Programs
Employer Branding Student Partner
US Payroll Internship
Step 1: Apply for your favorite Internship
After you apply, you will receive an offer letter instantly. No queues, no uncertainty—just a quick start to your career journey.
Step 2: Submit Your Task(s)
You will be assigned weekly tasks to complete. Submit them on time to earn your certificate.
Step 3: Your task(s) will be evaluated
Your tasks will be evaluated by our team. You will receive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Step 4: Receive your Certificate
Once you complete your tasks, you will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate will be a valuable addition to your resume.
About this Internship
This US Payroll internship builds practical skills in processing payroll under US federal and state regulations. You will cover federal income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), state taxes, employee forms (W-4, W-2), quarterly and annual filings (Form 941, Form 940, W-3), and common payroll platforms such as ADP and Workday. You will finish able to run an accurate US payroll cycle and understand core compliance requirements.
Tasks and Duties
Week 1 Task: US Payroll Fundamentals — Federal & State Taxes
Summary
Understand federal income tax withholding, state taxes, and the W-4 form.
Objective
Learn how US payroll withholding works: federal income tax, state income tax variations, and how a W-4 determines an employee’s withholding.
Deliverable: a short note explaining how filing status and allowances on a W-4 change an employee’s take-home pay, with one worked example.
Week 2 Task: FICA, Gross-to-Net & Producing Paychecks
Summary
Calculate Social Security, Medicare, and net pay to produce a paycheck.
Objective
Process a pay run for a sample employee: calculate gross pay, federal/state withholding, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), and net pay.
Deliverable: a paycheck stub showing your full gross-to-net calculation.
Week 3 Task: Payroll Tax Filings — Form 941, 940 & W-2
Summary
Learn quarterly and annual US payroll tax filings.
Objective
Understand employer payroll tax filings: quarterly Form 941, annual Form 940 (FUTA), and year-end W-2/W-3 reporting to the SSA and IRS, including deadlines.
Deliverable: a mock Form 941 summary for a quarter explaining what is reported and why deadlines matter.
Week 4 Task: Benefits, Deductions & Payroll Software
Summary
Handle pre/post-tax deductions, 401(k), and platforms like ADP/Workday.
Objective
Cover pre-tax and post-tax deductions (health insurance, 401(k) retirement), garnishments, and how modern payroll platforms (ADP, Workday) automate calculations and filings.
Deliverable: a short guide showing how a 401(k) contribution and a health-insurance deduction affect taxable wages and net pay.
Launch Your Internship
Gain real-world skills, work on live projects and get an NSDC-affiliated certificate — absolutely free!