If your company provides hourly fringe benefits to workers, such as health insurance, retirement plans, union dues, or other eligible benefits, you’ll want to set up those fringe benefit credits in Kaster before submitting your certified payrolls on the WH-347 Form. You are not required to set up fringe benefit credits. If you pay cash in lieu of benefits, you may skip this step and enter the cash amounts directly when submitting your weekly certified payrolls. However, if your company does both, pays some workers via fringe plans and others in cash, you’ll need to set this up now to streamline submissions.
⚠️ Massachusetts-Specific Note:
If you’re submitting certified payroll for a Massachusetts project, you may optionally enter a breakdown of your fringe benefit credits into the following categories: Health, Pension, and Unemployment. Click here for more guidance.
Setting up these plans allows Kaster to:
- Automatically apply the correct fringe credit amounts to each worker’s record
- Ensure your certified payroll reports (including WH-347 & Massachusetts Weekly CPR) are accurate and compliant
- Help you avoid underreporting errors that may lead to compliance issues or delayed payments
🔍 What Counts as a Fringe Benefit Credit?
Fringe credits may include:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 401(k) or Pension Contributions
- Union Contributions
- Vacation or Holiday Funds
- Unemployment
- Other employer-paid benefits
🛠 How to Set Up Fringe Benefits in Kaster:
Click on your Project
- Navigate to the Project's Directory tab
- Select your Company
- Navigate to the Workforce tab
- Click on the Manage Fringe Benefits button
- Click on the + Add Benefit button
- Enter the Benefit Name, Type (e.g., Health, 401(k)), Plan Number and check the box if the benefit is Funded (third-party plan) or leave it unchecked if the benefit is unfunded (employer-provided).
- Massachusetts-Specific Note: Only Health, Pension, and Unemployment will be applied as fringe benefits credits for projects using the Massachusetts Weekly Certified Payroll Report.
- Note: If you don't have an official Benefit Name or Plan Number, you may enter any name and number you typically use or wish to use internally. This information is used solely to complete the fringe benefits table on page 2 of the WH-347 form and does not need to match any formal or externally issued documentation.
- Click the Save icon to save the benefit
💡 You can assign benefit plans to individuals later in the Workforce setup.
📘 Resource: Funded vs. Unfunded Fringe Benefit Plans (What’s the Difference?)
Not sure how to classify your fringe benefits? Learn the difference between funded and unfunded plans and what’s required to stay compliant. Read the full breakdown ➜ Funded vs. Unfunded Fringe Benefit Plans