Bakersfield Lighting Corporation (BLC) wants to know the tax benefits and tax implications of implementing a 401(k) program plan for present and incoming employees. First the Human Resources manager would like to know the tax implications of the 401(k) program and what possible deductions it would give BLC. The manager has already estimated a savings of $100,000 in employee turnover and improved employee performance. BLC will be contributing an estimated $250,000 annually to the 401(k) program plan. Since management is concerned with the additional costs of providing the 401(k) plan program, in this report I will show that the benefits will outweigh the disadvantages of implementing the plan. I will also be including the tax accounting benefits of implementing compensation programs and pensions with BLC being a multinational organization (CTU Course Material, 2008). First we will discuss the 401(k) program that BLC wants to be implemented.
The 401(k) plan is tax deferred for the employee and for BLC. BLC’s present and incoming employees who chose to contribute to the plan will be contributing a percentage of their weekly gross wages. BLC will make a 50% match for each employee contribution up to 8% of gross wages. These contributions are done on pre-tax or gross wages. BLC employees will not have to pay income tax withholdings when the contributions are taken, and they will not be included on the tax year return since the contributions are taken out of the gross wages. The W-2 form where the income is reported will show different amounts in boxes 1 versus 2 and 3, with 2 and 3 being at an increase. Boxes 2 and 3 show the total gross income that is subject to social security, Medicare, and federal unemployment tax deductions (irs.gov).
BLC are required to make cer ...