Set Up and Track Child Support Garnishments in Zenoti Integrated Payroll
This article explains how Zenoti Integrated Payroll (ZIP) supports child support garnishments. It outlines deduction types, remittance options, set up steps and reporting guidance. Administrators can follow this guide to remain compliant with legal requirements and ensure accurate payroll deductions.
Overview
ZIP allows employers to apply post-tax deductions, including court-mandated child support garnishments. Administrators choose whether Zenoti will remit garnishment payments to the appropriate state agency or whether the employer will manage remittance manually. ZIP supports these payments across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, excluding tribal or reservation agencies.
ZIP always prioritizes child support garnishments over other deduction types. It uses disposable income calculations to determine how much to deduct, ensuring legal compliance.
Supported deduction types in ZIP
Zenoti supports the following post-tax deduction types, all of which reduce an employee’s net pay but do not affect their tax liability. ZIP calculates and applies these amounts after taxes.
Deduction Type | Description |
|---|---|
Child Support Garnishment | Court-ordered deductions for child support, |
Miscellaneous Garnishment | Other wage garnishments such astax liens calculated on disposable income, |
Miscellaneous (Other) | Non-garnishment deductions like union dues, charity contributions, and more. |
Employees can have multiple post-tax deductions applied simultaneously
Remittance: Zenoti-Managed vs Employer-Managed
When you add a child support garnishment, you decide who is responsible for sending the payment to the state agency:
Remittance Type | Who Sends the Payment | ZIP Behaviour |
|---|---|---|
Zenoti-Managed | Zenoti | Includes the deduction in payroll cash requirement. |
Employer-Managed | Employer | Excludes the deduction from payroll cash requirement. |
Note
By default, Zenoti sets child support deductions to Zenoti-Managed. If you wish to remit manually, change this during setup.
Zenoti supports remittance in all 50 U.S. states and D.C., but not to tribal or reservation agencies.
Add or update a child support garnishment
Use the steps below to create a new child support garnishment or modify an existing one in an employee’s payroll profile.
Go to the Payroll Dashboard.
Click Employees.
Select the employee and click View Details.
Navigate to the Post-Tax Deductions tab.
Click Add to create or Edit to update a deduction.
Select Child Support Garnishment as the deduction type.
Choose either Zenoti-Managed or Employer-Managed for remittance.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How does ZIP handle multiple deductions?
A. ZIP gives child support garnishments the highest priority. It applies them before any other post-tax or voluntary deductions to ensure legal compliance.
Q. Does Zenoti remit child support garnishments in all states?
A. Yes. Zenoti remits child support garnishment payments to state agencies in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (D.C.).
Note
Zenoti does not support remittance to tribal or reservation agencies.
Q. Can I change a garnishment from employer-managed to Zenoti-managed later?
A. Yes. You can edit an existing garnishment and update its remittance responsibility anytime through the Post-Tax Deductions tab in the employee's payroll profile.
Q. Is there a deadline for setting up garnishments before a payroll run?
A. Yes. To ensure proper processing, garnishments should be configured before running payroll. Changes made after payroll processing will apply to the next pay period.
Q. Does Zenoti track the garnishment payments?
A. Yes. Zenoti tracks and reports all post-tax deductions, including child support garnishments, in payroll reports and employee pay statements—whether Zenoti or the employer remits the payment.
Q. Can garnishments be deducted from bonuses or non-regular wages?
A. Yes. Child support garnishments can apply to any compensation processed through payroll such as bonuses, commissions, unless explicitly excluded in the garnishment order.