© 2024 American Payroll Institute, Inc.
October 4, 2024 Volume 32 Issue 10
SSA Updates AccuWage Online Help Guide, FAQ for 2024
In September, the Social Security Administration (SSA)
posted the Help Guide and the FAQ for AccuWage Online
for 2024. SSA offers AccuWage Online as a free internet
application that enables employers to check EFW2 (Form
W-2, Wage and Tax Statement) and EFW2C (Form W-2c,
Corrected Wage and Tax Statement) formatted wage files
for correctness before submitting them to SSA. AccuWage
Online is a part of Business Services Online (BSO).
SSA highly recommends employers use AccuWage
Online to test wage files for compliance with EFW2/EFW2C
specifications before submitting them to SSA. AccuWage
Online will generate a Test Report listing all issues found
in the wage file. However, wage files cannot be edited
using AccuWage Online. The submitter can create a new
EFW2/EFW2C file or correct the existing EFW2/EFW2C file
that generated the issues. The wage file can be repeatedly
retested until all issues are corrected.
Tips from SSA
Here are some tips for using AccuWage Online:
• AccuWage Online is for use with electronic filing of
EFW2/EFW2C wage reports.
• Users must have a valid BSO username and password
with the Employer Services profile to use AccuWage Online.
• Testing will take considerably less time if files are
zipped. SSA strongly recommends that all wage report
submitters zip their files before running them through
AccuWage Online. AccuWage Online can test a max file size
of 350 MB before zipped.
• Wage files must be in plain text (.txt) or plain text
zipped (.zip) formats. AccuWage Online will not accept
these file extensions: .pdf, .bin, .lib, .exe, or .dll.
• AccuWage Online will stop testing a file when it
identifies 500 issues (Error, Alert, or Informational). When this
happens, the Test Results page will display an error message
stating the maximum number of issues were encountered.
Users should review and correct the issues listed on the
Test Results page and then rerun the file. All issues should
be reviewed and corrected. Alert and Informational errors
will not prevent the file from being able to be submitted,
but these submissions could be returned because of other
errors.
• AccuWage Online identifies many, but not all, wage
file issues. For example, AccuWage Online does not verify
names and social security numbers. SSA said the likelihood
of submission rejection, though not eliminated, is greatly
reduced when using this application.
The AccuWage Online Help Guide contains extensive
information regarding viewing, testing, and correcting
errors in wage reports.
AccuWage is not filing
SSA reminded users that checking their files with
AccuWage Online does not count toward filing date
SSA Updates AccuWage Online Help Guide, FAQ for 2024. .....1
ACA Affordability Percentage Increases to 9.02% for 2025. 2
IRS Issues Federal ‘High-Low’ Per Diem Rates Effective
October 1. .........................................................................................2
IRS Reminds Employers SECURE 2.0 May Affect Forms W-2. ...6
5th Circuit Upholds DOL’s Ability to Set Exempt Employee
Salary Limits..................................................................................... 7
DOL Updates Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors for
2025.................................................................................................... 7
IRS Adds ERC FAQs on Qualified Wages........................................ 8
IRS Provides Information About ERC Disallowance Letters. ....9
IRS Opens Process for Third-Party Payers to Fix Incorrect ERC
Claims. ...............................................................................................9
IRS Provides Information About IRIS and Updates to FIRE
System..............................................................................................10
Register Now to Attend PayrollOrg’s Year-End Course............10
IRS Reminds Employers of Deadlines to Amend Retirement
Plans.................................................................................................11
IRS Updates MeF Guide to Include Amended Employment
Returns.............................................................................................11
USCIS Creates Automatic Extension for Some PRCs to 36
Months............................................................................................11
Update on U.S. Supreme Court Decisions, Employer-Related
Cases. ..............................................................................................12
9th Circuit Reverses Ruling for Employer in FLSA De Minimis
Case. .................................................................................................13
SSA Removes Signature Requirements for Some Forms.........14
IRS Provides Fact Sheet on Work-Life Referral Services. ..........14
State and Local Highlights...............................................................15
PayrollOrg Member Kristine Willson Appointed to IRS
ETAAC.......................................................................................... 17
PayrollOrg Supports SSA’s Electronic Signature
Initiative. ....................................................................................17
Leadership and Engagement in Government Relations. ....18
October 4, 2024 Volume 32 Issue 10
SSA Updates AccuWage Online Help Guide, FAQ for 2024
In September, the Social Security Administration (SSA)
posted the Help Guide and the FAQ for AccuWage Online
for 2024. SSA offers AccuWage Online as a free internet
application that enables employers to check EFW2 (Form
W-2, Wage and Tax Statement) and EFW2C (Form W-2c,
Corrected Wage and Tax Statement) formatted wage files
for correctness before submitting them to SSA. AccuWage
Online is a part of Business Services Online (BSO).
