The Tax Setup feature in AviontéBOLD's Talent Profile consolidates all tax-related information in one centralized location, eliminating the need to switch between AviontéBOLD and Back Office systems. This consolidation provides recruiters with real-time visibility into tax configurations, improving efficiency and reducing data entry errors. To align with IRS requirements, the system captures only total dependent information rather than breaking down qualifying children and other dependents separately.
Key Takeaways
- Configure and edit US Federal, State, CA Federal, and Provincial tax withholding directly from Talent Profile, without switching to Back Office.
- Access is controlled by permission: editing most tax fields requires Edit Talent Tax, while Tax Exempt, Active, and IRS Lock-In each require a separate permission.
- Use Default Taxes to automatically populate Federal, State, and Provincial tax records based on the talent's GEO Code.
- Review historical tax deductions in Tax History and audit changes to a talent's tax setup at any time.
Before You Begin
Ensure you have the appropriate tax editing permissions configured in your user profile. See the User Permissions section below for details on required access levels.
Quick Reference
Required Fields by Tax Type
US Federal Tax
- Tax Selection: US = Federal Income Tax (0)
- Filing Status
State Tax
- Tax Selection: [State Name]
- Filing Status
CA Federal Tax
- Tax Selection: CA = Federal Withholding Tax (700000000)
- Filing Status: N/A
Provincial Tax
- Tax Selection: [Province Name]
- Filing Status: N/A
Common Configurations
Tax Exempt Setup
- US Federal: Check "Tax Exempt" box
- State: Check "Tax Exempt" box OR set Exemptions = 999
- CA Federal/Provincial: Check "Tax Exempt" on Federal (affects both)
Additional Withholding
- Use "Add WH" (Additional Withholding) field to request extra tax deduction per payment
Chapters:
- User Permissions
- Accessing Tax Setup
- Tax Details
- Tax History
- Talent Tax Setup Audit
- Best Practices & Troubleshooting
User Permissions
Access to Tax Setup features is controlled through user-level permissions. Users typically need multiple permissions to fully manage tax configurations.
| Permission | Access Level | Common Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Edit Talent Tax | Edit all fields except Tax Exempt, Active, and IRS Lock-In | Recruiters, HR Administrators |
| Edit for Tax Exempt | Edit the Tax Exempt field | Payroll Managers, HR Directors |
| Edit for Active | Edit the Active field | Payroll Managers, HR Administrators |
| Edit for IRS Lock-In Letter | Edit the IRS Lock-In field | Payroll Managers, Compliance Officers |
Don't have the required permissions? Contact your system administrator to request access based on your role and responsibilities.
Accessing Tax Setup
Follow these steps to access Tax Setup in Talent Profile:
- Navigate to Talent Profile
- Select the Tax tab
- Choose either:
- Details tab to view and edit tax configurations
- History tab to view historical tax deductions
Tax Details
The Tax Details tab displays all active tax configurations for the talent. You can add new tax records, edit existing configurations, and manage tax parameters based on your permission level.
US Federal Taxes
The US Federal Tax section manages federal tax withholding information for US-based talent, supporting both current (2020 and later) and legacy (pre-2020) W-4 configurations.
Edit Access Requirements
- Available in integrated environments only
- Requires appropriate edit permissions (see User Permissions)
- Special permissions required for Tax Exempt, Active, and IRS Lock-In fields
Adding US Federal Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click + Additional Tax
- Complete the following fields:
- Select Tax: US = Federal Income Tax (0) (Required)
- Filing Status: Select appropriate status (Required)
- Additional Fields: Total Dependents, Other Income, Deductions, Multiple Jobs, Additional Withholdings (Add WH)
- Click Save
Editing US Federal Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click into any field in the Federal Tax row
- Make changes using dropdowns, text entry, or checkboxes
- Use the Actions column to confirm or cancel:
- Blue Checkmark = Save changes
- Red X = Cancel changes
Success or cancellation messages will display after you confirm or cancel your edits.
