Southern Payroll & Bookkeeping provides payroll, bookkeeping and Xero consulting to small and mid-sized businesses in Birmingham and across Jefferson County. We’re based in Chattanooga, near the Alabama line, and we serve clients in more than 30 states, with payroll compliance in all 50. You get one team for payroll, books and business advice, a one-business-day callback and no annual contracts.
Doing business in Birmingham
Birmingham’s economy is anchored by healthcare, banking and financial services, construction and a growing startup community. Businesses with employees working inside Birmingham city limits also owe the city’s 1% occupational tax, a detail that’s easy to miss in off-the-shelf payroll software. We make sure it’s withheld and filed correctly.
Payroll, bookkeeping and Xero support for Birmingham businesses
Payroll and HR support
We run full-service payroll for Birmingham employers: direct deposit, federal and Alabama payroll taxes, quarterly and year-end filings, W-2s and 1099s. We also help with onboarding, PTO tracking and HR compliance questions. See our payroll and HR services.
Monthly bookkeeping and reporting
We reconcile your bank and credit card accounts, categorize transactions and deliver monthly financial statements you can read and act on. Alabama businesses also deal with city and county sales taxes on top of the state rate, plus the annual business privilege tax. We keep the books clean so those filings and your year-end return go smoothly. See our bookkeeping services.
Xero and QuickBooks consulting
As certified Xero, QuickBooks and Gusto partners, we set up new accounting systems, migrate you from desktop software, connect payroll and apps, and train your team. If your current setup is a mess, we clean it up first. See our Xero consulting.
Business advisory
When you need more than clean books, our business advisory team provides cash flow forecasting, budgeting and fractional CFO support for Birmingham owners making bigger decisions.
Alabama payroll rules we handle for you
- Alabama income tax withholding. Alabama taxes wages on a graduated scale from 2% to 5%. We collect each employee’s Form A-4 and keep withholding and quarterly filings with the Alabama Department of Revenue current.
- Local occupational taxes. Some Alabama cities, including Birmingham at 1%, levy an occupational tax on wages earned inside city limits. We check where each employee works and withhold and file the local tax where it applies.
- Alabama unemployment insurance. We register with the Alabama Department of Workforce, file quarterly wage reports and track each employee’s taxable wage base.
- New-hire reporting and multi-state staff. New hires are reported on time, and employees who cross into Tennessee or Georgia for work are set up correctly.
How we work with Birmingham clients
- Fully remote, fully secure. Documents move through secure portals and cloud accounting, and meetings happen by video or phone, so working with us from Birmingham is as easy as working with a local firm.
- One team that knows you. The same people handle your payroll and books, so you’re not explaining your business to someone new every month.
- One-business-day callback. Questions get answered quickly, by a person.
- No annual contracts. Add or change services as the business changes.
Questions from Birmingham business owners
Do you handle Birmingham’s occupational tax?
Yes. We withhold Birmingham’s 1% occupational tax for employees who work inside city limits and file it on your behalf.
Is Southern Payroll & Bookkeeping based in Birmingham?
Our office is at 1007 Spring Creek Rd in Chattanooga, TN. We serve Birmingham businesses remotely, the same way we serve clients in more than 30 states.
Get started in Birmingham
Book a free consultation and we’ll review your current payroll and bookkeeping setup and tell you what we’d change. Call (423) 207-2497, email info@southernpb.com or book a time online.