· PAYROLL PROCESSING · TAX FILINGS · COMPLIANCE · HR SUPPORT
Accurate, On-Time Payroll for Every Pay Period
Payroll errors, including missed payments, miscalculated withholdings, and late tax deposits, can have immediate consequences for employees and the business alike. Archer Lewis handles payroll processing, tax filings, and compliance so your employees get paid accurately and on time, every time.
Our Approach
Payroll that runs on time, every pay period.
Payroll is one of those business functions that goes unnoticed when it works well and creates real problems when it doesn't, from unhappy employees to IRS penalties. Archer Lewis treats payroll as the critical business function it is, handling the processing, tax filings, deposits, and compliance, so it's one less thing you need to manage directly.
What's Included
Payroll services that cover every piece of the process
From processing each pay run to filing quarterly returns and handling year-end, our payroll team manages the complete cycle so nothing falls through.
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Payroll Processing
Accurate payroll calculated and processed every pay period, for hourly, salaried, and variable-pay employees.
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Payroll Tax Deposits
Federal, state, and local payroll tax deposits made on time, avoiding the penalties that come with late deposits.
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Quarterly Payroll Tax Returns
Form 941 and state equivalents filed accurately and on time every quarter.
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W-2 & 1099 Preparation
Year-end W-2s for employees and 1099s for contractors prepared and distributed correctly.
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New Employee Setup
New hire reporting, tax withholding setup, and direct deposit enrollment handled at onboarding.
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Multi-State Payroll
Employees in multiple states? We manage the withholding and compliance requirements for every state where you have payroll.
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Garnishments & Deductions
Wage garnishments, child support orders, and voluntary deductions processed accurately and in compliance with applicable law.
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Payroll Reporting
Regular payroll reports that integrate with your accounting records, so your books always reflect your actual labor costs.
Gross pay, net pay, and your pay stub
Gross pay is what an employee earns before anything comes out, their hourly rate times hours worked, or their full salary. Net pay is what actually lands in their account after taxes, benefits, and other deductions. The pay stub is the paper trail that breaks down exactly how you got from one number to the other, and it's the first thing an employee or auditor will ask to see if a paycheck looks wrong.
State payroll considerations
Illinois: flat 4.95% state income tax, plus IL SUTA obligations for most employers.
Ohio: flat 2.75% state income tax on income above $26,050 (effective January 1, 2026), plus in many areas, local school district or municipal withholding on top.
North Carolina: flat 3.99% state income tax (2026).
New Jersey: graduated income tax with some of the highest top brackets in the country, plus mandatory state disability and family leave withholding.
Colorado: flat 4.4% state income tax.
Pennsylvania: flat 3.07% state tax, but nearly every municipality layers on its own local earned income tax, which is where most self-service calculators get it wrong.
Want an exact number for your team? Talk to a payroll advisor.
Payroll tax deposit deadlines are strict and unforgiving.
Payroll tax penalties start at 2% for deposits one to five days late and increase from there. Late deposits are among the most common IRS penalties businesses face when payroll is managed without dedicated support. Archer Lewis manages every deposit deadline, so your payroll tax record stays clean.
Talk to a Payroll Specialist
Common Questions
What businesses ask about payroll services.
Late tax deposits, incorrect withholding calculations, missed state filings, and W-2 errors are the most common problems. The IRS assesses penalties for late deposits that start immediately and compound quickly. State agencies do the same. The cost of getting it wrong usually exceeds the cost of outsourcing it.
Multi-state payroll requires withholding and filing in every state where employees work, not just where your business is headquartered. Each state has its own rates, thresholds, and filing requirements. We manage all of it, so you're compliant in every state where you have employees.
Yes. We process payroll for W-2 employees and prepare 1099s for independent contractors, including the year-end filing and distribution. If there's ever a question about whether a worker should be classified as an employee or contractor, we can help you think through the implications.
We catch most issues before they reach employees. That's the point of having professionals handle it. If something does need to be corrected, we address it immediately and handle any amended filings or notices that result.
Yes, and it works better that way. When payroll runs through the same firm handling your books and accounting, your labor costs are recorded accurately in real time and your financial statements always reflect your true payroll position. No reconciliation between systems, no translation errors.
It depends on your schedule. Weekly is 52 pay periods a year, biweekly is 26, semi-monthly is 24, and monthly is 12. The right choice depends on your cash flow and what your state requires for pay frequency.
Still have questions?
Ask us about pay schedules, filing in more than one state, or classifying contractors. No commitment, just a straight answer.
Talk to an Advisor