Displaying Federal Taxes
Use the Column Selector at the top right to customize which tax parameters are visible in the display. The Qualifying Children and Other Dependents fields may be hidden based on your system configuration; when hidden, only Total Dependents is available for display.
US Federal Tax Parameters
Not applicable for Canadian talent configurations
Basic Information
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Name | Display only. Shows the default tax name | Federal Income Tax |
| Division | Display only. Division associated with the talent | Sales Division |
| Date Completed | Display only. Timestamp when tax row was created | Used primarily for troubleshooting |
| First Work Date | Display only. Talent hire date | 01/15/2024 |
Filing Configuration
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Is 2020 | Indicates if using 2020+ W-4 format | Checkbox indicator |
| Filing Status | Talent's anticipated filing status | Default: Single or Married Filing Separately if left blank |
| Total Dependents | Total number of dependents claimed for federal tax purposes | Sum sent by payroll authority; aligns with IRS requirements |
Withholding Adjustments
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Other Income | Expected income without withholding (interest, dividends, retirement) | Enter annual amount |
| Deductions | Deductions beyond standard deduction to reduce withholding | Special: 999999 = Exempt Tax, Update Taxable Wages |
| Add WH | Additional withholding amount deducted per payment | Extra $50 per paycheck |
| Multiple Jobs | Check if talent has multiple jobs or married filing jointly with working spouse | Affects withholding calculation |
| Exemptions | For Federal Withholding - this is a Pre-2020 configuration | Pre-2020, personal allowances used to determine the amount of federal income tax withheld from paycheck |
Status and Special Conditions
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US Withholding Type | Talent residency status: Citizen/Resident or Nonresident Alien | Impacts income tax calculation |
| Tax Exempt | Exempt from tax calculation AND taxable wage reporting | Requires Edit for Tax Exempt permission |
| IRS Lock-In | Locks federal withholding per IRS letter requiring higher withholding rate | Only users with Edit for IRS Lock-In Letter permission can modify the Federal Income Tax line when checked |
| Active | Tax is currently active for the talent | Unchecked = no tax calculation during processing |
⚠️ Important: Tax Exempt
Selecting Tax Exempt means NO taxes are calculated and NO taxable wages are reported. This affects year-end tax documents (W-2s). Ensure you have proper authorization and documentation before enabling this option.
⚠️ Important: IRS Lock-In
When IRS Lock-In is checked and saved, the entire Federal Income Tax configuration becomes locked. Only users with "Edit for IRS Lock-In Letter" permission can modify any fields on the Federal Income Tax line when IRS Lock-In is enabled. This is a legal requirement when the employer receives an IRS lock-in letter.
Permission Behavior:
- IRS Lock-In = Checked + User has permission → Can edit all Federal Income Tax fields
- IRS Lock-In = Checked + User lacks permission → Cannot edit any Federal Income Tax fields
- IRS Lock-In = Unchecked → Standard Edit Talent Tax permissions apply
State Taxes
The State Tax section manages state-level income tax withholding, including resident status and county tax details for US-based talent.
Adding State Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click + Additional Tax
- Complete the following fields:
- Select Tax: Choose the state (Required)
- Filing Status: Select appropriate status (Required)
- Additional Fields: Exemptions, Dependents, Additional Withholdings (Add WH)
- Click Save
Editing State Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click into any field in the State Tax row
- Make changes using dropdowns, text entry, or checkboxes
- Use the Actions column to confirm or cancel:
- Blue Checkmark = Save changes
- Red X = Cancel changes
Success or cancellation messages will display after you confirm or cancel your edits.
Displaying State Taxes
Use the Column Selector at the top right to customize which tax parameters are visible in the display.
