The Business Master (3rd Edition)

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This file contains information about installation, registration and technical support, and revisions to the User's Manual. It also includes new features that are not documented in the User's Manual. There is also an appendix that covers special situations for several states. Check this appendix to see if your state is included. USER'S MANUAL The complete ZIPPER Payroll user's manual is included on-disk as the file ZIPPER.DOC. The ZIPPER Payroll User's Manual is an ASCII text file, approximately 90 pages long, that may be printed on your computer's printer. You can print this file with the DOS "COPY" command: COPY zipper.doc LPT1 where LPT1 represents the printer you wish to use (in this case parallel printer #1). You may also use the DOS "PRINT" command: PRINT zipper.doc See your DOS User's Manual for more information about using either of these commands. DISTRIBUTION DISKETTES ZIPPER Payroll is contained on two (2) 360K, 5-1/4" diskettes, or one (1) 720K, 3-1/2" diskette. With the exception of the README.1ST file and the SERIAL.NUM file (not included in the shareware version), ZIPPER Payroll program files are contained in self-extracting archived (packed) files. These files are ZPACK1.EXE (disk #1), and ZPACK2.EXE (disk #2). The README.1ST file contains information about installation of the ZIPPER Payroll program, and a list of files included on diskette(s). HARDWARE ZIPPER Payroll runs in the MS-DOS / PC-DOS environment (version 2.0 or later). ZIPPER will run on the full family of IBM & Compatible PC's. This means a PC, an XT, or an AT. ZIPPER Payroll requires approximately 525K of RAM when it loads. If you have less then this amount available, ZIPPER may still load, but performance will be reduced. ZIPPER utilizes a 64K memory buffer for processing (sorting, etc). If the full 64K is not available, ZIPPER will use your disk drive for this memory space. This will make the program noticeably slower, or it may not run at all. You should be able to run ZIPPER Payroll if you computer has 640K of conventional memory, and you do not have too many TSR (Memory Resident) programs or device drivers loaded. ZIPPER Payroll will use any type of color or monochrome monitor. ZIPPER was designed with a color system in mind, and many of the data entry and processing screens maximize the use of color by calling your attention to important items. It would not be reasonable to use ZIPPER Payroll without a printer. ZIPPER supports the use of all printers by allowing you to enter the control codes specific to your printer. ZIPPER supports printing through three parallel ports (LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3), and two serial ports (COM1, and COM2). ZIPPER requires the use of a dot matrix printer (that prints in compressed mode) to print continuous form payroll checks and continuous W-2 forms. ZIPPER does not print checks or W-2 forms on laser printers. RECLAIMING DISK SPACE After you have installed ZIPPER Payroll, you can (optionally) delete some of the files. In addition to the files ZPACK1.EXE and ZPACK2.EXE, you can also delete the files listed below. The following notes apply. README.1ST : Delete this file after you have printed it. This is a small ASCII text file. README.DOC : The file you are now reading. Delete this file after you have printed it. ZIPPER.DOC : The on-disk User's Manual. This is an ASCII text file approximately 90 pages long. Delete this file after you have printed it. ZIPnnTXn.RBF : The various tax table databases. The first time you start ZIPPER Payroll it will configure itself for the state where your business is located. It does this by loading the current tax tables for your state. Unless you relocate your business (to another state), ZIPPER will no longer need this data. See your User's Manual regarding MULTI-STATE PAYROLL. SHAREWARE Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software only for the purpose of evaluation. With shareware you can find software that suits your needs before you pay for it. With shareware you can try before you buy. This is the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you like the program, and don't use the program, you don't pay for it. If you try a shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register (pay for it). The fee (usually just a few dollars) you paid to a shareware distributor or vendor is not the registration fee. SOFTCRAFT, the author of ZIPPER Payroll, does not receive any of the money you may have paid for the shareware version of ZIPPER Payroll. If you find this program useful and continue to use ZIPPER Payroll after a reasonable trial period (no more than 90 days), you should make a registration payment of $62.00 to SOFTCRAFT. The $62.00 registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer, at any one time. ZIPPER Payroll is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends or business associates, (you may make any number of copies of your original