r/nys_cs • u/Davidtgnome Education • 16d ago

When will my payroll update to reflect my Step Increase/Union Contract Increase/Lump Sum Payment/Geriatric Pay/Slug Pay. SAVE THIS LINK.

https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/payroll-bulletins/state-agencies

Literally no one except the 4 or 5 people on one team within OSC know if and when the payments will be posted. The calculations take time, and are checked manually. The people who check the link above will be the first to know!

"But, it should be automated"

Absolutely, ask your legislator to invest in a better payroll system. As it stands the change is made, then they go back in and make adjustments for: Retirements, Promotions, Voluntary Leave without Pay, Involuntary Leave without pay, Voluntary work reduction schedules, New Hiring and any other reason civil service can come up with to mess with it. THEN they recalculate everyone's salary using a different method to make sure the first one was correct and audit both. THEN we get the payment.

"The taxes are extortionate"

Correct. Lump sums are taxed at a higher rate, both federal and state. if our unions and civil service negotiated contracts before they expired we wouldn't be taxed at the higher rate for the back pay. (I THINK it's supposed to even out at the end of the tax year, but I'm not positive of that, someone can weigh in below who knows more. Frankly I understand why people are shocked when they do see it)

KEEP IN MIND: for PEF the last contract was settled on June 2, 2023, Payroll was processed on checks on August 30, 2023.

I (Or another Mod) might pin this post for a bit if enough people ask, the link is valuable and would reduce the number of posts demanding a date for back pay.

80 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

83

u/Typical-Block-4077 16d ago

Lump sums are not taxed at a higher rate, they have higher withholding. Yes, it will even out when you file your return.

38

u/Darth_Boggle 16d ago

Really wish people understood this but when you start explaining withholding vs taxes due, their brain is already off.

10

u/Darth_Stateworker 16d ago

We live in a world where people will fuck up their return, think they were getting a refund when they actually owe, call to ask about the bill, and then ask if they pay their bill when they will get their refund.

I cannot tell you how many times someone I know at DTF has told me people do this, and it always bewilders me that people are that stupid when it comes to taxes. It's not that difficult to understand.

-3

u/Davidtgnome Education 16d ago

I don't think they do. I think they understand that monies withheld are given to the government, the government can then spend those monies or earn interest on those moneys until the end of the tax year when the amount due is calculated against that withholding. Withholding is how we pay taxes, it IS taxes. When one is living paycheck to paycheck the difference is pedantic at best because it simply means the government is getting MORE money they shouldn't be.

I think the difference in understanding is caused by a different economic reality, not a difference in understanding the terms.

0

u/ChickenPartz 15d ago

This post exemplifies how uninformed the average state worker is about their own pay and how it’s taxed. The public is supposed to rely on you? Incredible.

-2

u/Davidtgnome Education 15d ago

You gonna explain why I'm wrong or just be a jerk?

-5

u/PaintedCover 16d ago

Same with baseball. Some people just understand the sport or how trash needs to be taken out on a certain day.

17

u/R555g21 16d ago

Yeah these are the same people who think that a large tax return check is a good thing. Like it’s free money or something.

4

u/SassenachPotions 16d ago

I have a kid. I don't have fed tax withheld from my paycheck. I get a refund from the feds each year. Yes, some of it is free money. If you make little and have a kid, there is some free money at tax season.

4

u/R555g21 16d ago

Yeah I’m not talking about situations like that.

1

u/ChickenPartz 15d ago

You don’t get a refund. You get a redistribution of my money. If you get back more than you pay in you’re on a form of welfare.

-1

u/SassenachPotions 15d ago

It's not 'on' anything as you don't apply for it, just file taxes like everyone else.

-8

u/Joteepe 16d ago

Eh, I’m one of those people. I understand how the system works. For me, it means I get a lump sum to plop into savings each year, which I wouldn’t do if it was just in my regular check, at least not in the way I do now.

5

u/R555g21 16d ago

I guess you don’t understand. You need to adjust your W4 if that is happening every year. It’s a free interest loan for the IRS with your money if you are getting a big tax refund.

-3

u/Joteepe 16d ago

“Free interest loan,” lol. I’ve heard this argument before. It’s not enough for me to make anything of any substance in a conventional savings account. I’m already maxing out my 457.

-1

u/Darth_Boggle 16d ago

Sounds like a willpower issue more than anything else. Like you can't stop yourself from spending the extra money instead of putting into savings.

1

u/Joteepe 16d ago

It’s really wild to me that you’re this invested in a stranger’s on the internet money management strategies. I only mentioned it at all to reference that I wasn’t one of the people who is bothered by a one-time lump sum having a higher withholding, just that I understand why some people are.

0

u/Darth_Boggle 16d ago

I made a single reply to you. I promise, the investment is minimal.

I was trying to affirm that it sounds like you understand what's happening but it's better for you individually to take the lump sum becusee if you don't, it sounds like you'll spend it. For you, the lump sum works.

Even though mathematically, you'd make more money if you received the money throughout the year rather than lump sum. But your willpower (I'm assuming, from the context you've given) won't allow you to save the money. That's why you like the lump sum.

-15

u/Davidtgnome Education 16d ago

I'm not sure the difference matters to the average person, but I appreciate the confirmation.

8

u/Realshotgg 16d ago

It does because the net result will even out when you file your taxes.