State Tax Parameters
Not applicable for Canadian talent configurations
Basic Information
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Name | Display only. Shows the default tax name | MN WH |
| Date Entered | Display only. Timestamp when tax row was created | Used primarily for troubleshooting |
Filing Configuration
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Status | Talent's state filing status (if applicable for the tax) | Varies by state |
| Exemptions | Number of exemptions claimed | Special: 999 = Exempt Tax, Update Taxable Wages |
| Exemption Amount | Dollar amount of exemptions | Only applicable for Colorado and Mississippi |
| Dependents | Total number of dependents from applicable state W-4 | State-specific calculation |
Withholding Adjustments
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Add WH | Additional withholding amount deducted per payment | Extra amount beyond calculated withholding |
| Fixed Amt | Returns a fixed tax amount per payment | Flat dollar amount option |
| Fixed % | Returns tax calculated as percentage of gross taxable wages | Percentage-based option |
Residency and Status
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident | Display only. Tax assigned based on resident/live address | US-specific field |
| Non-Resident | Display only. Tax assigned based on non-resident/work address | US-specific field |
| NR Cert | Certificate of Non-Residency for reciprocal state agreements | See detailed explanation below |
| Active | Tax is currently active for the talent | Unchecked = no tax calculation during processing |
| Tax Exempt | Exempt from tax calculation AND taxable wage reporting | Requires Edit for Tax Exempt permission |
Understanding NR Cert (Certificate of Non-Residency)
The NR Cert indicator manages reciprocal tax agreements between states. When a talent lives in one state but works in another state with a reciprocal agreement, they may be exempt from withholding in their work state.
Example: A talent living in Kentucky who works in Indiana will be exempt from Indiana withholding under reciprocity. When the talent selects Kentucky as their resident state during onboarding, the system automatically checks the NR_CERT flag for the work state (Indiana).
Important: The NR_CERT flag is ONLY checked on WORK states, never on resident states.
Kentucky Non-Resident Certificate & Ohio Withholding for Multi-State Employees
Kentucky and Ohio have a reciprocal tax agreement, so a talent who lives in one of these states but works in the other can be exempt from withholding in the work state once the Non-Resident Certificate is on file. In Avionté this certificate is Kentucky Form 42A809, Certificate of Nonresidence, and it is tied to the same NR Cert indicator described above.
Because the NR_CERT flag is only checked on the work state, wages earned in Kentucky by an Ohio resident (or in Ohio by a Kentucky resident) will still appear under both states on tax reports and the Taxes Summary report — one as the work state, one as the resident state — even though withholding is applied in only one of them. Which state actually withholds follows the same Resident / Non-Resident checkbox and state tax row behavior covered above: the state marked Resident is the state that withholds once the NR Cert is applied to the non-resident (work) state row.
Ohio withholding example: Ohio uses a graduated withholding schedule based on annual wages, not a flat percentage starting from the first dollar earned. For a Kentucky resident working in Ohio (or an Ohio resident working in Kentucky under the reciprocity agreement), Ohio withholding works as follows:
- Annual wages from $0–$26,050: 0% Ohio withholding
- Annual wages above $26,050: a flat 2.75% Ohio withholding rate applies to the amount over that threshold
CA Federal Taxes
The CA Federal Tax section manages Canadian federal tax withholding information based on the TD1 Personal Tax Credit Return.
Edit Access Requirements
- Available in integrated environments only
- Requires appropriate edit permissions (see User Permissions)
- Special permissions required for Tax Exempt and Active fields
Adding CA Federal Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click + Additional Tax
- Complete the following fields:
- Select Tax: CA = Federal Withholding Tax (700000000) (Required)
- Filing Status: N/A (Required)
- Additional Fields: Additional Withholdings, Dependents, Exemptions (Not Applicable to Canadian Federal Taxes)
- Click Save
Editing CA Federal Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click into any field in the CA Federal Tax row
- Make changes using text entry or checkboxes
- Use the Actions column to confirm or cancel:
- Blue Checkmark = Save changes
- Red X = Cancel changes
Success or cancellation messages will display after you confirm or cancel your edits.
Displaying CA Federal Taxes
Use the Column Selector at the top right to customize which tax parameters are visible in the display.
