimum wage that must be paid to nonexempt workers?

A) FICA
B) FLSA
C) FUTA
D) SSA

Question 23

The main purpose of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) was to:

A) Provide health insurance for all employees.
B) Mandate worker's compensation insurance for employers.
C) Provide life insurance for all employees.
D) Provide benefits for workers who were unable to work because of age, disability, or death.

Question 24

The classification of workers as exempt and nonexempt pertains to the provisions of the:

A) Social Security Act.
B) Equal Pay Act.
C) Fair Labor Standards Act.
D) Federal Insurance Contributions Act.

Question 25

Which of the following represents a payroll system privacy breach by Susan, a payroll accountant?

A) Susan shares information about labor costs with company executives.
B) Susan alerts department managers about potential FLSA violations in their departments.
C) Susan discusses specific information about the company's federal contracts with friends during lunch.
D) Susan places employee payroll files in a cabinet to which only she and her supervisor have access.

Question 26

Which most closely identifies why it is important for payroll accountants to adhere to the AICPA Code of Ethics?

A) To maintain company profitability.
B) To overlook fraudulent actions of company officers.
C) To protect the assets of the company and remit money owed to the government.
D) To maintain personal standards only.

Question 27

Leslie is the accountant for a major movie production. She is approached by a group of people from the press who ask her questions about the salaries of the actors and actresses involved in the film. According to the AICPA Code of Ethics, which principle most closely governs the appropriate conduct in this situation?

A) Responsibilities
B) Due Care
C) Integrity
D) Public Interest

Question 28

Which of the following is among the guidelines for the AICPA Code of Ethics?

A) Company Interest
B) Corporate Profitability
C) Due Care
D) Interdependence

Question 29

Worker's compensation insurance premiums:

A) Are the same amount for all employees of a company, regardless of employee task.
B) Are remitted in full at the end of the year to ensure accuracy.
C) Are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
D) Are governed by state laws and vary according to worker job classification.

Question 30

Peter is the owner of a fast-food franchise. When his payroll accountant quit, he hired his wife, Karen, to take over the payroll responsibilities. Peter prefers to review the payroll records prior to disbursement and often asks Karen to add or subtract amount from employee pay. Which ethical principle most closely describes Peter and Karen's unethical actions?

A) Objectivity and Independence
B) Integrity
C) Public Interest
D) Responsibilities

Question 31

Contemporary payroll practices reflect:

A) The increased use of manual payroll accounting systems.
B) The decrease in labor costs that reflects the effect of the economic recession.
C) The strategic use of payroll data as a company planning tool.
D) The replacement of accounting personnel with computerized systems.

Question 32

The payroll accountant for Candor, Inc. was found to have issued payroll checks in the name of several terminated employees. Upon investigation, the checks were all deposited to the same bank account, which was owned by the payroll accountant. Which ethical principle did the payroll accountant violate?

A) Responsibilities
B) Public Interest
C) Objectivity and Independence
D) Integrity

Question 33

Michael is the payroll accountant for a non-profit. In his personal life, he is also a single father of three young children. On the day that payroll is supposed to be issued, his children are sick and he is unavailable to be at work. The employees' paychecks cannot be issued without his presence. Which ethical principle most closely governs this situation?

A) Responsibilities
B) Objectivity and Independence
C) Integrity
D) Public Interest

Question 34

Which of the following is not an option available to payroll accountants?

A) Payroll preparation through manual, handwritten spreadsheets.
B) Reduced responsibility for accuracy because of outsourcing services.
C) Increased use of paycards as a vehicle for paying employees.
D) Governmentally mandated and monitored payroll outsourcing.

Question 35

Which form does the Internal Revenue Service use to keep track of employers?

A) SS-4
B) ES-4
C) EIN
D) W-4

Question 36

The Current Tax Payment Act changed employer remittance of taxes by:

A) Instituting the mandatory transfer of payroll tax liabilities.
B) Legislating the amounts of tax withheld from each employee.
C) Requiring employers to remit taxes at specific times during the year.
D) Calling for employers to remit only the current portions of taxes due.