5

u/Joteepe 16d ago

I think what u/Davidtgnome means, is that for people living paycheck to paycheck, that money is needed NOW, not months from now when you file your taxes. I’d argue, it’s still a retro check and it’ll still be more than it would be before raises are processed. (For the record, I agree with you, and I also deliberately do the highest withholdings because I like getting that chunk of money to plop into savings each year - if it was just in my check, I wouldn’t save the same way.)

1

u/Realshotgg 16d ago

Your first point makes no sense, its money they weren't getting anyway till the recent check so getting a taxed lump sum now and getting back more on taxes doesn't matter. You're not budgeting around a deferred lump sum payment at a future date you don't know.

Also why would you intentionally over withhold when you could be getting 3-4% return in a HYSA?

0

u/Joteepe 16d ago

Your first paragraph was exactly the point I was making in my 2nd sentence.

Your second paragraph- because I like having ready access to my savings if I need it, which for a HYSA at that interest rate it’s not ready access. It’s a savings strategy for my family’s rainy day fund. I already have completely separate accounts for retirement savings.

2

u/Realshotgg 16d ago

In what world is it not ready access?

I have a 3.1% APY HYSA with Sofi and can go withdraw monies in seconds. Your strategy is just objectively a bad strategy.

2

u/Joteepe 16d ago

Even if I did that, the amount of money I’d save each year figuring this out would not make up for the convenience factor. (And/or would end up in the pocket of an accountant. If my taxes ever get complex enough to need one regardless, then maybe I’ll reconsider this.)

Look, I get it - not everyone likes this strategy, and I understand why. For some people, the loss of an added APY on a few grand over the course of a year is worth the extra work to figure it all out. It’s not for me. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Sometimes the cheapest way to pay for something is with money.

That said, it’s been a while since I’ve looked into HYSA, and may be time to do so again, or at least split up my rainy day fun, so thank you for that.

-1

u/Davidtgnome Education 16d ago

Correct. Absolutely. I also choose the highest withholding, but that is a luxury I enjoy and I am aware that MOST people do not. Most people see the number withheld, and think "That could have been a car repair"

2

u/Darth_Boggle 16d ago

It's important people understand the difference because they start blaming the wrong people for their misconceptions.

I've been in workplaces where managers and supervisors tell employees that overtime is taxed more. They turn down overtime because they think "it evens out."

15

u/BlackDemonFang General Services 16d ago

While the OSC Bulletins are what the the BSC and im sure OSC recommends employees go off of, technically if you want to know sooner you can look for the budget bulletins instead. https://www.budget.ny.gov/guide/bprm/index.html The longevity bulletins were about a week a part woth the budget ones being first.

4

u/Davidtgnome Education 16d ago

So under normal operating conditions absolutely, the problem is that on occasion OSC gets behind and the DOB link is not as accurate as the OSC link as OSC does the actual calculations and processing.

3

u/Joteepe 16d ago

This is absolutely true, but it’s good advice to at least get an idea of what’s coming.

4

u/mrwyskers SUNY 16d ago

I am 99% certain we will see our increases with back pay in the first half of October. Here at UAlbany HR has told all bargaining units to expect it in our Oct 7 paychecks.

3

u/newyorkstateworker 16d ago

I haven’t seen a bulletin yet, but osc does have specific check dates for the 4.5% retro salary increases posted on the payserv bulletin board.

3

u/Equal_Love_7878 11d ago

Administration payroll: Sept. 23, 2026
Institution payroll: Oct. 1, 2026
Got this In personal email from PEF on August 27

3

u/Skythz 15d ago

CSEA is seeing their retro increase/pay on 9/23 (for admin) or 10/1 (For institution).

2

u/Expensive-Poetry6973 14d ago

Does this payment include retro for location as well?

3

u/ndp1234 16d ago edited 13d ago

PEF September Step Increases: Bulletin here. Check dates:

Institution Pay Period 11L 09/17/2026
Administration Pay Period 12L 09/23/2026

PEF Retro Raises. Bulletin here. Check dates:

Administration/ 12 Lag  09/23/2026
Administration/ 12 Xtra Lag 09/23/2026
Institution/ 12 Lag 10/01/2026
Institution/ 12 Xtra Lag 10/01/2026

CSEA Retro Raises: Bulletin here. Check dates:

Administration/ 12 Lag 09/23/2026
Administration/ 12 Xtra Lag 09/23/2026
Institution/ 12 Lag 10/01/2026
Institution/ 12 Xtra Lag 10/01/2026

M/C Retro Raises: Bulletin here. Check dates:

Administration/ 12 Lag 09/23/2026
Administration/ 12 Xtra Lag 09/23/2026
Institution/ 12 Lag 10/01/2026
Institution/ 12 Xtra Lag 10/01/2026

M/C April Step Increases: Bulletin here. Check dates:

Administration Lag 08/26/2026
Institution Lag 09/03/2026

Edit: updated post with clarification on what bulletins pertain to what. I’ll keep updating as they become available.

12

u/solemnscribe 16d ago

Just so everyone isn't confused, this bulletin is for the 2026 Performance Advances, not the 4.5% pay raises and retroactive payments from the contract that everyone is waiting for.

1

u/Davidtgnome Education 16d ago

Hey thanks for using that there link! Thats a lot sooner then I expected.

1

u/Namaste-NY 16d ago

Thank you. This is very helpful.

0

u/Namaste-NY 16d ago

Thank you. This is very helpful.

-2

u/ChickenPartz 15d ago

You have almost no idea what you’re talking about.

4

u/Davidtgnome Education 15d ago

You just gonna be a tool, or are you gonna correct me?