The following information is provided to assist in completing year-end payroll processing, to ensure IRS Form W-2s are prepared accurately and timely, and to allow preparation for 2021 earnings.

Final Pay Date for 2020

The final pay date for the 2020 calendar year will be Thursday, December 31, 2020.

  • All staff timesheets and employment changes need to be submitted by close of business on Friday, December 18, 2020, via or emailed timesheets for specified groups.
  • Student hours must be approved by noon on Monday December 21, 2020.
  • New staff and student payroll calendars are available on thePayroll Services website under Forms.

For those employees receiving checks, they will be mailed to your home address from Harrisburg.

  • If you are interested in changing to direct deposit, please complete the Direct Deposit form located on thePayroll Services website under Forms and email the form to fac-staff-pay@iup.edu no later than Monday, December 21, 2020.

First Pay Date for 2021

The first day date for the 2021 calendar year will be Friday. January 15, 2021.

For those employees receiving checks, they will be mailed to your home address from Harrisburg.

  • If you are interested in changing to direct deposit, please complete the Direct Deposit form located on thePayroll Services website under Forms and email the form to fac-staff-pay@iup.edu no later than Monday, December 21, 2020.

2020 W-2 Distribution Delivery

The State System is outsourcing the printing and mailing of 2020 W-2 forms to a third party, Professional Automation Services (PAS). More information regarding a solid mailing date will be provided as it becomes available.

Please review the address information on your pay statement to ensure your IRS Form W-2 and other payroll/benefit documents are mailed to your correct address.

Active PASSHE employees, including student workers, have the option to view and print their W-2 form via the .

Online W-2 election for the 2020 tax year is open until December 31, 2020.

  • Electing an online W-2 means you willnotreceive a paper W-2 in the mail, but you will have access to view and print your W-2 as often as needed throughout the entire year.
  • Those who have previously elected to receive a paper W-2 in the mail have the opportunity to change their election to an electronic version.
  • Those who have previously elected to receive an online W-2 and wish to retain this choice, do not need to re-elect this option.
  • Any election made from now until the December 31 deadline will not apply to previously issued W-2 statements.

Instructions for updating your W-2 election are located by clicking theHelp Documentstab in the and scrolling to the Payroll section.

2021 Social Security Wage Base

The maximum wage base for Social Security tax for year 2021 increases to $142,800.00. The Social Security tax rate remains 6.2 percent, and the maximum Social Security tax employers and employees each pay in 2021 is $8,853.60.

Medicare tax rate remains at 1.45 percent. As in prior years, there is no limit to the wages subject to the Medicare tax.

Claiming "Exempt" on IRS Form W-4

The 2020 Form W-4 for employees who have claimed "exempt" from withholding expires February 16, 2021.

  • To continue to be exempt from withholding beyond February 16, 2021, employees must file a 2020 Form W-4 by February 16.
  • If an employee does not meet this deadline, they must be taxed based on the last Form W-4 on file that did not claim exemption from withholding; or if the employee did not file a Form W-4, they must be taxed based on a marital status of single with zero exemptions.
  • Changes to Form W-4 can be submitted through the > Employee Self Service > Payroll > W-4 Information.

Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Tax

The Unemployment Compensation tax rate beginning January 1, 2021. remains at .0006.