Question 37

The Fair Labor Standards Act contains provisions for:

A) Overtime pay, minimum wage, and working conditions.
B) Full-time workers, part-time workers, and independent contractors.
C) Minimum wage, maximum wage, and overtime pay.
D) Pay periods, paid time off, and minimum wage.

Question 38

Jonathan is the payroll accountant for Terrafirm Company. The company has experienced a rise in business that has increased Jonathan's workload to more than double his original amount. Because of the business increase, he has not been able to engage in the continuing professional education (CPE) that his payroll certification requires. When asked by his employer, Jonathan claims to be current with his CPE. According to the AICPA Code of Ethics, which of the following most closely describes the principle that Jonathan has violated?

A) Objectivity
B) Due Care
C) Responsibilities
D) Public Interest

Question 39

Which of the following is a payroll accountant's responsibility?

A) Wage negotiations with prospective employees.
B) Construction contract negotiations with governmental entities.
C) Preparation for corporate safety audits.
D) Preparation of payroll tax returns.

Question 40

What is the effect of payroll-related legislation on payroll practice?

A) Legislation explicitly dictates specific activities of payroll accountants.
B) Legislation has prescribed the format and delivery of a payroll system.
C) Legislation has alleviated the need for a company to design its own payroll system.
D) Legislation highlights the need for firms to create well-designed payroll systems.

Question 41

The largest challenge to companies that use manual payroll processing is:

A) Integrating current tax tables.
B) Obtaining accurate employee data.
C) Maintaining accurate personnel records.
D) Filing appropriate governmental reports.

Question 42

Positive aspects of the use of Internet-based accounting software includes which of the following?

A) Suitability for highly complex large businesses.
B) Continual updates for tax rate and other changes.
C) Unlimited options for company personnel.
D) Fixed software layout for consistency among companies.

Question 43

Worker's compensation is an insurance policy used for

A) Wage continuation after job-related injuries.
B) Payment of mandatory payroll taxes.
C) Remittance of wages mandated by the FLSA.
D) Settlement of payroll-related lawsuits.

Question 44

Which of the following is not a privacy act related to payroll records?

A) Community Property Act of 1990.
B) Freedom of Information Act.
C) U.S. Department of Labor OCFO-1.
D) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Privacy Act 09-40-0006.

Question 45

If a company chooses to use computer-based accounting, which of the following is required?

A) A standalone system that is dedicated to payroll processing.
B) Regularly scheduled software updates.
C) Certification by a CPA prior to use for payroll processing.
D) Certification and bonding of payroll personnel.

Question 46

Which of the following is true about independent contractors within the context of payroll?

A) They are employees of the company.
B) A temporary working relationship must exist.
C) Tools and facilities are provided by the employer.
D) The worker controls hours worked and exercises judgment.

Question 47

According to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, personal or family ownership in excess of five percent of a client's business may compromise an accountant's

A) Due Care.
B) Independence.
C) Public Interest.
D) Integrity.

Question 48

Paycards represent a trend in employee compensation that alleviates the employee's need for:

A) Filing data about time worked.
B) Bank account establishment.
C) Functional literacy.
D) Workplace competence.

Question 49

An example of an accounting software package that fosters electronic payroll processing is:

A) Sage Books.
B) Quick50.
C) QuickBooks.
D) GreatBooks.

Question 50

Many large companies have website portals in which employees may view and change payroll data. Which of the following is the most significant concern about such websites?

A) Accuracy of employee-entered data.
B) Employer oversight of stored data.
C) Employee website navigation issues.
D) Security of personnel data.

Question 51

Jonah is one of the payroll accountants in a company that specializes in custom work for each customer. His biggest payroll challenge is accurate allocation of labor to jobs. Which of the following represents the most accurate option to track the company's labor costs?

A) Handwritten time slips on which the employee documents the times worked on each job.
B) Verbal reporting via telephone of time worked per job.
C) Computer log-ins when employees change tasks.
D) Radio-frequency time cards to track time allocations.

Question 52

What is the most significant challenge pertaining to payroll that small businesses face?