shareware distribution disk to share with others) but do not give away copies that you have altered, or included as part of another system. YOU MAY NOT MAKE PHOTOCOPIES COPIES OF THE ON-DISK USER'S MANUAL. Anyone distributing ZIPPER Payroll for any kind of remuneration (distribution fee) must first contact SOFTCRAFT at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such vendors may begin offering ZIPPER Payroll for immediate distribution. ************************************************************************** REGISTRATION Registration of your evaluation copy of ZIPPER Payroll provides the following benefits: * The knowledge that you are helping to support a quality product. Registration pays the author for the "thousands" of hours that went into creating ZIPPER Payroll. Registration pays for this effort, and allows the author to improve and update the program. * The latest version of ZIPPER Payroll. This will include any updates, improvements, and "bug" fixes. * Tax table updates for the year following your initial registration. * One year of technical support. ************************************************************************** YOUR EVALUATION COPY OF ZIPPER PAYROLL IS COMPLETELY FUNCTIONAL. IT'S OPERATION IS NOT "CRIPPLED", LIMITED, OR REDUCED IN ANY WAY FROM THE REGISTERED VERSION. ************************************************************************** Only registered users will receive technical support and tax table updates. Tax table updates include federal and state tax tables. A registration form is included with the on-disk User's Manual, or you print a registration form from within ZIPPER Payroll. The registration form and registration fee of $62.00 should be sent to: SOFTCRAFT, 3612 122nd Pl SE, Everett, WA 98208 VOICE: (206) 728-8427 FAX: (206) 337-1842 CIS: 71221,376 ************************************************************************** ANNUAL MAINTENANCE / REGISTRATION When you become a registered user of ZIPPER Payroll, you receive one year of technical support. The one year period begins with your registration date. You will also receive, at the appropriate time, without additional charge, the tax table updates for the following year. If you wish to continue to receive technical support beyond the first year AND receive subsequent tax table updates, you will need to maintain an active registration status. An active registration status is maintained by paying an annual maintenance fee of $35.00. SOFTCRAFT will notify all registered users regarding renewal of their registration status. TECHNICAL SUPPORT At this time SOFTCRAFT does not provide "instant" (real-time, on-line) telephone technical support. We hope to change this in the future, but this depends on the volume of technical support requests (reads registered users...). At the present time you may obtain technical support in one of the following ways. (1) FAX (206)-337-1842 There is a Technical Support Request Form included at the rear of the ZIPPER Payroll User's Manual. ************************************************************************* *********** MAKE A COPY OF THIS FORM AND SAVE THE ORIGINAL. ********** ************************************************************************* Fill out the Technical Support Request COMPLETELY, and FAX it to SOFTCRAFT at (206)-337-1842. You can also print this form (with your user information already included) from within ZIPPER. From the MAIN MENU select (4) System..., then (5) Registration & Technical Support. Pressing [F2] will print a Technical Support Request. Please include all of the information requested. It will help us in providing a more timely response to your problem. Honestly indicate the urgency of your request. We will always try to provide the best service possible within our present limitations. You must also indicate your most and least preferred methods for us to respond to your request. If you are requesting a telephone or FAX response, please indicate if there are any time restrictions as to when we place the call (like you go to bed early, or the fax machine is in your bedroom...). Our response will generally be evenings and/or weekends, at least until we are "rich and famous" enough to provide real-time technical support. ************************************************************************** INCOMPLETE TECHNICAL SUPPORT REQUESTS WILL BE GIVEN THE LOWEST PRIORITY ************************************************************************** (2) CompuServe [ 71221,376 ] (Ed Protas) Make an on-disk copy of the original Technical Support Request Form. This file can be found as part of your shareware distribution diskette. The name of this file is TECHHELP.DOC Edit this form with your favorite word-processor (in a non-document mode). At the top of this form, on the first three lines, add the following: To: 71221,376 From: (enter your name here) Subject: ZIPPER Tech Support You may now fill out this form (as described above and on the Technical Support Request Form) and upload it to our CompuServe