09/30/2026
Here's a secret from the payroll world: the businesses that have a smooth January start preparing in September.
Waiting until December to think about year-end is how small issues become big headaches. Getting ahead of it looks like:
📋 Verifying employee names, addresses, and SSNs now, so W-2s go out clean
🧾 Tracking contractor payments all year, so 1099s aren't a January scramble
💰 Planning year-end bonuses early, including the tax withholding side
🗂 Reviewing benefits and deductions before open enrollment locks things in
Three months of small steps beats three weeks of chaos. Your January self will thank you.
Want a partner who handles year-end for you?