1. Why do I have to Direct Deposit my pay?
2. I am a new employee and I received a check the first time I was paid. Why?
3. To what banks can I direct deposit?
4. How do I change my address?
5. What is FICA?
6. What is MQFE?
7. Can I get my check early?
8. How do I change my tax deductions?
9. I've started work but I haven't gotten a timecard yet, what should I do?
10. I've lost my check, what should I do?
11. Why have I not gotten paid?
12. Why was I cut so much Federal Income Tax from my supplemental check?
13. Can I claim exemption from income taxes?
14. Why was I cut so much Income Tax or not enough Income Tax on my regular check?
15. Can I get a copy of my W2, if I lose my original?
16. How do I stop a payroll deduction?
17. Can I deposit part of my check into another bank account?

1) Why do I have to direct deposit my pay?
By policy, direct deposit of your pay is mandatory at the University. The only exception to this rule is for work study students.

2) I am a new employee and I received a check the first time I was paid. Why?

Verification of your account number is required before we can begin direct depositing your pay. For bi-weekly paid employees, their first two payrolls are paid by check. For monthly paid employees, only one payroll is paid by check. After this verification period, your pay will be direct deposited into your account.

3) To what banks can I direct deposit?

Any financial institution who is currently a member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH). Most financial institutions are members.

4) How do I change my address?
Employees can change their address by:

• Coming by G69 Rose Administration and filling out a change of address form.
• Having their department send in a Personnel Action form to change their address.
• Mailing us a letter with their name, social security number, new address and signature.
• Faxing us at (205) 348-2737 with their name, social security number, new address and signature.

5) What is FICA?
FICA is also known as Social Security tax. It is composed of OASDI ( Old Age, Survivors and Disability Benefits) and Medicare. The OASDI rate is 6.20% of a base amount that changes each year due to a rise in the Consumer Price Index. The wage base for FICA for the year 2006 is $94,200. The Medicare rate is 1.45% and currently has no income limit. All employees are subject to both FICA taxes. Generally, students are exempt from FICA tax if they meet the IRS requirements for student exemption.

6) What is MQFE?
This is the Medicare portion of FICA.

7) Can I get my check early? (This would apply only to new employees and work study students.)
We are unable to issue any checks early to an employee. If employees are unable to pick-up their checks on payday, please make other arrangements to receive your check.

• You may have your check direct deposited at your bank.
• You may have your check mailed to your department.
• You may have someone pick-up your check. (Individual picking up your check must have your ID as well as theirs)

8) How do I change my tax deductions?
Employees can fill out new Federal and State tax forms at G69 Rose Administration.

9) I've started work but I haven't gotten a timecard yet, what should I do?
The first thing an employee should do in this situation is to check with his/her department and make sure that a Personnel Action (PA) form was turned in to the Payroll office. We are unable to issue timecards to employees on whom we have not received PA forms. For employees on whom a PA did not reach Payroll in time for time card production, a handwritten time sheet can be issued upon the request of the supervisor.

10) I've lost my check, what should I do? (This would apply only to new employees and work study students.)
They should first look for their check thoroughly. If the check is not found, please contact the HR Service Center immediately. If employees are issued a replacement check and later find the lost check, they should bring it to the HR Service Center located in room G-69 of the Rose Administration Building.

 11) Why have I not gotten paid?

• If the employee is biweekly and has not turned in a timecard, they will not be paid until his/her timecard has been received. Employees should check with their departments first and make sure their timecards have been turned in to Payroll by the deadline.
• If the employee is a monthly employee, his/her Personnel Action form was either turned in to the payroll office late or filled-out incorrectly. Employees should check with their department to see if their paperwork has been turned in on time or processed correctly.

Once the issue has been resolved, and a PA received, the employee will be paid on the next Supplemental payroll which occurs on either the 15th of the month (Monthly Employees) or the Friday after the Biweekly payroll (Biweekly employees).

12) Why was so much Federal Income Tax cut from my supplemental pay?
Employees receiving pay on a supplemental payroll (excluding late payments) are subject to a 25% Federal Tax deduction and a 5% State Tax deduction. This is due to the fact that supplemental pay is considered pay in addition to the employee's regular pay and is subject to a flat tax rate as required by the Federal and State tax regulations.

13) Can I claim exemption from income taxes?
Student employees may claim exemption from State tax, if they plan to receive less than $1,800 of income in the year. Other employees may claim exemption from Federal and/or State tax if they had no tax liability in the previous tax year and do not expect to have any tax liability in the current tax year. Forms to claim exemption are available in the Human Resources Service Center.

14) Why was so much Federal Income Tax cut from my pay?
All employees are required to fill out a W-4 form (Federal) and an A-4 form (State) to authorize us to withhold the correct income tax amount from their pay. If we have not received a W-4 or A-4 form from an employee, we are required to cut the maximum amount of income tax. Employees can fill out both forms at G69 Rose Administration. If an employee's tax status or withholding exemptions have changed, he/she should fill out a new W-4/A-4 to maintain correct tax withholding for his/her personal situation. It is a good idea to look at this every year.

15) Can I get a copy of my W2, if I lose my original?
Employees that wish to receive a duplicate W2 should come by G69 Rose Administration and provide their name, social security number and the year for the duplicate W2.

16) How do I stop a payroll deduction?
Payroll deductions such as Rec Center Fees and Parking Fees must be resolved with the appropriate department. Please contact the Payroll department for other deductions.

17) Can I deposit part of my pay into another bank account?
You can have you net pay split among up to three Different bank accounts.  To start split direct deposit, please complete the University if Alabama Agreement for Direct Deposit form .  The form is located on the Payroll website under Payroll Forms.  Once you have completed the form, submit it to the Human Resources Service Center for processing.