account. You may request any type of response (not necessarily by CompuServe). (3) U.S. Mail Before you contact us for technical support you need to gather some important information about your computer's operating system. We may need the settings in your computers AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files, and the results of the DOS CHKDSK.COM command. Included with ZIPPER Payroll is a small "batch" file that will "get" this information and send it to your printer. Send the output of this process along with your request for technical support. At the DOS prompt type GETDATA and press [Enter]. The contents of this batch file (GETDATA.BAT) appears below. ECHO OFF REM clear the screen CLS REM display the information screen file (appears below) TYPE GETDATA.SCR REM wait for you to respond PAUSE REM clear the screen, again CLS REM send the information contained in the autoexec.bat to the printer REM *********** change the setting on the next line if it is incorrect. COPY C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT LPT1 REM send the information contained in the config.sys to the printer REM *********** change the setting on the next line if it is incorrect. COPY C:\CONFIG.SYS LPT1 REM send the information from the "PATH" setting to the printer PATH >LPT1 REM send the information from the CHKDSK.COM utility to the printer REM *********** chkdsk.com must be located in the "path" for this to work. CHKDSK >LPT1 REM clear the screen, one last time CLS REM all done! This is the contents of the GETDATA.SCR file: ************************************************************************* THIS BATCH FILE WILL OBTAIN THE INFORMATION FROM YOUR autoexec.bat FILE, YOUR config.sys FILE, AND THE RESULTS OF THE DOS chkdsk.com UTILITY FILE. THE RESULTS OF THIS PROCESS WILL BE SENT TO YOUR PRINTER. PLEASE SEND THIS INFORMATION ALONG WITH YOUR REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT. ************************************************************************* PROPER USE OF THIS SMALL PROGRAM MAKES CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING THE CONFIGURATION OF YOUR SYSTEM. IF ANY OF THESE ASSUMPTIONS ARE INCORRECT YOU WILL NEED TO MODIFY THIS BATCH FILE WHERE IT IS INDICATED. IF YOU NEED TO MODIFY ANY OF THESE SETTINGS PRESS [CTRL-C] TO ABORT, CHANGE THE BATCH FILE, AND RE-RUN. REMEMBER TO UPDATE THE CONTENTS OF THIS SCREEN FILE (getdata.scr) SO THAT YOUR CURRENT SETTINGS WILL DISPLAY BELOW. THIS PROCESS WILL NOT CHANGE ANY OF THE SETTINGS ON YOUR COMPUTER. ************************************************************************* YOUR autoexec.bat FILE IS LOCATED AT: [ C:\ ] YOUR config.sys FILE IS LOCATED AT: [ C:\ ] YOUR chkdsk.com FILE IS LOCATED AT: [ C:\ ] OR IS LOCATED IN YOUR "PATH" STATEMENT. YOUR PRINTER IS CONNECTED TO : lpt1 -- AND IT IS ON-LINE!!! ************************************************************************* **** ASP OMBUDSMAN POLICY **** SOFTCRAFT is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. NEW (UNDOCUMENTED) FEATURES The features listed below are updates, changes, and/or enhancements to the original version. These changes are not documented in the ZIPPER Payroll User's Manual. MENUS: Some menu selections are followed by an ellipsis "...". The purpose of this is to indicate that this menu selection will lead to another menu selection. CONTEXT SENSITIVE HELP: Help is available at the MAIN MENU, and each of the next level menus. The help system is currently being expanded, and you may find help is available at more, or even all menu levels. Press the F10 function key for HELP. Press any key to return to the menu. EMPLOYEE ENTRY / EDIT FORM: A new field has been added for the employee's area code (phone number). The width of the employee's city was enlarged to 20 characters. EMPLOYEE DATA SHEET: A new report has been added to provide a listing of employee data. The report prints out one employee per page. This will allow you to have a "hard copy" of all employee information. STATE INCOME TAX / WITHHOLDING DATA: This feature is available "on-line" from the SYSTEM MENU, (3) Payroll Tax Rates & Tables..., (5) State With- holding Configuration. When you install ZIPPER Payroll a file is created automatically that contains this information. The file is created in your ZIPPER Payroll directory, and is named STATE.SCR. If you delete this file, your screen will be blank when you attempt to display this information. APPENDIX SPECIAL CONDITIONS ======================================================================== STATE STANDARD DEDUCTION ZIPPER uses the following rules with respect to the "State Standard Deduction". Although it is possible to enter any single digit number (0 through 9), the only valid entries are the values 0 through 3. 