A) Availability of payroll-trained personnel.
B) Availability of accounting resources.
C) Accessibility of free on-site payroll software.
D) Accessibility of on-site payroll guidance.

Question 53

Why do different methods of time collection devices (e.g., time cards, biometric devices) exist among companies?

A) They replace personnel with computers, which prevents ethical issues.
B) They maintain precise tracking of employee whereabouts.
C) They promote compensation accuracy that matches company needs.
D) They alleviate the need for internal control.

Question 54

Which court case updated the definition of spouse to include same-sex unions?

A) Pollard v. DuPont.
B) Obergefell v. Hodges.
C) CIGNA v. Amara.
D) Young v. Wackenhut.

Question 55

Which of the following is(are) payroll-related issues that large companies may experience? (Select all that apply.)

A) Geographic dispersion.
B) Multiple departments.
C) Homogeneous workforce.
D) Increased task variation.

Question 56

Which privacy act safeguards information contained in private personnel records and mandates information safekeeping?

A) DHHS Privacy Act 09-04-0006.
B) Privacy Act of 1974.
C) Common Law Privacy Act.
D) Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.

Question 57

Which law requires a company to use certified payroll?

A) Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act
B) Copeland Anti-Kickback Act
C) Davis-Bacon Act
D) Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Question 58

Joel is the payroll accountant for a company. He has been notified of an impending audit of all accounting records. What is Joel's role in the audit?

A) He is required to be absent during the audit to avoid influencing the results.
B) He must agree to serve on the audit staff for other companies.
C) He must be available to answer questions and grant access to payroll records.
D) He must prevent privacy breaches by disallowing access to payroll records.

Question 59

Why is outsourced payroll popular among accounting professionals?

A) Payroll processing is always simpler and quicker.
B) Data generated by the outsource company is completely accurate.
C) Time required for payroll processing is reduced.
D) Records generated by outsourced vendors are not subject to retention rules.

Question 60

________ is the state counterpart of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act.

A) Fair Labor Standards Act
B) Worker's compensation insurance
C) State Income Tax Act
D) State Unemployment Tax Act

Question 61

The ________ modified the statute of limitations imposed by the Equal Pay Act of 1963.

A) Civil Rights Act of 1991
B) Family Medical Leave Act of 1993
C) Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
D) Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reformation Act of 1986

Question 62

Prevailing local wages and wage classification strategies for government contractors were mandated by the ________.

A) Davis-Bacon Act
B) Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act
C) Fair Labor Standards Act
D) Equal Pay Act

Question 63

________ is required under the Davis-Bacon Act for companies who do business with the Federal government.

A) Manual payroll
B) Certified payroll
C) Outsourced payroll
D) Computerized payroll

Question 64

The ________ prohibited discrimination based on race, creed, color, gender, or national origin.

A) Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
B) Civil Rights Act of 1964
C) Equal Pay Act of 1963
D) Fair Labor Standards Act of 1935

Question 65

Congress passed the ________ and ________ to assist displaced workers.

A) 16^th Amendment; Fair Labor Standards Act
B) Social Security Act; Medicare Act
C) Federal Unemployment Tax Act; Social Security Insurance Act
D) Federal Income Contributions Act; Federal Unemployment Tax Act

Question 66

The ________ mandated that employers verify an employee's legal ability to work in the United States.

A) Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
B) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
C) American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009
D) Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Question 67

Employers must request a(n) ________ for the Internal Revenue Service to track a firm's payroll tax obligations.

A) Social Security Number
B) Employer Registration Number
C) Tax Identification Number
D) Employer Identification Number

Question 68

The ethical principle of ________ concerns what is right and just for all parties involved.

A) Due Care
B) Integrity
C) Public Interest
D) Objectivity and Independence

Question 69

Companies may use ________ and ________ to allow employees to have secure, rapid access to their compensation.

A) Cash; Checks
B) Cash; Direct Deposit
C) Direct Deposit; Paycards
D) Paycards; Checks

Question 70

An accountant must remain current in his or her knowledge of current payroll practices, according to the ethical principle of ________.

A) Responsibilities
B) Public Interest
C) Due Care
D) Integrity