CA Federal Tax Parameters
Not applicable for United States talent configurations
Basic Information
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Name | Display only. Shows the default tax name | Federal Withholding Tax |
| Date Entered | Display only. Timestamp when tax row was created | Used primarily for troubleshooting |
Exemption Configuration
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exemption Amount | Total Claim Amount from Canadian TD1 Personal Tax Credit Return | Based on TD1 form calculations |
| Use Default Exemption | Checkbox to maintain authority default exemption amount | When checked, Exemption Amount cannot be manually adjusted |
Annual Adjustments
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Zone | Annual deduction for living in prescribed zone or housing deduction for northern/intermediate zone | Becomes editable when Federal Withholding Tax row is selected |
Status Fields
| Parameter | Description | Example/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Tax is currently active for the talent | Unchecked = no tax calculation during processing |
| Tax Exempt | Exempt from BOTH federal and provincial tax calculation AND taxable wage reporting | Requires Edit for Tax Exempt permission |
⚠️ Important: CA Tax Exempt Impact
Selecting Tax Exempt on CA Federal Withholding affects BOTH Federal AND Provincial taxes. Neither tax will be calculated, and taxable wages will not be reported for either jurisdiction.
Provincial Taxes
The Provincial Tax section manages provincial-level tax withholding for Canadian talent based on the Provincial TD1 Personal Tax Credit Return.
Adding Provincial Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click + Additional Tax
- Complete the following fields:
- Select Tax: Choose the province (Required)
- Filing Status: N/A (Required)
- Additional Fields: Additional Withholdings, Dependents, Exemptions (Not Applicable for Canadian Provincial Taxes)
- Click Save
Editing Provincial Tax Information
- Navigate to Tax Setup and select the Details tab
- Click into any field in the Provincial Tax row
- Make changes using text entry or checkboxes
- Use the Actions column to confirm or cancel:
- Blue Checkmark = Save changes
- Red X = Cancel changes
Success or cancellation messages will display after you confirm or cancel your edits.
Displaying Provincial Taxes
Use the Column Selector at the top right to customize which tax parameters are visible in the display.
CA Provincial Tax Parameters
Not applicable for United States talent configurations
The Provincial Tax parameters are identical to CA Federal Tax parameters (see CA Federal Tax Parameters above), with the following differences:
- Tax Name displays the provincial tax name (e.g., "Ontario")
- Exemption Amount is based on the Provincial TD1 form rather than the Federal TD1
- Tax Exempt affects only the provincial tax (not federal, unlike CA Federal Tax)
Note: The Prescribed Zone field functions identically for both Federal and Provincial taxes.
Default Taxes
The Add Default Taxes button automatically generates tax information based on the employee's geocode and populates the Federal, State, and Provincial Tax sections.
- Click the Pencil Icon within the Contact Information widget to edit the information
- Locate the GEO Code dropdown and select the corresponding code to the listed address
- Click the Save button
- Refresh the page and the Tax fields will automatically generate according to the GEO Code selection
Check Delivery Options
The Check Delivery dropdown allows you to select how checks are distributed to employees.
Defaults:
- Hold at Employee Branch
- Hold at Customer
- Mail to Employee
- Hold at Customer Branch
User Created:
- Additional Check Delivery Options can be created in Back Office
- Admin Tools > Config Choice > Category = "CheckDelivery"
Tax History
The Tax History tab provides a comprehensive view of historical tax deductions organized by year, showing both talent (employee) and employer portions of tax withholdings.
Accessing Tax History
- Navigate to Talent Profile
- Select the Tax tab
- Click the History tab
Understanding the Tax History Display
Organization Structure
Supplier and Year Display:
- Supplier name appears at the top (e.g., "Staffing")
- Years are listed in descending order (most recent first)
- Click on any year to expand or collapse detailed tax information
Talent Taxes Section
The Talent section displays talent tax withholdings with the following columns:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Tax type (e.g., Federal Income Tax, FICA-EE, State Withholding, CPP, EI) |
| Subject Gross | Gross wages subject to the tax |
| Taxable | Taxable amount for the specific tax |
| Tax Amount | Total amount withheld |
When expanded, a Total Talent Taxes row displays the sum of all talent tax amounts.
