Services
Across various positions and gigs, all our workers gain the benefits of Income Tax Withholding, Unemployment Insurance and Workers' Compensation. Onboarding is handled through our simple to use online platform where employees can easily update personal information, Direct Deposit accounts and view Paystubs and Tax Forms. Our expertise covers all forms of creative industries whether paying the cast and crew at a small theatre or compensating commercial voice talent, we are here to help you find the best payroll solutions for your production needs.
Benefits Provided for your Employees
Withholding Taxes
We become the employer of record, handling income tax withholding for all jurisdictions. We remit those taxes to the appropriate agency with all required records and reports.
Unemployment Insurance
If you hire someone, even for a day, that person can file for unemployment. Multiple unemployment claims can increase your unemployment insurance rates. As the employer of record, PPS takes on that liability and the accompanying paperwork.
Workers' Comp Insurance
Injuries on the set and even in the editing room can be costly and time consuming. PPS carries full worker’s compensation insurance on everyone we pay as an employee. Any injury claims are handled by our staff and our industry leading insurance carrier.
Digital Onboarding
Determining the appropriate tax withholding forms, and other paperwork, distributing it to your team, collecting the completed documents, verifying employment eligibility via the I9 form and getting it all to payroll is entirely too time consuming. PPS utilizes digital onboarding for all paperwork, even confirming employment eligibility via the federal E-verify system.
Onboarding can even be customized to your needs for project specific documents, including NDAs and releases. Our process is easily completed via any internet connected device with no app needed. Data is secured with bank-grade 256-bit AES encryption.
Paychecks
When it comes issuing checks, we offer options as well. We offer traditional paper checks mailed directly to your staff, cast and crew, direct deposit where permitted or batch distribution to your location.
Year End Reporting
No need to gather W2s or 1099s for your talent or crew. We process all the year-end paperwork required by the IRS, state and local agencies. W2s are mailed out to employees from our office and digital copies are available on our secure employee platform.
Industries
Our aim is to provide comprehensive payroll solutions for the stage and screen. Over the past 15 years we have compensated Actors, Background Actors, Boom Mic Operators, , Camera Operators, Directors, Directors of Photography, Editors, Front of House Staff, Gaffers, Hair and Make-up Artists, Hand models, House Managers, Grips, Producers, Production Assistants, Puppeteers, Small Theatre Office Staff, Sound Designers, Sound Engineers/Technicians, Stage Managers, Stage performers, Stedi-cam Operators, Voice Over Artists and Wardrobe Designers. We are able to run to payroll for both union and non-union jobs. You can learn more about how we handle payments across these creative industries below...
SAG-AFTRA
Navigating your way through the various SAG-AFTRA contracts can be confusing. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be costly. We help by asking all the right questions - guiding you through the estimating process and offering ways to keep your budget down by utilizing the most favorable rates in the contract for your production. PPS will provide any and all paperwork, contracts and forms required. After the shoot or session we’ll generate a detailed, easy to understand invoice that can be paid by check, credit card, ACH, wire, or electronic check. We take care of issuing the payment to the performers, filing all the reports with the union offices, remitting the benefits to the appropriate fund. At the end of the year we send W2s to the performers as the employer of record.
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We process payments for all types of SAG-AFTRA covered work including Radio and TV Commercials, Corporate/Educational videos, TV Programs, Theatrical Films including those produced under the Low Budget, Ultra Low Budget, Modified Low Budget, and Student Film Agreements. For commercials, we track use and holing cycles and advise you of required payments, avoiding costly late fees and reinstatement fees. Where permitted we can act as the signatory of record so you don’t have to sign a union contract
Equity contracts require performers and stage managers to be covered by worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment insurance. Whether you’re using a Special Appearance, Guest Artist, LORT, Showcase or any other AEA agreement, PPS takes care of the insurance requirements, dues withholding and check processing. We remit all required reporting and benefit payments.
Theatre Staff
If you have paid staff handling the day to day functions of your small theatre, don’t let the payroll steal the show. PPS can easily and effectively payroll your directors, managers and office staff without breaking the budget. As always, we cover worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment insurance. Quick and easy billing and multiple payments methods allow us to fit into the way you already work.
Crew Payments
Keeping your crew on your payroll can be costly and time consuming. By utilizing PPS you can forgo the unemployment and workers compensation insurance exposure. Because PPS processes a large volume of payroll, we can offer rates for Workers Comp and unemployment insurance that production companies cannot obtain. PPS handles both union and non-union crew payments. If you are an IATSE signatory, you can entrust all the laborious benefits reporting and remitting to us. If you use non-union crew, PPS can help you too. IRS regulations draw distinctions between Contractors and Employees and if you are still paying your crew on a 1099 basis, you could be liable for thousands in back taxes if the IRS audits you.
Production Staff
Why bring on a new employee for a project that will be done in 3 weeks? By pooling your employees with PPS, can eliminate the exposure to your workers compensation and unemployment accounts posed by your temporary production staff while. We offer easy to complete time cards in traditional or digital format, quick turn around on invoicing and payment and direct deposit. Our invoicing can be completely customized to fit the way you already work. We can detail your payroll by project or production code so that you know where all the money is going.
Production-House Staff
At PPS, we understand that the work doesn't stop when the camera shuts off, and the crew has gone home. If you have a team of Producers/Writers/Editors working year-round to develop and release new projects, we can run weekly, biweekly and monthly payrolls for your salaried full-time and part-time office staff. Not only do we handle short-term employees, but we are prepared to take care of the essential team members who keep your company running all year long.
Work with us!
Like what you see? Let us help your next production be a success.
301-371-5910
