Financial Services & Accounting Firms: Payroll Garnishments: What You Need to Know (2026)

Payroll compliance for financial services firms is not a set-it-and-forget-it problem. FINRA Rule 3110 recordkeeping, IRC 409A for deferred comp, Form 5500 payroll data for benefit plans. Each of these areas carries real penalty risk when mishandled.

This guide covers the primary compliance requirements financial services firms face in payroll and how to stay current without a dedicated in-house compliance specialist.

Key Payroll Compliance Requirements for Financial Services Firms

Federal requirements. All financial services firms must withhold federal income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and pay the employer's share of FICA. Federal tax deposits must be made on time -- failure to deposit triggers a penalty of 2-15% of the unpaid amount depending on how many days late.

State requirements. FINRA Rule 3110 recordkeeping, IRC 409A for deferred comp, Form 5500 payroll data for benefit plans. State requirements vary and change frequently. Multi-location financial services firms face multiple sets of state rules simultaneously.

Industry-specific requirements. financial services firms face additional payroll requirements beyond standard federal and state rules, including deferred compensation structures, FINRA recordkeeping, performance fee payroll, Series license holder compliance.

Common Compliance Mistakes in Financial Services Firms Payroll

• Misclassifying employees -- especially relevant for financial services firms where financial advisors and CPAs may be paid differently depending on role structure
• Missing tax deposit deadlines -- the IRS charges 2-15% penalty for late deposits, and deposits can be required semi-weekly for many businesses
• Incorrect state filings -- financial services firms with employees in multiple states must file in each state and maintain separate records
• Failing to update payroll for rate changes -- minimum wage, SUTA rates, and state withholding tables change annually in most states
• Year-end W-2 errors -- incorrect box entries on W-2s require corrected W-2Cs filed with both the employee and the IRS

How Managed Payroll Handles Financial Services Firms Compliance

A managed payroll provider handles compliance as part of the base service. Tax table updates, filing deadline tracking, state-specific rule monitoring, and year-end W-2 production are all managed without additional charges per action.

For financial services firms, the most valuable compliance coverage is deferred compensation structures and FINRA recordkeeping, which require specialist knowledge that most in-house generalists do not have depth on.

Frequently Asked Questions