US Talent Tax History Example:
CA Talent Tax History Example:
Employer Taxes Section
The Employer section displays employer-paid taxes with the same column structure:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Tax type (e.g., FICA-ER, FUTA, State Unemployment, CPP, EI) |
| Subject Gross | Gross wages subject to the tax |
| Taxable | Taxable amount for the specific tax |
| Tax Amount | Employer's portion of the tax |
When expanded, a Total Employer Taxes row displays the sum of all employer tax amounts.
US Employer Tax History Example:
CA Employer Tax History Example:
Filtering Tax History
Use the Filter option at the top of the Tax History tab to display results for specific division(s). Only tax history associated with selected divisions will appear.
Access Permissions
Tax history respects office-level access permissions:
- Users can only view tax history for offices they have access to
- If you don't have access to any offices with tax history, a message will indicate no accessible tax history is available
- Tax history for offices outside your permissions will not be displayed
Talent Tax Setup Audit
- Go to the Talent/Employee that you'd like to view the changes for
- Click on the i icon
- If you don't see the i icon then hover over the Talent Name
Tax Setup Updates are logged when changes made to the talent tax setup are saved using the Actions confirmation.
Best Practices & Troubleshooting
Best Practices
Tax Exempt vs. Special Exemption Values
When to use Tax Exempt checkbox:
- Talent is legally exempt from all tax withholding AND wage reporting
- You have proper documentation (W-4 claiming exemption, official exemption certificate)
- Requires special permission
When to use special exemption values:
- US Federal: Set Deductions = 999999 for Exempt Tax with taxable wages updated
- US State: Set Exemptions = 999 for Exempt Tax with taxable wages updated
- Use when talent is exempt from withholding but wages should still be reported
Year-End Considerations
- Review all Tax Exempt settings before year-end processing
- Verify Annual Credit and Annual Deduction values expire and need reapplication
- Confirm IRS Lock-In letters are still in effect
- Update any expired certificates or authorizations
Multi-State Talent
- Always verify reciprocal agreements when talent works in a different state than residence
- Check NR_CERT status for work states with reciprocal agreements
- Ensure both resident and non-resident state taxes are configured appropriately
Troubleshooting
Tax Not Calculating
Check these common issues:
- Is the tax marked as Active? (Unchecked means no calculation)
- Is Tax Exempt selected? (Prevents calculation and reporting)
- Do you have the correct Filing Status selected?
- For state taxes, verify Resident vs Non-Resident designation
- Check if there's an IRS Lock-In preventing changes
Wrong Tax Amount Being Withheld
Review these settings:
- Verify Filing Status is correct
- Check Exemptions/Exemption Amount values
- Review Additional Withholding (Add WH) field
- For Fixed Amount or Fixed %, verify those values if used
- Confirm Total Dependents is accurate
Cannot Edit Tax Configuration
Permission issues:
- Verify you have Edit Talent Tax permission
- Check if IRS Lock-In is enabled (requires special permission)
- Confirm you have office access for this talent
- For Tax Exempt field, verify Edit for Tax Exempt permission
- For Active field, verify Edit for Active permission
State Tax Not Appearing
Configuration issues:
- Confirm talent has both work and resident addresses configured
- Verify the state has required tax withholding
- Check if NR_CERT applies for reciprocal agreements
- Ensure you have access to the office where the tax should appear
Canadian Annual Credits Not Working Correctly
Calculation issues:
- Verify the value is entered as an annual amount (not per-pay-period)
- Confirm talent has consistent pay frequency
- If mid-year, ensure you've calculated the adjusted value correctly
- Check that the credit/deduction was approved for the current year
- Remember these values must be reapplied annually
Getting Additional Help
If you continue to experience issues after trying these troubleshooting steps:
- Document the specific issue and steps you've taken
- Note the talent ID, tax type, and error messages (if any)
- Check with your payroll team for company-specific configuration requirements
- Contact your system administrator for permission-related issues
- Submit a support ticket with all relevant details
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