As we kick off the new year, here are some important reminders and announcements related to your pay, taxes and benefits. Some may require action on your part by Jan. 18, 2020.
Remember: Keeping your information complete and up-to-date will ensure the timely delivery of information that may impact your transactions.
W-2 notices by location
ASUCLA, UCLA, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara and UCOP employees will receive one W-2 statement from UCPath for the 2019 tax year. UC Irvine, UC Irvine Medical Center and UC Santa Cruz will receive one W-2 from AYSO (due to the transition to UCPath in 2020).
2019 UC Berkeley W-2s
- AYSO will cover January – March
- UCPath will cover April – December
- If your first paycheck was after March 31, 2019, you will only receive one W-2 from UCPath
2019 UC Davis and UC Agricultural and Natural Resources W-2s
- AYSO will cover January – September
- UCPath will cover October – December
- If your first paycheck was after Sept. 30, 2019, you will only receive one W-2 from UCPath.
Update your tax information by Jan. 18, 2020
- Update your personal information. Sign into your UC benefits account and update your personal information, including your personal and work email and home address. UCPath users can manage dependents’ personal information online.
- Provide dependent social security numbers. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers to make reasonable efforts to obtain Social Security numbers for employees, their spouses/domestic partners and dependents. If you received a request to provide this information, please respond by Jan. 18. (UCPath users can update this online.)
- UCPath users: Opt for an electronic W-2. Electronic W-2s offer many advantages. The At Your Service Online (AYSO) deadline for electronic 2020 W-2s has passed, but UCPath users can make this election through Jan. 18.
- International workers: Verify your GLACIER account information. International persons receiving UC wages may receive either a W-2 or 1042-S. Verify that your email and home mailing addresses match exactly in your benefits account online and in the GLACIER database to ensure that your tax information is sent correctly. You can also opt for an electronic 1042-s through GLACIER.
Federal and State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- All W-2 notifications include IRS Notice 797, alerting you that you may be eligible for the federal EITC, a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you do not owe any tax or are not required to file. The federal EITC reduces the amount of tax you owe and may give you a refund. For more information, visit the IRS website or contact the IRS at 1 (800) 829-3676.
- Similarly, you may be eligible for the California EITC. To claim this credit, you must file a CA income tax return and complete and attach the CA EITC form (FTB 3514). For more information visit the Franchise Tax Board website or call 1 (800) 852-5711.
Claiming exemption from withholding
The IRS requires you to complete a new W-4 form each year if you are claiming exemption from tax withholding. If you wish to claim exemption from withholding in 2020, you must make this choice on UCPath online before Feb. 15, 2020.
New 2020 Federal Form W-4 information
On Dec. 5, 2019, the IRS released the final version of the 2020 Form W-4, which instructs employers how much tax to withhold. The IRS redesigned the form to reflect the changes to the federal tax code from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which took effect last year.
Current employees are not required to complete a new form, but can choose to adjust their withholding based on the new form. All new employees hired as of Jan. 1, 2020, must complete the new form, and any adjustments made after Jan. 1, 2020, must be made using the new form.
Even though current employees are not required to complete the revised form, the IRS does recommend you perform a “paycheck checkup” to see if you need to make adjustments to your current withholding. To conduct the checkup, you can use the IRS’s Tax Withholding Estimator. To effectively use the estimator, it’s helpful to have a copy of your most recent pay stub and tax return.
W-4 process for UCPath locations
The new Federal Form W-4 is available on UCPath online for employees to review and fill out. Go to Employee Actions > Income and Taxes > Federal W-4.
W-4 process for locations still using At Your Service Online (AYSO)
New employees hired after Jan 1, 2020, and existing employees who need to adjust their withholding, will need to complete a paper form and provide it to their payroll office. Until further notice, the new form is not available on AYSO. You can download Federal Form W-4 from the IRS website, and you can download the California form from the State of California’s Employment Development Department website.
2020 payroll notices
- Employees paid monthly will receive payment for December 2019 earnings on Jan. 2, 2020. View the 2020 monthly payroll calendar.
- Employees paid biweekly will receive the first paycheck of 2019 on Jan. 8, 2020. View the 2020 biweekly payroll calendar.
Have questions or need help?
UCPath users: Please visit UCPath and click on “Ask UCPath Center” to submit an inquiry. You may also call the UCPath Center at (855) 982‐7284 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PT), Monday through Friday to speak with an associate.
AYSO users: Please contact the payroll office at your location.