0 - None 1 - Single 2 - Married 3 - Other If you enter a value greater than 3, ZIPPER will interpret the entry as equal to the value for the Married Standard Deduction (2). You should enter 0 (zero) only if your state provides a zero value. Some states equate 0 and 1. Unless your state specifically provides a zero value for no standard deduction, entering a zero will equate to the Single Standard Deduction. ARIZONA Arizona withholding is computed as 20% of the Federal Withholding. Arizona allows optional (higher) rates of 25% and 29%. ZIPPER uses separate tax tables to provide the various rates. Select the proper tax table for each employee. ZIPPER Arizona Withholding Rate State Tax Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20% (Standard) 1 25% (Optional) 2 29% (Optional) 3 Any employee who earns less than $15,000.00 annually is taxed at the rate of 10%. ARKANSAS Arkansas utilizes four standard deductions. Enter the standard deduction for each employee based on the description below. ZIPPER State Category State Standard Deduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Single claiming exemption for self 1 - Single 2. Married claiming both exemptions 2 - Married 3. Married claiming exemption for self 3 - Other 4. No personal exemptions claimed 0 - None CALIFORNIA California utilizes three tax tables. Select the proper ZIPPER State Tax Table that corresponds to the California Tax Table. California ZIPPER Tax Tables State Tax Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Single Persons, Dual Income Married, or Married with Multiple Employers 1 Married Persons 2 Head of Household 3 California utilizes four standard deductions. Select the proper ZIPPER State Standard Deduction that corresponds to the California Standard Deduction. ZIPPER California Standard Deduction State Standard Deduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Single (Dual Income Married or Married w/ Multiple Employers) 1 - Single 2. Married (0 or 1 Allowance on DE-4) 1 - Single 3. Married (2 or more Allowances on DE-4) 2 - Married 4. Unmarried Head of Household 3 - Other California also provides for "Additional Withholding Allowances for Estimated Deductions". This is listed in "Table 2 - Estimated Deduction Table" in the California Personal Income Tax Withholding Guide. The California "Additional Withholding Allowance" corresponds to the ZIPPER State Extra Deduction. Enter the number of Additional Withholding Allowances claimed (Form DE-4 or W-4) into the field for "State Extra Deductions". California also provides a "Low Income Exemption". The amount of the exemption is based on the "marital status" of the individual employee. ZIPPER determines the "marital status" based on the value entered in the field for "State Tax Table". ZIPPER determines if the exemption applies when payroll is computed. CONNECTICUT Connecticut recently enacted a personal income tax. Withholding of income tax became effective October 1, 1991. The design of the Connecticut withholding system for 1991 does not conform to the federal withholding system, or any other state system. We have elected, at this point anyway, to not support payroll processing for Connecticut. GEORGIA Georgia utilizes four tax tables. The values contained in Table G and Table I are the same. Georgia ZIPPER Tax Tables State Tax Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table F - MARRIED FILING JOINT RETURN 2 (With one having income) or HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD Table G - MARRIED FILING JOINT RETURN 3 (Both spouses having income) Table H - SINGLE INDIVIDUAL 1 Table I - MARRIED FILING SEPARATE RETURN 3 IOWA Iowa allows a personal tax credit of $20.00 (annual) for the first and second exemptions claimed, and a $15.00 tax credit for the third and each subsequent exemption. Most states use only one rate, and ZIPPER does not provide the ability to utilize multiple rates. We have elected to use the $20.00 rate, and this will work correctly for employees who elect only 1 or 2 tax exemptions / credits. Employees who elect three or more exemptions / credits will consequently not have enough withholding taken from their pay. The amount of error will be small, but some employees may wish to have extra state withholding taken from their check to compensate for this condition. The amount of extra state withholding must be entered for each employee when the employee is entered into your payroll database. Extra withholding does not effect the amount of "normal" state withholding that is computed during payroll processing. The amount of Extra State Withholding may be modified at any time, and only effects payroll computed after such changes. The amount of payroll error (state withholding) produced by this condition is as follows: Pay Period Error for each exemption ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly $ .09 Biweekly .19 Semimonthly .20 Monthly .42 MARYLAND Maryland uses eight tax tables. Select the proper table based on the following: ZIPPER Maryland Tax Table State Tax Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table "A" (20% Local Rate) 1 Table "B" (25% Local Rate) 2 Table "C" (30% Local Rate) 3 Table "D" (35% Local Rate) 4 Table "E" (40% Local Rate) 5 Table "F" (45% Local Rate) 6 Table "G" (50% Local Rate) 7 Table "NR" (Nonresident) 8 MASSACHUSETTS Massachusetts allows a deduction for the amount of U.S. Social Security (FICA) withheld, up to a maximum amount. ZIPPER has no way of knowing how much any employee may have contributed to FICA during the current year through another employer. When you hire an employee who has worked during the current year for another employer, you should inform this person that they will be "over-withheld", just as though they had not worked for another employer. An overpayment may be claimed as a refund, depending on their overall tax liability. Massachusetts uses a combination of two exemption values. ZIPPER matches this condition by using both the State Standard Deduction and the Personal Exemption. State Standard Deduction: ZIPPER Massachusetts Category State Standard Deduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------- No personal exemptions claimed 0 - None Single claiming exemption for self 1 - Single Married claiming both exemptions 2 - Married Personal Exemptions: Enter the number of exemptions claimed. State Extra Deduction: Massachusetts also allows a Blind Exemption. If an employee is entitled to claim this exemption, the number of blind exemptions should be entered as State Extra Exemptions. A claimed spouse counts as "2" exemptions for Massachusetts income tax withholding purposes. An employee who claims only himself and his wife is treated as having "3" exemptions. To match this condition, married persons claiming themselves and their spouse should be entered as follows: State Standard Deduction: 2 Personal Exemptions : 3 (plus any additional exemptions claimed) ZIPPER automatically determines if the Massachusetts Low Income Exemption applies. MISSOURI 1992 Personal Exemptions: Missouri allows $1,200.00 for the first allowance, and $400.00 for each additional allowance for single persons; $1,200.00 for the first allowance, $1,200.00 for the second allowance, and $400.00 for each additional allowance for married persons. ZIPPER equates the Personal Exemption with the $1,200.00 MO W-4 allowances (either 1 or 2). Enter either a 1 (for single employees) or a 2 (for married employees) in the Personal Exemptions field. State Extra Deductions: Enter any additional MO W-4 allowances (the $400.00 allowances) in this field. MISSISSIPPI Mississippi utilizes three standard deductions: ZIPPER State Category State Standard Deduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Single 1 - Single 2. Married or Head of Family 2 - Married 3. Married, both spouses employed 3 - Other State Tax Table: Mississippi utilizes the personal exemptions, also called dependents, (Form 62-420) indicated below: Single - $6,000.00 Married Individuals (jointly) - $9,500.00 Head of Family - $9,500.00 Dependents - $1,500.00 Aged 65 and over - $1,500.00 Blind - $1,500.00 *********************************************************************** ZIPPER SELECTS THE PROPER PERSONAL EXEMPTION BASED ON THE VALUE ENTERED IN THE FIELD -- Tax Tables - State:. *********************************************************************** This may seem confusing, as Mississippi uses only one tax table (a series of tax rates), regardless of marital status. ZIPPER uses this field, in this way, ONLY for Mississippi. If you enter "1" (for Single), ZIPPER will use the $6,000.00 personal exemption. If you enter any other value (0 through 9), ZIPPER will use the $9,500.00 personal exemption. We recommend you enter "2" - for Married, and "3" - for Head of Family. As indicated above, Mississippi allows the same personal exemption value for both Married and Head of Family. Enter the number of additional personal exemptions ("Dependents" - line 4, Form 62-420) for the total number of dependents, aged 65 and over, and/or blindness in the field "State Extra Deductions:" If both spouses are employee, Mississippi tax laws allows the spouses to "share" the $9,500.00 exemption in any manner they choose (in multiples of $500.00). ZIPPER does not provide this flexibility. An employee will have to elect to take either the Single ($6,000.00) exemption or the Married ($9,500.00) exemption. An alternate means of dealing with this condition would be for a married individual to take the Single exemption, and then take 1 or 2 personal exemptions ( totals $7,500.00 or $9,000.00). The spouse would then have to claim the balance. Another alternate would be to claim 0 (zero) personal exemptions, and then claim any equivalent number of "Extra Deductions" (each extra deduction = $1,500.00). These alternate methods would produce some error if both spouse's worked for you (or the spouse's payroll was also computed by ZIPPER). The amount of error will not be significant over the full year, and will not have any effect on the taxpayers actual liability. It will affect the amount of refund or tax due. NEW JERSEY New Jersey uses five tax tables; New Jersey ZIPPER Tax Tables State Tax Table ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table "A" 1 Table "B" 2 Table "C" 3 Table "D" 4 Table "E" 5