There was an error in the original communication regarding the current Paid Family and Medical leave rate. This should read:
The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave premium rate will decrease from 0.8% to 0.74% effective 1/1/2024.
Message sent 12/12/23 at 12:03 p.m.
2023 Year End
Please note the following information relating to process changes due to Tax-Related Changes and W-2 mailing costs from Consolidated Mail Services that go into effect on January 1, 2024:
2024 tax changes from Social Security and WA State’s Employment Security
The Social Security wage base limit increases from $160,200 to $168,600 in 2024.
The employee and employer tax rates remain at 6.2% each (12.4% total).
Note: For employees that are at or near the max that transfer in to your agency from another HRMS agency, follow HRMS procedure to ensure that Social Security will not be deducted when the employee maxes out for the year (the State of Washington is one employer for Social Security purposes).
The employee and employer Medicare Tax Rates remains at 1.45% each (2.90% total). There is no maximum wage base for Medicare taxes.
Note: Employers must withhold an additional 0.9% from wages paid to an employee that exceed $200,000 during the year (regardless of the employee’s filing status). This makes the effective employee Medicare tax rate 2.35% on wages over $200,000.
The state unemployment taxable wage base maximum is $68,500.
The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave premium rate will decrease from .08%0.8% to 0.74% effective 1/1/2024.
The Washington Long Term Support Services premium rate became effective 7/1/2023 and is currently 0.58% of wages.
Distribution of state agency 2023 Form W-2 and the 1099R Wage and Tax Statements
DES Consolidated Mail Services (CMS) will mail statements directly to employees by January 31, 2024.
The 2024 cost for processing W-2’s and 1099R’s will be $.70 per piece, which includes inserting, envelope, postage, and delivery to the USPS. The charges will be reflected on an invoice from CMS addressed to your agency’s billing contact. Questions can be directed to CMS.
Manual adjustments for other state taxes can be created in PU19. Procedure is available on the Year End web page. Note: This process eliminates the need for agencies to pull W-2s to add other state income taxes.