SSA highly recommends employers use AccuWage
Online to test wage files for compliance with EFW2/EFW2C
specifications before submitting them to SSA. AccuWage
Online will generate a Test Report listing all issues found
in the wage file. However, wage files cannot be edited
using AccuWage Online. The submitter can create a new
EFW2/EFW2C file or correct the existing EFW2/EFW2C file
that generated the issues. The wage file can be repeatedly
retested until all issues are corrected.
Tips from SSA
Here are some tips for using AccuWage Online:
• AccuWage Online is for use with electronic filing of
EFW2/EFW2C wage reports.
• Users must have a valid BSO username and password
with the Employer Services profile to use AccuWage Online.
• Testing will take considerably less time if files are
zipped. SSA strongly recommends that all wage report
submitters zip their files before running them through
AccuWage Online. AccuWage Online can test a max file size
of 350 MB before zipped.
• Wage files must be in plain text (.txt) or plain text
zipped (.zip) formats. AccuWage Online will not accept
these file extensions: .pdf, .bin, .lib, .exe, or .dll.
• AccuWage Online will stop testing a file when it
identifies 500 issues (Error, Alert, or Informational). When this
happens, the Test Results page will display an error message
stating the maximum number of issues were encountered.
Users should review and correct the issues listed on the
Test Results page and then rerun the file. All issues should
be reviewed and corrected. Alert and Informational errors
will not prevent the file from being able to be submitted,
but these submissions could be returned because of other
errors.
• AccuWage Online identifies many, but not all, wage
file issues. For example, AccuWage Online does not verify
names and social security numbers. SSA said the likelihood
of submission rejection, though not eliminated, is greatly
reduced when using this application.
The AccuWage Online Help Guide contains extensive
information regarding viewing, testing, and correcting
errors in wage reports.
AccuWage is not filing
SSA reminded users that checking their files with
AccuWage Online does not count toward filing date
SSA Updates AccuWage Online Help Guide, FAQ for 2024. .....1
ACA Affordability Percentage Increases to 9.02% for 2025. 2
IRS Issues Federal ‘High-Low’ Per Diem Rates Effective
October 1. .........................................................................................2
IRS Reminds Employers SECURE 2.0 May Affect Forms W-2. ...6
5th Circuit Upholds DOL’s Ability to Set Exempt Employee
Salary Limits..................................................................................... 7
DOL Updates Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors for
2025.................................................................................................... 7
IRS Adds ERC FAQs on Qualified Wages........................................ 8
IRS Provides Information About ERC Disallowance Letters. ....9
IRS Opens Process for Third-Party Payers to Fix Incorrect ERC
Claims. ...............................................................................................9
IRS Provides Information About IRIS and Updates to FIRE
System..............................................................................................10
Register Now to Attend PayrollOrg’s Year-End Course............10
IRS Reminds Employers of Deadlines to Amend Retirement
Plans.................................................................................................11
IRS Updates MeF Guide to Include Amended Employment
Returns.............................................................................................11
USCIS Creates Automatic Extension for Some PRCs to 36
Months............................................................................................11
Update on U.S. Supreme Court Decisions, Employer-Related
Cases. ..............................................................................................12
9th Circuit Reverses Ruling for Employer in FLSA De Minimis
Case. .................................................................................................13
SSA Removes Signature Requirements for Some Forms.........14
IRS Provides Fact Sheet on Work-Life Referral Services. ..........14
State and Local Highlights...............................................................15
PayrollOrg Member Kristine Willson Appointed to IRS
ETAAC.......................................................................................... 17
PayrollOrg Supports SSA’s Electronic Signature
Initiative. ....................................................................................17
Leadership and Engagement in Government Relations. ....18
